2 Nephi 13:16

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Reference Search: 2 Nephi 13:16

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—

Quotes for Discussion

“Daughters of Zion”

Isaiah, one of the great prophets of early times, saw our day, and he described the conditions that would prevail among the “daughters of Zion” in these latter days [Nephi 13:16-24]. As I sit on the stand in a stake conference and look down over the congregation, I see some of the conditions existing of which Isaiah spoke….The standards expressed by the General Authorities of the Church are that women, as well as men, should dress modestly. They are taught proper deportment and modesty at all times. It is, in my judgment, a sad reflection on the “daughters of Zion” when they dress immodestly. Moreover, this remark pertains to the men as well as to the women.

Joseph Fielding Smith, Answers to Gospel Questions, 5:172-174

The plural form daughters of Zion is infrequently used in the scriptures (Isa. 3:16-17; 4:4; Song. 3:11; D&C 124:11). Scholars generally agree that the singular expression daughter of Zion refers to the inhabitants of Jerusalem and Judah (Lam. 1:6-8; 2:8-11; Zech. 9:9; 2 Ne. 8:25). What then is the meaning of plural daughters of Zion? There are several possible interpretations. If the phrase daughter of Zion represents Jerusalem, then perhaps the plural daughters refers to Jerusalem at the time of Isaiah as well as Jerusalem in the last days. The plural daughters of Zion may also refer to ancient Jerusalem (and the Southern Kingdom of Judah) and to Samaria (and the Northern Kingdom of Israel). The phrase may be literal, referring to actual women, or it may point to women as symbols of pride and sin in the last days. Note the women’s clothing described in 3:18-24 and the actual women that seem to be identified in 4:1. This interpretation parallels Isaiah’s condemnation of male pride (2:10-22) and the sick nature of the inhabitants of Jerusalem (1:5-6, 21-23).

Donald W. Parry, Jay A. Parry, and Tina M. Peterson, Understanding Isaiah, 43

The “daughters of Zion,” representing Israel, strut proudly in their fine clothes and jewels, but eh Lord will smite them with disease and exhibit their shame (vv. 16, 170….

18. In that day the Lord will take away the bravery [glory, finery] of their tinkling ornaments [their anklets, bangles], and cauls [headbands], and round tires like the moon [crescents]; 19. the chains [pendants] and the bracelets, and the mufflers [veils]; 20. the bonnets [headdresses], and the ornaments of the legs [armlets], and the headbands [sashes], and the tablets [perfume boxes], and the ear-rings [amulets]; 21. the rings [signet-rings], and the nose jewels [nose rings]; 22. the changeable suits of apparel [festal robes], and the mantles, and the simples [cloaks], and the crisping pins [purses]; 23. the glasses [polished metal mirrors], and the fine linen, and hoods [women’s turbans], and the veils [wraps]….

Zion (so means Isaiah) will now adopt the garb of mourning, sackcloth. She will receive branding, the mark of slavery, instead of beauty….

24….And instead of a girdle, a rent [a rope, i.e., of captives]….

And instead of a stomacher [fine robe], a girding of sackcloth;

Burning [brand-mark] instead of beauty.

Sidney B. Sperry, Book of Mormon Compendium [salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1968], 182-83

With respect to the women, and more particularly with regard to the manner in which they dress.

Never…have I seen such obscene, uncleanly, impure, and suggestive fashions of women’s dress as I see today. Some of them are abominable. I lift my voice against…these infamous fashions, and I pray that you who have daughters in Zion will save them, if you can, from following these obscene fashions, that if followed, will destroy the last vestige of true womanly modesty….

While crossing the street the other day, I saw a woman dressed to the height of this ridiculous fashion, and she was trotting along with little, short steps, she couldn’t go any other way, hurrying across the street to catch the car. She got hold of the rail of the car and tried to lift herself up, but her foot would not go up to the step. By this time there was a crowd of men looking on. All of a sudden she stooped down, caught the bottom of her dress and raised it high enough to climb up….Would you like your daughters to expose themselves in such a manner? To do so they must of necessity part with their sense of womanly modesty….God have mercy on our girls, and help them to dress decently!

I suppose I shall incur the censure and displeasure of many in saying these things, but I do not care….In my sight the present day fashions are abominable, suggestive of evil, calculated to arouse base passion and lust, and to engender lasciviousness, in the hearts of those who follow the fashions, and of those who tolerate them….It is infamous, and I hope the daughters of Zion will not descent to these pernicious ways, customs and fashions, for they are demoralizing and damnable in their effect.

Joseph F. Smith, Conference Report, Oct. 1913, 7-8

The haughty are defined as those who are proud of self and scornful of others. Wanton is defined as undisciplined, unmanageable, lewd. Mincing is defined as short, feminine steps or as plain speech.

Monte S. Nyman, Great Are the Words of Isaiah [salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1980] 37

The “tinkling with their feet” may have been made simply by the striking of anklets one upon another, or by bells or other small ornaments attached to the anklets. These anklets were of gold, silver, or iron, according to the taste or means of the wearer, and are still worn by Oriental women. They are sometimes quite heavy, and special pains are taken to strike them together, in order to make a jingle. When they are hollow, as is often the case, the sharp sound is increased. In Egypt and in India some of the anklets have small round bells attached to them, and these bells sometimes have little pebbles in them, which strike like tiny clappers.

James M. Freeman, Manners and Customs of the Bible, [Plainfield, New Jersey: Logos International, 1972], 250

“Stretched forth necks”

This expression portrays women who look sideways to see if others notice their beauty as they prance along the way or as they look upwards with high heads in a proud manner. For the children of Israel in all eras, the expression denotes a people who pay idolatrous heed to others rather than to God above.

Parry, Parry, Peterson, Understanding Isaiah, p. 43