Isaiah 3:5 - Exposition

And the people shall be oppressed , etc.; rather, shall oppress each man his fellow , and each man his companion . This would be no new thing (see Isaiah 1:17 , Isaiah 1:21 , Isaiah 1:23 ), but perhaps might be more widely spread, having passed from the upper classes to the lower ones, as is usual with vices. The child ; rather, the youth. Shall behave himself proudly ; or, insolently . The respect for age inculcated by the Law (Le 19:32) shall disappear. Youths shall set at naught the counsel of the aged. The spirit of Rehoboam shall prevail over that of Solomon, with the usual result—rashness, recklessness, and failure. And the base , etc. Respect for station shall likewise disappear. The dregs of the people shall grow insolent towards those above them in the social scale; and thus the old social order shall be inverted.