Note: this section contrasts the superficial beauty of the “cat walk” with the true beauty of holiness. Different Hebrew words for beauty are used.
A. the vanity and pride of the daughters of Zion
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:
17 Therefore the Lord will smite with a scab
the crown of the head of the daughters of Zion,
and the LORD will discover their secret parts.
B. the garish fashion parade spoiled
18 In that day the LORD will take away
the bravery (tipara) of their tinkling ornaments about their feet,
and their cauls, and their round tires like the moon,
19 The chains, and the bracelets, and the mufflers,
20 The bonnets, and the ornaments of the legs, and the headbands,
and the tablets, and the earrings,
21 The rings, and nose jewels,
22 The changeable suits of apparel, and the mantles,
and the wimples, and the crisping pins,
23 The glasses, and the fine linen,
and the hoods, and the vails.
24 And it shall come to pass,
that instead of sweet smell there shall be stink;
and instead of a girdle a rent;
and instead of well set hair baldness;
and instead of a stomacher a girding of sackcloth;
and burning instead of beauty.
25 Thy men shall fall by the sword,
and thy mighty in the war.
26 And her gates shall lament and mourn;
and she being desolate shall sit upon the ground.
C. 4:1 And in that day seven women shall take hold of one man, saying,
We will eat our own bread, and wear our own apparel:
only let us be called by thy name, to take away our reproach.
B’. true spiritual beauty
2 In that day shall the branch of the LORD be beautiful and glorious,
and the fruit of the earth shall be excellent and comely (tipara)
for them that are escaped of Israel.
A’. the daughters of Zion cleansed and Jerusalem holy
3 And it shall come to pass, that he that is left in Zion, and he that remaineth in Jerusalem, shall be called holy, even every one that is written among the living in Jerusalem: 4 When the Lord shall have washed away the filth of the daughters of Zion, and shall have purged the blood of Jerusalem from the midst thereof by the spirit of judgment, and by the spirit of burning. 5 And the LORD will create upon every dwelling place of mount Zion, and upon her assemblies, a cloud and smoke by day, and the shining of a flaming fire by night: for upon all the glory shall be a defence. 6 And there shall be a tabernacle for a shadow in the daytime from the heat, and for a place of refuge, and for a covert from storm and from rain.