Isaiah 3:24
New International Version
Instead of fragrance there will be a stench; instead of a sash, a rope; instead of well-dressed hair, baldness; instead of fine clothing, sackcloth; instead of beauty, branding.

New Living Translation
Instead of smelling of sweet perfume, she will stink. She will wear a rope for a sash, and her elegant hair will fall out. She will wear rough burlap instead of rich robes. Shame will replace her beauty.

English Standard Version
Instead of perfume there will be rottenness; and instead of a belt, a rope; and instead of well-set hair, baldness; and instead of a rich robe, a skirt of sackcloth; and branding instead of beauty.

Berean Standard Bible
Instead of fragrance there will be a stench; instead of a belt, a rope; instead of styled hair, baldness; instead of fine clothing, sackcloth; instead of beauty, shame.

King James Bible
And it shall come to pass, that instead of sweet smell there shall be stink; and instead of a girdle a rent; and instead of well set hair baldness; and instead of a stomacher a girding of sackcloth; and burning instead of beauty.

New King James Version
And so it shall be: Instead of a sweet smell there will be a stench; Instead of a sash, a rope; Instead of well-set hair, baldness; Instead of a rich robe, a girding of sackcloth; And branding instead of beauty.

New American Standard Bible
Now it will come about that instead of balsam oil there will be a stench; Instead of a belt, a rope; Instead of well-set hair, a plucked-out scalp; Instead of fine clothes, a robe of sackcloth; And branding instead of beauty.

NASB 1995
Now it will come about that instead of sweet perfume there will be putrefaction; Instead of a belt, a rope; Instead of well-set hair, a plucked-out scalp; Instead of fine clothes, a donning of sackcloth; And branding instead of beauty.

NASB 1977
Now it will come about that instead of sweet perfume there will be putrefaction; Instead of a belt, a rope; Instead of well-set hair, a plucked-out scalp; Instead of fine clothes, a donning of sackcloth; And branding instead of beauty.

Legacy Standard Bible
Now it will be that instead of sweet perfume there will be the smell of rot; Instead of a belt, a rope; Instead of well-set hair, a plucked-out scalp; Instead of fine clothes, a donning of sackcloth; And branding instead of beauty.

Amplified Bible
Now it will come to pass that instead of the sweet fragrance of spices there will be [the stench of] rottenness; Instead of a belt, a rope; Instead of well-set hair, baldness; Instead of fine clothes, a robe of sackcloth; And branding [of captives by the scorching heat] instead of beauty.

Christian Standard Bible
Instead of perfume there will be a stench; instead of a belt, a rope; instead of beautifully styled hair, baldness; instead of fine clothes, sackcloth; instead of beauty, branding.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Instead of perfume there will be a stench; instead of a belt, a rope; instead of beautifully styled hair, baldness; instead of fine clothes, sackcloth; instead of beauty, branding.

American Standard Version
And it shall come to pass, that instead of sweet spices there shall be rottenness; and instead of a girdle, a rope; and instead of well set hair, baldness; and instead of a robe, a girding of sackcloth; branding instead of beauty.

Contemporary English Version
In place of perfume, there will be a stink; in place of belts, there will be ropes; in place of fancy hairdos, they will have bald heads. Instead of expensive clothes, they will wear sackcloth; instead of beauty, they will have ugly scars.

English Revised Version
And it shall come to pass, that instead of sweet spices there shall be rottenness; and instead of a girdle a rope; and instead of well set hair baldness; and instead of a stomacher a girding of sackcloth: branding instead of beauty.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Instead of the smell of perfume, there will be the smell of decay. They will wear ropes instead of belts. They will have bald heads instead of beautiful hair. They will wear sackcloth instead of expensive clothes. Their beauty will be scarred.

Good News Translation
Instead of using perfumes, they will stink; instead of fine belts, they will wear coarse ropes; instead of having beautiful hair, they will be bald; instead of fine clothes, they will be dressed in rags; their beauty will be turned to shame!

