For behold, the Lord GOD of hosts is taking away from Jerusalem and from Judah support and supply, all support of bread, and all support of water;
English Standard Version (ESV)
This verse isn't just about a literal loss of food and water; it uses "stay and staff" metaphorically to signify the removal of all reliable support systems – the pillars of society, the protectors, and the essential resources, leaving Jerusalem and Judah utterly vulnerable. It's a stark warning that when a people turns away from God, their entire foundation crumbles.
For behold, the Lord GOD of hosts is taking away from Jerusalem and from Judah support and supply, all support of bread, and all support of water;
English Standard Version (ESV)
The prophet Isaiah, speaking to Jerusalem and Judah, declares that the Lord of Hosts is about to withdraw all essential support, both politically and physically. This divine judgment comes as a consequence of the people's rebellion and the corruption within their leadership, specifically targeting the pillars of their society and the very means of their sustenance. The removal of "support and supply" signifies a coming devastation, a consequence for their sins.
When life feels unstable, who is ultimately in control? This verse reveals God's direct involvement when His people stray.
The prophet Isaiah begins with a stark declaration: 'the Lord GOD of hosts is taking away...' This isn't a random natural disaster or a consequence of poor human decisions alone. It's a divine action. The title 'Lord GOD of hosts' emphasizes His supreme authority and power over all creation and all armies (hosts). When God 'takes away,' it means He is actively removing the foundational supports of life.
What is Being Removed?
This isn't just about physical sustenance; it's about God holding His people accountable when they turn away from Him.
Why are bread and water so central to this judgment? Discover what these basic elements symbolize in God's economy.
The removal of 'all support of bread, and all support of water' is a potent symbol. It goes beyond mere physical hunger and thirst.
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Symbols of Life and Dependence
The scholars note that this removal could be literal (famine) or metaphorical, representing the removal of leadership, wisdom, and security – all essential 'supports' that sustain a nation.
Understand the original words
Adonai Yahweh Tseva'ot · Hebrew Noun phrase
A title for God emphasizing His absolute sovereignty, majesty, and position as the ruler over all created beings and spiritual powers. The term implies His total authority to command and judge.
Yerushalayim · Hebrew Noun (proper)
The capital city of the Southern Kingdom of Judah, serving as the center of God's covenant presence and worship. Prophetically, it often symbolizes the collective heart of God's people.
Yehudah · Hebrew Noun (proper)
One of the twelve tribes of Israel and the name of the Southern Kingdom. It represents the covenant community responsible for maintaining faithfulness to Yahweh.
This prophecy comes during a time of growing political instability and spiritual decline in Judah, particularly under the reign of King Ahaz, following decades of prosperity under Uzziah and Jotham. The impending Assyrian threat and internal corruption set the stage for God's judgment.
c. 740 BC
King Uzziah dies
Uzziah's long and prosperous reign ends. His son Jotham continues his policies, but his successor, Ahaz, will prove to be a disastrous king.
c. 740-735 BC
Jotham reigns
Jotham continues his father Uzziah's prosperity and building projects, leaving a strong kingdom to his son Ahaz.
c. 735 BC
Ahaz becomes king
Ahaz ascends the throne of Judah. His weak and idolatrous rule will lead to political instability and a crisis of faith.
c. 734 BC
Syro-Ephraimite War begins
Syria and the northern kingdom of Israel invade Judah, attempting to depose Ahaz and install their own king.
c. 732 BC
Assyrian intervention
Ahaz appeals to Assyria for help, paying tribute to the Assyrian king Tiglath-Pileser III, who invades Syria and parts of Israel.
c. 730-700 BC— this verse
Isaiah's early ministry
Isaiah begins his prophetic ministry during the reign of Ahaz, delivering messages of judgment and warning against sin and idolatry.
701 BC
Sennacherib's invasion
The Assyrian king Sennacherib invades Judah, capturing many cities and besieging Jerusalem, though the city is miraculously spared.
This passage directly parallels Isaiah's prophecy by warning that if the people disobey God, He will withdraw the 'staff of bread,' signifying a severe famine and the breakdown of essential sustenance.
Jeremiah 52:6This verse describes the historical reality of a famine in Jerusalem during the siege by Nebuchadnezzar, illustrating the devastating consequences of God removing the 'support of bread and water' for a sinful nation.
Ezekiel 4:16Ezekiel's prophecy also speaks of a divinely ordained famine where bread is eaten by weight and water by measure, underscoring the theme of God's judgment manifesting as a lack of essential provisions.
Matthew 24:7Jesus himself foretells famines as signs of the end times, echoing Isaiah's prophetic imagery of the withdrawal of 'bread and water' as a consequence of widespread sin and judgment.
Lamentations 5:10This passage paints a picture of the extreme suffering caused by famine after Jerusalem's destruction, where the 'bread' itself becomes a source of horror, reflecting the ultimate outcome of God's judgment on the city's sin.
expositorsIsaiah 3:1: "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,"
CHAPTER IITHE THREE JERUSALEMS740-735 B.C. Isaiah 2:1-22 ; Isaiah 3:1-26 ; Isaiah 4:1-6 AFTER the general introduction, in chapter 1, to the prophecies of Isaiah, there comes another portion of the book, of greater length, but nearly as distinct as the first. It covers four chapters, the second to the sixth, all of the…
ellicottIsaiah 3:1: "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,"
III. (1) For, behold, the Lord, the Lord of hosts, doth take away from Jerusalem . . .—From the general picture of the state of Judah as a whole, of the storm of Divine wrath bursting over the whole land, Isaiah turns to the Holy City itself, and draws the picture of what he saw there of evil, of that which would be se…
This verse isn't just about a literal loss of food and water; it uses "stay and staff" metaphorically to signify the removal of all reliable support systems – the pillars of society, the protectors, and the essential resources, leaving Jerusalem and Judah utterly vulnerable. It's a stark warning that when a people turns away from God, their entire foundation crumbles.
The prophet Isaiah, speaking to Jerusalem and Judah, declares that the Lord of Hosts is about to withdraw all essential support, both politically and physically. This divine judgment comes as a consequence of the people's rebellion and the corruption within their leadership, specifically targeting the pillars of their society and the very means of their sustenance. The removal of "support and supply" signifies a coming devastation, a consequence for their sins.
The prophet Isaiah, speaking to Jerusalem and Judah, declares that the Lord of Hosts is about to withdraw all essential support, both politically and physically. This divine judgment comes as a consequence of the people's rebellion and the corruption within their leadership, specifically targeting the pillars of their society and the very means of their sustenance. The removal of "support and supply" signifies a coming devastation, a consequence for their sins.
"For behold, the Lord GOD of hosts is taking away from Jerusalem and from Judah support and supply, all support of bread, and all support of water;" — This verse isn't just about a literal loss of food and water; it uses "stay and staff" metaphorically to signify the removal of all reliable support systems – the pillars of society, the protectors,…
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Last reviewed October 2026