Isa 4:1 | NETfull | STEP | Seven women will grab hold of one man at that time. They will say, “We will provide our own food, we will provide our own clothes; but let us belong to you

Isaiah 4:1

1 Seven women will grab hold of
one man at that time. ^{▼▼ Or “in that day” (ASV).} ^{▼▼ The seven to one ratio emphasizes the great disparity that will exist in the population due to the death of so many men in battle.}
They will say, “We will provide ^{▼▼ Heb “eat” (so NASB, NIV, NRSV); CEV “buy.”} our own food,
we will provide ^{▼▼ Heb “wear” (so NASB, NRSV); NCV “make.”} our own clothes;
but let us belong to you ^{▼▼ Heb “only let your name be called over us.” The Hebrew idiom “call the name over” indicates ownership. See 2 Sam 12:28, and BDB 896 s.v. I ָקרָא Niph. 2.d.(4). The language reflects the cultural reality of ancient Israel, where women were legally the property of their husbands.} –
take away our shame!” ^{▼▼ This refers to the humiliation of being unmarried and childless. The women’s words reflect the cultural standards of ancient Israel, where a woman’s primary duties were to be a wife and mother.}