International Standard Version
"And it will come about that instead of fragrance there will be a stench; instead of a belt, a rope; instead of well-set hair, baldness; instead of a fine robe, sackcloth; and instead of beauty, shame.

Majority Standard Bible
Instead of fragrance there will be a stench; instead of a belt, a rope; instead of styled hair, baldness; instead of fine clothing, sackcloth; instead of beauty, shame.

NET Bible
A putrid stench will replace the smell of spices, 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.

New Heart English Bible
It shall happen that instead of sweet spices, there shall be rottenness; instead of a belt, a rope; instead of well set hair, baldness; instead of a robe, a girding of sackcloth; and branding instead of beauty.

Webster's Bible Translation
And it shall come to pass, that instead of sweet smell there shall be an offensive odor; and instead of a girdle a rent; and instead of well set hair baldness; and instead of a stomacher a girding of sackcloth; and burning instead of beauty.

World English Bible
It shall happen that instead of sweet spices, there shall be rottenness; instead of a belt, a rope; instead of well set hair, baldness; instead of a robe, a wearing of sackcloth; and branding instead of beauty.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And it has been, instead of spice is muck, "" And instead of a girdle, a rope, "" And instead of curled work, baldness, "" And instead of a stomacher a girdle of sackcloth.

Young's Literal Translation
And it hath been, instead of spice is muck, And instead of a girdle, a rope, And instead of curled work, baldness, And instead of a stomacher a girdle of sackcloth.

Smith's Literal Translation
And it was instead of a sweet smell there shall be rottenness, and instead of a girdle, a rope, and instead of turned work, baldness, and instead of a variegated garment, a girding of sackcloth a brand instead of beauty.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And instead of a sweet smell there shall be stench, and instead of a girdle, a cord, and instead of curled hair, baldness, and instead of a stomacher, haircloth.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And in place of a sweet fragrance, there will be stench. And in place of a belt, there will be a rope. And in place of stylish hair, there will be baldness. And in place of a blouse, there will be haircloth.

New American Bible
Instead of perfume there will be stench, instead of a girdle, a rope, And instead of elaborate coiffure, baldness; instead of a rich gown, a sackcloth skirt. Then, instead of beauty, shame.

New Revised Standard Version
Instead of perfume there will be a stench; and instead of a sash, a rope; and instead of well-set hair, baldness; and instead of a rich robe, a binding of sackcloth; instead of beauty, shame.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And it shall come to pass, that instead of a sweet smell there shall be a stink; and instead of an ornamental girdle, a worker's apron; and instead of curled hair, baldness; and instead of purple robes, a girding of sackcloth; for their beauty shall be destroyed.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And there will be dust in place of their sweet perfume, and instead of a girdle of their loins, a sawing apron, and instead of plaited hair, baldness, and instead of their dark blue they shall be covered in sackcloth, because their beauty shall be destroyed
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And it shall come to pass, that Instead of sweet spices there shall be rottenness; And instead of a girdle rags; And instead of curled hair baldness; And instead of a stomacher a girding of sackcloth; Branding instead of beauty.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And there shall be instead of a sweet smell, dust; and instead of a girdle, thou shalt gird thyself with a rope; and instead of a golden ornament for the head, thou shalt have baldness on account of thy works; and instead of a tunic with a scarlet ground, thou shalt gird thyself with sackcloth.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
A Warning to Jerusalem
23and their mirrors, linen garments, tiaras, and shawls. 24Instead of fragrance there will be a stench; instead of a belt, a rope; instead of styled hair, baldness; instead of fine clothing, sackcloth; instead of beauty, shame. 25Your men will fall by the sword, and your warriors in battle.…

Cross References
Lamentations 1:8-9
Jerusalem has sinned greatly; therefore she has become an object of scorn. All who honored her now despise her, for they have seen her nakedness; she herself groans and turns away. / Her uncleanness stains her skirts; she did not consider her end. Her downfall was astounding; there was no one to comfort her. Look, O LORD, on my affliction, for the enemy has triumphed!

