5:16 The Lord who commands armies will be exalted 1 when he punishes, 2
the sovereign God’s authority will be recognized when he judges. 3
5:24 Therefore, as flaming fire 4 devours straw,
and dry grass disintegrates in the flames,
so their root will rot,
and their flower will blow away like dust. 5
For they have rejected the law of the Lord who commands armies,
they have spurned the commands 6 of the Holy One of Israel. 7
1 tn Or “elevated”; TEV “the Lord Almighty shows his greatness.”
2 tn Heb “by judgment/justice.” When God justly punishes the evildoers denounced in the preceding verses, he will be recognized as a mighty warrior.
3 tn Heb “The holy God will be set apart by fairness.” In this context God’s holiness is his sovereign royal authority, which implies a commitment to justice (see the note on the phrase “the sovereign king of Israel” in 1:4). When God judges evildoers as they deserve, his sovereignty will be acknowledged.
4 tn Heb “a tongue of fire” (so NASB), referring to a tongue-shaped flame.
5 sn They are compared to a flowering plant that withers quickly in a hot, arid climate.
6 tn Heb “the word.”
7 sn See the note on the phrase “the Holy One of Israel” in 1:4.