Isaiah 3:18-24

3:18 ¹ At that time ²  the sovereign master will remove their beautiful ankle jewelry, ³  neck ornaments, crescent shaped ornaments, 3:19 earrings, bracelets, veils, 3:20 headdresses, ankle ornaments, sashes, sachets, ⁴  amulets, 3:21 rings, nose rings, 3:22 festive dresses, robes, shawls, purses, 3:23 garments, vests, head coverings, and gowns. ⁵ 

3:24 A putrid stench will replace the smell of spices, ⁶ 

a rope will replace a belt,

baldness will replace braided locks of hair,

a sackcloth garment will replace a fine robe,

and a prisoner’s brand will replace beauty.

[3:18]  ¹ sn The translation assumes that the direct quotation ends with v. 17. The introductory formula “in that day” and the shift from a poetic to prosaic style indicate that a new speech unit begins in v. 18.

[3:18]  ² tn Or “in that day” (KJV).

[3:18]  ³ tn Or “the beauty of [their] ankle jewelry.”

[3:20]  ⁴ tn Heb “houses of breath.” HALOT 124 s.v. בַּיִת defines them as “scent-bottles”; cf. NAB, NRSV “perfume boxes.”

[3:23]  ⁵ tn The precise meaning of many of the words in this list is uncertain.

[3:24]  ⁶ tn Heb “and it will be in place of spices there will be a stench.” The nouns for “spices” and “stench” are right next to each other in the MT for emphatic contrast. The verb that introduces this verse serves as a discourse particle and is untranslated; see note on “in the future” in 2:2.