Ezekiel 16:37-39
therefore I will surely gather all the lovers with whom you found pleasure, all those you loved and all those you hated. I will gather them against you from all around and expose you before them, and they will see you completely naked. / And I will sentence you to the punishment of women who commit adultery and those who shed blood; so I will bring upon you the wrath of your bloodshed and jealousy. / Then I will deliver you into the hands of your lovers, and they will level your mounds and tear down your lofty shrines. They will strip off your clothes, take your fine jewelry, and leave you naked and bare.

Amos 8:10
I will turn your feasts into mourning and all your songs into lamentation. I will cause everyone to wear sackcloth and every head to be shaved. I will make it like a time of mourning for an only son, and its outcome like a bitter day.

Hosea 2:13
I will punish her for the days of the Baals when she burned incense to them, when she adorned herself with rings and jewelry, and went after her lovers. But Me she forgot,” declares the LORD.

Jeremiah 13:22
And if you ask yourself, “Why has this happened to me?” It is because of the magnitude of your iniquity that your skirts have been stripped off and your body has been exposed.

Micah 1:8-9
Because of this I will lament and wail; I will walk barefoot and naked. I will howl like a jackal and mourn like an ostrich. / For her wound is incurable; it has reached even Judah; it has approached the gate of my people, as far as Jerusalem itself.

Ezekiel 23:26-27
They will strip off your clothes and take your fine jewelry. / So I will put an end to your indecency and prostitution, which began in the land of Egypt, and you will not lift your eyes to them or remember Egypt anymore.’

2 Samuel 13:19
And Tamar put ashes on her head and tore her robe. And putting her hand on her head, she went away crying aloud.

Jeremiah 4:30
And you, O devastated one, what will you do, though you dress yourself in scarlet, though you adorn yourself with gold jewelry, though you enlarge your eyes with paint? You adorn yourself in vain; your lovers despise you; they want to take your life.

Ezekiel 7:18
They will put on sackcloth, and terror will overwhelm them. Shame will cover all their faces, and all their heads will be shaved.

Revelation 18:16-19
saying: “Woe, woe to the great city, clothed in fine linen and purple and scarlet, adorned with gold and precious stones and pearls! / For in a single hour such fabulous wealth has been destroyed!” Every shipmaster, passenger, and sailor, and all who make their living from the sea, will stand at a distance / and cry out at the sight of the smoke rising from the fire that consumes her. “What city was ever like this great city?” they will exclaim. ...

Luke 21:24
They will fall by the edge of the sword and be led captive into all the nations. And Jerusalem will be trodden down by the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.

Matthew 24:2
“Do you see all these things?” He replied. “Truly I tell you, not one stone here will be left on another; every one will be thrown down.”

1 Peter 3:3-4
Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair or gold jewelry or fine clothes, / but from the inner disposition of your heart, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is precious in God’s sight.

1 Timothy 2:9-10
Likewise, I want the women to adorn themselves with respectable apparel, with modesty, and with self-control, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or expensive clothes, / but with good deeds, as is proper for women who profess to worship God.


Treasury of Scripture

And it shall come to pass, that instead of sweet smell there shall be stink; and instead of a girdle a rent; and instead of well set hair baldness; and instead of a stomacher a girding of sackcloth; and burning instead of beauty.

instead

Isaiah 57:9
And thou wentest to the king with ointment, and didst increase thy perfumes, and didst send thy messengers far off, and didst debase thyself even unto hell.

Proverbs 7:17
I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon.

baldness

Isaiah 22:12
And in that day did the Lord GOD of hosts call to weeping, and to mourning, and to baldness, and to girding with sackcloth:

Ezekiel 7:18
They shall also gird themselves with sackcloth, and horror shall cover them; and shame shall be upon all faces, and baldness upon all their heads.

Micah 1:16
Make thee bald, and poll thee for thy delicate children; enlarge thy baldness as the eagle; for they are gone into captivity from thee.

a girding

Isaiah 15:3
In their streets they shall gird themselves with sackcloth: on the tops of their houses, and in their streets, every one shall howl, weeping abundantly.

