14:18 But as 1 a mountain falls away and crumbles, 2
and as a rock will be removed from its place,
54:10 Even if the mountains are removed
and the hills displaced,
my devotion will not be removed from you,
nor will my covenant of friendship 3 be displaced,”
says the Lord, the one who has compassion on you.
1 tn The indication that this is a simile is to be obtained from the conjunction beginning 19c (see GKC 499 §161.a).
2 tn The word יִבּוֹל (yibbol) usually refers to a flower fading and so seems strange here. The LXX and the Syriac translate “and will fall”; most commentators accept this and repoint the preceding word to get “and will surely fall.” Duhm retains the MT and applies the image of the flower to the falling mountain. The verb is used of the earth in Isa 24:4, and so NIV, RSV, and NJPS all have the idea of “crumble away.”
3 tn Heb “peace” (so many English versions); NLT “of blessing.”
4 sn The words that Jesus predicts here will never pass away. They are more stable and lasting than creation itself. For this kind of image, see Isa 40:8; 55:10-11.