King James Version

What Does Isaiah 32:11 Mean?

Isaiah 32:11 in the King James Version says “Tremble, ye women that are at ease; be troubled, ye careless ones: strip you, and make you bare, and gird sackcloth upon...” — study this verse from Isaiah chapter 32 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“Tremble, ye women that are at ease; be troubled, ye careless ones: strip you, and make you bare, and gird sackcloth upon your loins.”

Isaiah 32:11 · KJV

Context

9

Rise up, ye women that are at ease; hear my voice, ye careless daughters; give ear unto my speech.

10

Many days and years shall ye be troubled, ye careless women: for the vintage shall fail, the gathering shall not come. Many: Heb. Days above a year

11

Tremble, ye women that are at ease; be troubled, ye careless ones: strip you, and make you bare, and gird sackcloth upon your loins.

12

They shall lament for the teats, for the pleasant fields, for the fruitful vine. pleasant: Heb. fields of desire

13

Upon the land of my people shall come up thorns and briers; yea, upon all the houses of joy in the joyous city: yea: or, burning upon

Read Isaiah 32 full chapter

Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
Tremble, ye women that are at ease (חִרְדוּ שַׁאֲנַנּוֹת, chirdu sha'ananot)—the command חָרַד (charad, tremble, be terrified) addresses the שַׁאֲנַנּוֹת (sha'ananot, complacent). Be troubled, ye careless ones (רְגָזָה בֹּטְחוֹת, regazah botechot)—רָגַז (ragaz, be agitated, troubled). Strip you, and make you bare, and gird sackcloth upon your loins (פְּשֹׁטָה וְעֹרָה וַחֲגוֹרָה עַל־חֲלָצָיִם, peshotah ve'orah vachagorah al-chalatsayim)—strip off (פָּשַׁט, pashat), become naked (עָרָה, arah), gird (חָגַר, chagar) שַׂק (saq, sackcloth) on חֲלָצַיִם (chalatsayim, loins, hips).

The imperatives escalate: from hearing (v. 9) to emotional response (tremble, be troubled) to physical action (strip, don sackcloth). Sackcloth represented mourning and repentance—coarse goat hair worn against skin as physical discomfort matching spiritual anguish. The stripping signifies removing fine garments (symbols of ease) for mourning clothes. Joel 1:13 commands priests: 'Gird yourselves, and lament, ye priests... lie all night in sackcloth.' Jonah 3:6-8 describes Nineveh's repentance in sackcloth. Isaiah calls for prophylactic mourning—grieve before disaster strikes, repent while grace remains.

KJV Study — Public Domain

Historical & Cultural Context

Ancient mourning rituals included sackcloth, ashes, fasting, weeping (Genesis 37:34, 2 Samuel 3:31, Esther 4:1-3). Women particularly engaged in professional mourning (Jeremiah 9:17-20). Isaiah commands pre-emptive mourning—don't wait for disaster; repent now. Judah largely ignored this, only mourning after Babylon destroyed everything. Jesus wept over Jerusalem's refusal to recognize 'the time of thy visitation' (Luke 19:41-44).

Reflection Questions

  1. What would 'stripping and girding sackcloth' look like today—what tangible acts of repentance is God calling you to?
  2. How does prophetic warning provide opportunity for preventative repentance rather than reactive grief?
  3. What comforts or 'fine garments' might need to be stripped away for genuine mourning over sin?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 9 words
חִרְדוּ֙1 of 9

“Tremble”

H2729

to shudder with terror; hence, to fear; also to hasten (with anxiety)

שַֽׁאֲנַנּ֔וֹת2 of 9

“ye women that are at ease”

H7600

secure; in a bad sense, haughty

רְגָ֖זָה3 of 9

“be troubled”

H7264

to quiver (with any violent emotion, especially anger or fear)

בֹּֽטְח֑וֹת4 of 9

“ye careless ones”

H982

properly, to hie for refuge (but not so precipitately as h2620); figuratively, to trust, be confident or sure

פְּשֹׁ֣טָֽה5 of 9

“strip”

H6584

to spread out (i.e., deploy in hostile array); by analogy, to strip (i.e., unclothe, plunder, flay, etc.)

וְעֹ֔רָה6 of 9

“you and make you bare”

H6209

to bare; figuratively, to demolish

וַחֲג֖וֹרָה7 of 9

“and gird”

H2290

a belt (for the waist)

עַל8 of 9
H5921

above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications

חֲלָצָֽיִם׃9 of 9

“sackcloth upon your loins”

H2504

the loins (as the seat of vigor)

Study Guide

Historical Context

This verse is found in the book of Isaiah. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.

Theological Significance

Isaiah 32:11 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.

Cross-References

Verses related to Isaiah 32:11 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Isaiah 3:24Hosea 2:3Isaiah 2:21Isaiah 20:4Jeremiah 49:3Isaiah 15:3

Test Your Knowledge

Isaiah 32 QuizTest your knowledge of this chapterIsaiah Book QuizComprehensive quiz for the entire book

Continue Your Study

Read Isaiah 32 with CommentaryAll Isaiah ChaptersComplete Isaiah QuizBible CharactersNave's Topical BibleAll Bible Quizzes