Isaiah 32:9-11
Rise up, ye women that are at ease; hear my voice, ye careless daughters; give ear unto my speech…

Job 16:15
I have sewed sackcloth upon my skin, and defiled my horn in the dust.

burning

Isaiah 4:4
When the Lord shall have washed away the filth of the daughters of Zion, and shall have purged the blood of Jerusalem from the midst thereof by the spirit of judgment, and by the spirit of burning.

Leviticus 26:16
I also will do this unto you; I will even appoint over you terror, consumption, and the burning ague, that shall consume the eyes, and cause sorrow of heart: and ye shall sow your seed in vain, for your enemies shall eat it.

Deuteronomy 28:22
The LORD shall smite thee with a consumption, and with a fever, and with an inflammation, and with an extreme burning, and with the sword, and with blasting, and with mildew; and they shall pursue thee until thou perish.

Jump to Previous
Baldness Beauty Belt Branding Burning Clothes Curled Fine Girding Girdle Hair Instead Odor Offensive Perfume Rags Rent Robe Rope Rottenness Sackcloth Scalp Shame Smell Spices Stink Sweet
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Baldness Beauty Belt Branding Burning Clothes Curled Fine Girding Girdle Hair Instead Odor Offensive Perfume Rags Rent Robe Rope Rottenness Sackcloth Scalp Shame Smell Spices Stink Sweet
Isaiah 3
1. The great calamities which come by sin
10. The different rewards of the righteous and wicked
12. The oppression and covetousness of the rulers
16. The judgments which shall be for the pride of the women
25. The general desolation














Instead of fragrance there will be a stench
The Hebrew word for "fragrance" is "bosem," which often refers to sweet-smelling spices or perfumes used in anointing oils and incense, symbolizing joy, celebration, and divine favor. In contrast, "stench" is derived from "maq," indicating decay and corruption. This phrase highlights a reversal of fortune and divine judgment, where the blessings and joys of life are replaced by the consequences of sin and rebellion. Historically, perfumes were a luxury in ancient Israel, signifying wealth and status. The loss of fragrance symbolizes the loss of God's favor and the onset of suffering and disgrace.

instead of a belt, a rope
The "belt" or "girdle" in Hebrew is "chagor," a symbol of strength, readiness, and dignity. It was an essential part of a person's attire, often ornate and indicative of one's social status. The "rope," or "niqpa," suggests bondage and humiliation. This transformation from a belt to a rope signifies a shift from freedom and honor to captivity and shame. In the historical context, this reflects the impending judgment and exile of the people, where their dignity and autonomy are stripped away due to their disobedience.

instead of styled hair, baldness
"Styled hair" refers to "ma'aseh," indicating carefully arranged or adorned hair, a sign of beauty and pride. "Baldness," or "qorchah," was often associated with mourning, disgrace, or disease in ancient cultures. This phrase underscores the theme of humiliation and loss, as what was once a source of pride becomes a mark of shame. In the scriptural context, this serves as a metaphor for the spiritual barrenness and desolation that result from turning away from God.

instead of fine clothing, sackcloth
"Fine clothing" translates to "pethigil," representing luxury, wealth, and celebration. "Sackcloth," or "saq," is a coarse material worn during times of mourning or repentance. This stark contrast illustrates the depth of the people's fall from grace, as their opulence is replaced by the garments of grief and penitence. Historically, sackcloth was a physical manifestation of inner sorrow and contrition, often worn during periods of national crisis or personal lamentation.

and branding instead of beauty
"Branding," or "ki," refers to a mark or scar, often associated with slavery or punishment. "Beauty," or "yophi," signifies physical attractiveness and divine favor. The transition from beauty to branding symbolizes the ultimate degradation and loss of identity, as the people bear the marks of their rebellion and the consequences of their actions. In a broader theological context, this serves as a warning of the spiritual and physical ramifications of forsaking God's covenant, urging a return to righteousness and faithfulness.

