61:4 They will rebuild the perpetual ruins
and restore the places that were desolate; 1
they will reestablish the ruined cities,
the places that have been desolate since ancient times.
49:8 This is what the Lord says:
“At the time I decide to show my favor, I will respond to you;
in the day of deliverance I will help you;
I will protect you 2 and make you a covenant mediator for people, 3
to rebuild 4 the land 5
and to reassign the desolate property.
1 tn Heb “and the formerly desolate places they will raise up.”
2 tn The translation assumes the verb is derived from the root נָצָר (natsar, “protect”). Some prefer to derive it from the root יָצָר (yatsar, “form”).
3 tn Heb “a covenant of people.” A person cannot literally be a covenant; בְּרִית (bÿrit) is probably metonymic here, indicating a covenant mediator. Here עָם (’am, “people”) appears to refer to Israel. See the note at 42:6.
4 tn The Hiphil of קוּם (qum, “arise”) is probably used here in the sense of “rebuild.”
5 tn The “land” probably stands by metonymy for the ruins within it.