The LORD said …: The prophet reports Yahweh’s words here. He is making a new charge against the people of Jerusalem, in particular its rich women. Verse 17 describes the action the LORD will take against the arrogant women described in verse 16. We consider these two verses together because many translators will need to restructure them. This is because the main statement is in verse 17, while the reason for it is given in verse 16. In some languages it will be necessary to place verse 17 before verse 16 to achieve a natural expression (see the first model below for an example).

Because the daughters of Zion are haughty: Verse 16 returns to a key thought of chapter 2 with the reference to being haughty (2.11). The initial connector Because renders a special compound form in Hebrew, which removes any ambiguity regarding its meaning. We may say “It is because…” to highlight this emphasis. However, translators should note that beginning the quote with “Because” will probably force them into constructing a very long sentence, one that ends with verse 17. Good News Translation has avoided this by rendering this line as “Look how proud the women of Jerusalem are!” (similarly Bible en français courant). For the daughters of Zion, see the introduction on this section and the comments at 1.8. Instead of the daughters of Zion, translators may say “the women of Jerusalem.” Age is not in focus here, but the descriptions that follow seem to apply to adult women. Bible en français courant has “The ladies of Jerusalem.”

And walk with outstretched necks is a literal rendering. New Jerusalem Bible says “and walk with heads held high,” and New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh says “And walk with heads thrown back.” Good News Translation uses an English idiom, saying “They walk with their noses in the air.” Most cultures have an expression for the way people walk arrogantly, with their heads held in a position that implies they are showing off. Such an expression may be used here, especially if a literal translation is awkward and difficult to understand.

Glancing wantonly with their eyes expresses the way some women look at men to attract them. The Hebrew verb rendered glancing wantonly carries the meaning of ogling at another person. New International Version expresses this line well with “flirting with their eyes.” Good News Translation simply says “They are always flirting.” Other suitable models are “they tease with their eyes” and “they wink.”

Mincing along as they go describes a way of walking, which also is intended to attract attention. The probable meaning is that they walk with short steps; see Good News Translation “They take dainty little steps.” Another way of putting it is “They take quick, short steps.” However, this interpretation is merely a guess since this is the only time Hebrew verb rendered mincing along occurs in the Old Testament. We have no other context to help determine its precise meaning. Translators should choose a special descriptive verb that fits the context—a verb that describes a form of seductive walking.

Tinkling with their feet: Tinkling refers to the sound of a small bell or other jingling piece. Here the sound comes from such objects attached to anklets (bracelets worn at the feet). It is not the women’s feet that make the sound but their anklets, which jingle as they walk. So New American Bible has “their anklets tinkling with every step,” and Good News Translation says “and the bracelets on their ankles jingle” (similarly New Century Version, Bible en français courant).

The Lord will smite with a scab the heads of the daughters of Zion: The Lord is not the divine name Yahweh, but renders the title meaning “my master” (see 1.2). The Hebrew verb rendered smite with a scab is rarely used, so its basic meaning is unclear. The Hebrew lexicon by Brown, Driver and Briggs (BDB) gives its meaning as “cause a scab,” while other scholars think it may be related to a root that suggests baldness or a shaven head. Both views can be found in the English translations. Contemporary English Version, New International Version, New Jerusalem Bible, and New American Bible are examples of those who choose the “scab” interpretation; Good News Translation, Revised English Bible, and New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh prefer the meaning “baldness.” If these proud ladies had scabs on their heads, they would look repulsive and would probably be ritually unclean (see Lev 13.2-8). The following is a possible model for the “scab” interpretation: “the Lord will put sores on the heads of the women of Jerusalem.” But since the general purpose of Yahweh’s actions here is to humiliate the women, it is better to say their heads were shaved. This was a typical way of humiliating people in biblical culture (Num 5.18; 1 Chr 19.4-5; Jer 48.37).

And the LORD will lay bare their secret parts: The Hebrew word rendered secret parts (an English euphemism for the female vulva and genital hair) is rare, so its precise meaning is debated. In 1 Kgs 7.50 it seems to mean “sockets,” thus suggesting here a woman’s private parts. Exposing a person’s private parts was another typical way of humiliating them. On the other hand, several English translations make this line parallel with the previous one and refer to the women’s foreheads or scalps being exposed (so Good News Translation, New International Version, New Jerusalem Bible, New American Bible, Revised English Bible, New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh). However, the evidence for this view is from a related language, not Hebrew. The forceful nature of the language in these two verses leads us to prefer the Revised Standard Version rendering (also Contemporary English Version), but translators may choose to follow the majority view. An alternative model for this line is “and the LORD will expose their nakedness.”

Possible models for verses 16-17 are:

• 16-17 Yahweh says that he will shave the heads of the women of Zion,
and he will expose their private parts [or, vaginas],
because the women of Zion are arrogant
and walk about with their noses in the air,
and because they try to attract men’s attention,
mincing along with anklets jingling.

• 16 Yahweh said:
Because the women of Zion are arrogant
and walk with their heads in the air,
flirting with their looks,
walking with dainty steps and jingling anklets,
17 the Lord will humiliate them,
causing scabs on the heads of the women of Zion
and even exposing their private parts.

Quoted with permission from Ogden, Graham S. and Sterk, Jan. A Handbook on Isaiah. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2011. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .