What does Isaiah 3:3 mean?

God's people have been unfaithful to Him, so says the prophet Isaiah. They have put their trust in everything but the Lord to provide wealth, security, and meaning for their lives (Isaiah 2:12–18). Isaiah is describing how the Lord will remove everything they have trusted in, including strong men and leaders from their society (Isaiah 3:2).

This passage has listed the people God will take away from Jerusalem and Judah. Now Isaiah adds to that list. The Lord will remove the military leaders. These were the men experienced in leading Judah's fighters into battle. The people will be helpless to fight back against their enemies without these leaders.

The Lord will also remove the counselor, the "skillful magician"—perhaps better translated "skilled craftsmen"—and the "expert in charms." These were the men thought to be the wise and respectable ones. The spiritual services provided by magicians and charms experts were forbidden by the Lord. But the people were full of these superstitions received from the neighboring nations (Isaiah 2:6) . The point is that the Lord will remove every form of support His people were leaning on, including both the good and the vile.