What does Isaiah 3:12 mean?
In this verse, Isaiah acknowledges with sadness that the people of Israel are his people. He cries out about the condition they have fallen into because of their sinfulness before God.He presents new evidence of their sorry circumstances; this could be referring to currently or as part of the coming judgment. The idea that they are oppressed by "infants" may mean that their young and inexperienced leaders are taking advantage of them. Isaiah also says that "women rule over them." This may be a way of describing male leaders as weak or allowing their wives or mothers to exercise power over the people through them.
The problem with these young, oppressive, manipulative leaders is that they are leading the people in the wrong direction. Poetically Isaiah describes how these leaders have made it more difficult to follow the way of the Lord instead of making it easier.