17:3 The crucible 1 is for refining 2 silver and the furnace 3 is for gold,
likewise 4 the Lord tests 5 hearts.
31:9 They will surrender their stronghold 6 because of fear; 7
their officers will be afraid of the Lord’s battle flag.” 8
This is what the Lord says –
the one whose fire is in Zion,
whose firepot is in Jerusalem. 9
48:10 Look, I have refined you, but not as silver;
I have purified you 10 in the furnace of misery.
1 sn The noun מַצְרֵף (matsref) means “a place or instrument for refining” (cf. ASV, NASB “the refining pot”). The related verb, which means “to melt, refine, smelt,” is used in scripture literally for refining and figuratively for the
2 tn The term “refining” does not appear in the Hebrew text, but is implied by the parallelism; it is supplied in the translation for the sake of clarity.
3 sn The term כּוּר (cur) describes a “furnace” or “smelting pot.” It can be used figuratively for the beneficial side of affliction (Isa 48:10).
4 tn Heb “and.” Most English versions treat this as an adversative (“but”).
5 sn The participle בֹּחֵן (bokhen, “tests”) in this emblematic parallelism takes on the connotations of the crucible and the furnace. When the
6 tn Heb “rocky cliff” (cf. ASV, NASB “rock”), viewed metaphorically as a place of defense and security.
7 tn Heb “His rocky cliff, because of fear, will pass away [i.e., “perish”].”
8 tn Heb “and they will be afraid of the flag, his officers.”
9 sn The “fire” and “firepot” here symbolize divine judgment, which is heating up like a fire in Jerusalem, waiting to be used against the Assyrians when they attack the city.
10 tc The Hebrew text has בְּחַרְתִּיךָ (bÿkhartikha, “I have chosen you”), but the Qumran scroll 1QIsaa reads correctly בחנתיכה (“I have tested you”). The metallurgical background of the imagery suggests that purification through testing is the idea.