12:6 The Lord’s words are absolutely reliable. 1
They are as untainted as silver purified in a furnace on the ground,
where it is thoroughly refined. 2
45:23 I solemnly make this oath 3 –
what I say is true and reliable: 4
‘Surely every knee will bow to me,
every tongue will solemnly affirm; 5
63:1 Who is this who comes from Edom, 6
dressed in bright red, coming from Bozrah? 7
Who 8 is this one wearing royal attire, 9
who marches confidently 10 because of his great strength?
“It is I, the one who announces vindication,
and who is able to deliver!” 11
1 tn Heb “the words of the
2 tn Heb “[like] silver purified in a furnace of [i.e., “on”] the ground, refined seven times.” The singular participle מְזֻקָּק (mÿzuqqaq, “refined”) modifies “silver.” The number seven is used rhetorically to express the thorough nature of the action. For other rhetorical/figurative uses of שִׁבְעָתָיִם (shiv’atayim, “seven times”), see Gen 4:15, 24; Ps 79:12; Prov 6:31; Isa 30:26.
3 tn Heb “I swear by myself”; KJV, NASB “have sworn.”
4 tn Heb “a word goes out from my mouth [in] truth and will not return.”
5 tn Heb “swear” (so KJV, NAB, NIV, NRSV); NLT “confess allegiance.”
6 sn Edom is here an archetype for the Lord’s enemies. See 34:5.
7 tn Heb “[in] bright red garments, from Bozrah.”
8 tn The interrogative particle is understood by ellipsis; note the first line of the verse.
9 tn Heb “honored in his clothing”; KJV, ASV “glorious in his apparel.”
10 tc The Hebrew text has צָעָה (tsa’ah), which means “stoop, bend” (51:14). The translation assumes an emendation to צָעַד (tsa’ad, “march”; see BDB 858 s.v. צָעָה).
11 tn Heb “I, [the one] speaking in vindication [or “righteousness”], great to deliver.”