49:2 He made my mouth like a sharp sword,
he hid me in the hollow of his hand;
he made me like a sharpened 1 arrow,
he hid me in his quiver. 2
30:20 The sovereign master 3 will give you distress to eat
and suffering to drink; 4
but your teachers will no longer be hidden;
your eyes will see them. 5
1 tn Or perhaps, “polished” (so KJV, ASV, NAB, NIV, NRSV); NASB “a select arrow.”
2 sn The figurative language emphasizes the servant’s importance as the Lord’s effective instrument. The servant’s mouth, which stands metonymically for his words, is compared to a sharp sword because he will be an effective spokesman on God’s behalf (see 50:4). The Lord holds his hand on the servant, ready to draw and use him at the appropriate time. The servant is like a sharpened arrow reserved in a quiver for just the right moment.
3 tn The Hebrew term translated “sovereign master” here is אֲדֹנָי (’adonai).
4 tn Heb “and the Master will give to you bread – distress, and water – oppression.”
5 tn Heb “but your teachers will no longer be hidden, your eyes will be seeing your teachers.” The translation assumes that the form מוֹרֶיךָ (morekha) is a plural participle, referring to spiritual leaders such as prophets and priests. Another possibility is that the form is actually singular (see GKC 273-74 §93.ss) or a plural of respect, referring to God as the master teacher. See HALOT 560-61 s.v. III מוֹרֶה. For discussion of the views, see J. N. Oswalt, Isaiah (NICOT), 1:560.