For, behold, the Lord, the LORD of hosts, doth take away from Jerusalem and from Judah the stay and the staff, the whole stay of bread, and the whole stay of water,

ISAIAH 3:1KJV
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Isaiah 3:1 (KJV)

What does Isaiah 3:1 mean?

Isaiah 3:1 warns that God is about to remove the basic supports of life—specifically bread and water—from Jerusalem and Judah, leaving the people without what they depend on most. This verse signals a coming time of hardship and loss as a result of the people's actions.

Isaiah, speaking as a prophet to the people of Jerusalem and Judah, announces that “the Lord, the LORD of hosts” is taking away their “stay and staff”—words that refer to what holds up or supports life. The verse highlights that even the most essential things, like food and water, are under God’s control, and their removal is a sign of judgment for the nation’s unfaithfulness.

The Hebrew behind Isaiah 3:1

  • “Lord” (אָדוֹן, ʾadon) and “LORD” (יְהוָה, YHWH): The verse uses both titles, emphasizing God’s authority and covenant relationship with Israel. “LORD of hosts” (יְהוָה צְבָאוֹת, YHWH tseva’ot) stresses His command over all powers.
  • “Stay” (מִשְׁעֵן, mishʿen) and “staff” (מִשְׁעֵנָה, mishʿenah): Both words come from the idea of something to lean on or rely upon. The repetition underlines that every kind of support—physical and symbolic—is being removed.
  • “Bread” (לֶחֶם, lechem) and “water” (מַיִם, mayim): These are the basic necessities for survival. Their mention shows that the coming judgment will affect the most fundamental aspects of daily life.

Why Isaiah 3:1 matters

  • Isaiah 3:1 makes clear that God is not just removing luxuries but the very basics needed for survival, showing the seriousness of the coming judgment.
  • The verse sets the stage for the rest of Isaiah 3, where the consequences of losing these supports—both physical and social—are described in detail.
  • By naming both “Jerusalem” and “Judah,” the verse shows that the warning is for the whole nation, not just one city or group.

Where else these words appear

“stay” Hebrew H4937 · used in 3 verses

  • 2 Samuel 22:19 They prevented me in the day of my calamity: but the LORD was my stay.
  • Psalms 18:18 They prevented me in the day of my calamity: but the LORD was my stay.

“staff” Hebrew H4938 · used in 11 verses

  • Exodus 21:19 If he rise again, and walk abroad upon his staff, then shall he that smote him be quit: only he shall pay for the loss of his time, and shall cause him to be thoroughly healed.
  • 2 Kings 4:29 Then he said to Gehazi, Gird up thy loins, and take my staff in thine hand, and go thy way: if thou meet any man, salute him not; and if any salute thee, answer him not again: and lay my staff upon the face of the child.
  • Psalms 23:4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

“whole” Hebrew H3605 · used in 24 verses

  • Genesis 3:17 And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life;
  • Exodus 12:6 And ye shall keep it up until the fourteenth day of the same month: and the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill it in the evening.
  • Deuteronomy 4:23 Take heed unto yourselves, lest ye forget the covenant of the LORD your God, which he made with you, and make you a graven image, or the likeness of any thing, which the LORD thy God hath forbidden thee.