23:19 God is not a man, that he should lie,
nor a human being, 1 that he should change his mind.
Has he said, and will he not do it?
Or has he spoken, and will he not make it happen? 2
24:25 “If this is not so, who can prove me a liar
and reduce my words to nothing?” 3
53:1 Who would have believed 4 what we 5 just heard? 6
When 7 was the Lord’s power 8 revealed through him?
15:18 Why must I continually suffer such painful anguish?
Why must I endure the sting of their insults like an incurable wound?
Will you let me down when I need you
like a brook one goes to for water, but that cannot be relied on?” 9
3:12 See to it, 11 brothers and sisters, 12 that none of you has 13 an evil, unbelieving heart that forsakes 14 the living God. 15
1 tn Heb “son of man.”
2 tn The verb is the Hiphil of קוּם (qum, “to cause to rise; to make stand”). The meaning here is more of the sense of fulfilling the promises made.
3 tn The word אַל (’al, “not”) is used here substantivally (“nothing”).
4 tn The perfect has a hypothetical force in this rhetorical question. For another example, see Gen 21:7.
5 sn The speaker shifts here from God to an unidentified group (note the first person plural pronouns throughout vv. 1-6). The content of the speech suggests that the prophet speaks here as representative of the sinful nation Israel. The group acknowledges its sin and recognizes that the servant suffered on their behalf.
6 tn The first half of v. 1 is traditionally translated, “Who has believed our report?” or “Who has believed our message?” as if the group speaking is lamenting that no one will believe what they have to say. But that doesn’t seem to be the point in this context. Here the group speaking does not cast itself in the role of a preacher or evangelist. No, they are repentant sinners, who finally see the light. The phrase “our report” can mean (1) the report which we deliver, or (2) the report which was delivered to us. The latter fits better here, where the report is most naturally taken as the announcement that has just been made in 52:13-15.
7 tn Heb “to whom” (so KJV, NASB, NIV, NRSV).
8 tn Heb “the arm of the Lord.” The “arm of the Lord” is a metaphor of military power; it pictures the Lord as a warrior who bares his arm, takes up his weapon, and crushes his enemies (cf. 51:9-10; 63:5-6). But Israel had not seen the Lord’s military power at work in the servant.
9 tn Heb “Will you be to me like a deceptive (brook), like waters which do not last [or are not reliable].”
10 tn Or “is true.”
11 tn Or “take care.”
12 tn Grk “brothers.” See note on the phrase “brothers and sisters” in 2:11.
13 tn Grk “that there not be in any of you.”
14 tn Or “deserts,” “rebels against.”
15 tn Grk “in forsaking the living God.”