(24) And it shall come to pass.--Now comes the terrible contrast of the day of destruction that is coming on all this refined luxury. Instead of the balmy perfume of the scent-bottles, there shall be the stench of squalor and pestilence; instead of the embroidered girdle (Isaiah 11:5), not a "rent," but the rope by which they would be dragged in the march of their conquerors; instead of the plaited hair (1Peter 3:3; 1Timothy 2:9), natural or artificial, the baldness of those who were cropped as slaves were cropped (comp. 1Corinthians 11:5-6); instead of the "stomacher" (better, cloak, or mantle), the scanty tunic of the coarsest sackcloth; instead of the elaborate beauty in which they had exulted, the burning, or brand, stamped on their flesh, often in the barbarism of the East on the forehead, to mark them as the slaves of their captors.

Verse 24. - Instead of sweet smell; literally, spice (comp. Exodus 35:28; 1 Kings 10:10, etc.). Stink; rather, rottenness, as translated in Isaiah 5:24 (compare the cognate verb in Leviticus 26:39). Instead of a girdle a rent. So Lowth and Kay; but most moderns prefer the meaning given by the Septuagint and Vulgate, "instead of a girdle, a rope." The word used occurs only in this place. Instead of well-set hair baldness (compare above, ver. 17). By "well-set hair" seems to be meant "hair arranged with such exactness and order as to look like a work of art." The exact arrangement of the hair is very remarkable, both in the Egyptian and the Assyrian sculptures. Instead of such elaborate attempts to improve their looks, the daughters of Jerusalem would soon pluck their hair out by the roots, or shave it off, in mourning. A girding of sackcloth (comp. Genesis 37:34; 2 Samuel 3:31, etc.; and for the adoption of the custom by women, see 2 Samuel 21:10; Joel 1:8). Burning instead of beauty. This meaning is now generally acknowledged, the sense of "burning" being borne out by the cognate verb used in Proverbs 6:28; Isaiah 43:2, and the cognate noun used in Exodus 21:25. The" burning" intended is probably branding by a barbarous enemy (see Herod., 7:233; 'Hist. Tamerlau.,' p. 320).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Instead of
תַ֨חַת (ṯa·ḥaṯ)
Preposition
Strong's 8478: The bottom, below, in lieu of

fragrance
בֹּ֜שֶׂם (bō·śem)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 1314: Fragrance, spicery, the balsam plant

there will be
וְהָיָה֩ (wə·hā·yāh)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 1961: To fall out, come to pass, become, be

a stench;
מַ֣ק (maq)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4716: A melting, putridity

instead of
וְתַ֨חַת (wə·ṯa·ḥaṯ)
Conjunctive waw | Preposition
Strong's 8478: The bottom, below, in lieu of

a belt,
חֲגוֹרָ֤ה (ḥă·ḡō·w·rāh)
Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 2290: A belt, girdle

a rope;
נִקְפָּה֙ (niq·pāh)
Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 5364: An encircling rope

instead of
וְתַ֨חַת (wə·ṯa·ḥaṯ)
Conjunctive waw | Preposition
Strong's 8478: The bottom, below, in lieu of

styled
מַעֲשֶׂ֤ה (ma·‘ă·śeh)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4639: An action, a transaction, activity, a product, property

hair,
מִקְשֶׁה֙ (miq·šeh)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4748: Something turned, a curl

baldness;
קָרְחָ֔ה (qā·rə·ḥāh)
Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 7144: Baldness, bald spot

instead of
וְתַ֥חַת (wə·ṯa·ḥaṯ)
Conjunctive waw | Preposition
Strong's 8478: The bottom, below, in lieu of

fine clothes,
פְּתִיגִ֖יל (pə·ṯî·ḡîl)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 6614: A figured mantle for, holidays

sackcloth;
מַחֲגֹ֣רֶת (ma·ḥă·ḡō·reṯ)
Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 4228: Girding, cincture

instead of
תַ֖חַת (ṯa·ḥaṯ)
Preposition
Strong's 8478: The bottom, below, in lieu of

beauty,
יֹֽפִי׃ (yō·p̄î)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 3308: Beauty

branding.
כִּי־ (kî-)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 3587: A burning, branding


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OT Prophets: Isaiah 3:24 It shall happen that instead of sweet (Isa Isi Is)
Isaiah 3:23
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