Isaiah 3:16

Moreover the LORD saith, Because the daughters of Zion are haughty, and walk with stretched forth necks and wanton eyes, walking and mincing [as] they go, and making a tinkling with their feet:

Ver. 16. Moreover the Lord saith.] He hath this other saying to the other sex, for the maintaining of whose pride and luxury their husbands and paramours exercised such cruelty, as before, in the reign of Henry II, King of France, A.D. 1554. Many were burned there for religion, as they said, but indeed to satiate the covetousness, and support the pomp of Diana Valentina, the king's mistress, to whom he had given all the confiscation of goods made in the kingdom for cause of heresy. a

Because the daughters of Zion.] The court ladies.

Are haughty.] Elatae, h. e., superbia inflatae, puffed up with pride, first in heart, and then in habit; for pride will bud. Eze 7:10

And walk.] Women should keep the house, saith Paul. Tit 2:5 Sarah was in the tent, Gen 17:9 and these professed to be her daughters, but were nothing like her, Modestia enim a superbia triumphata est.

With stretched forth necks.] Like cranes or swans, that they might show their fair foreheads, whereas nature hath given the submiss and modest visages.

And wanton eyes.] Heb., Lying or deceiving, viz., by their lewd, lascivious looks, twinkling and making signs. Some render it facie cerussata, with their painted faces, and counterfeit visages, whereby, to the reproach of their Maker, they would seem fairer than they are.

Walking and mincing as they go.] Or, Tripping or tabering, with an affected gait, after the manner of dancers. Or ruffling in their silks and taffetas, with which last word the original seems to have affinity. Others derive it from taph, a little child, and render it instar parvulorum ambulant, they take short steps, as little ones do, so nice they are in their gait and garb; elaborata quadam concinnitate gressum modulantes. b

Making a tinkling with their feet.] Going as if they were shackled, or as young colts that are to be broken and brought to a pace. Some think they wore bells about their legs, or spangles on their pantofles. Pope Sixtus Quartus was wont to give his harlot, Tyresia, pantofles covered with pearls.

a Hist. of Council of Trent, p. 387.

b Minutim et numerose passus conserunt. - Jac. Revius.

c A slipper; formerly applied very variously, app., at one time or another, to every sort of indoor slippers or loose shoes; esp. to the high-heeled cork-soled chopins; also to outdoor overshoes or goloshes; and to all manner of Oriental and non-European slippers, sandals, and the like.