69:33 For the Lord listens to the needy;
he does not despise his captive people. 1
79:11 Listen to the painful cries of the prisoners! 2
Use your great strength to set free those condemned to die! 3
102:20 in order to hear the painful cries of the prisoners,
and to set free those condemned to die, 4
14:17 Is this the one who made the world like a desert,
who ruined its 5 cities,
and refused to free his prisoners so they could return home?”’ 6
49:9 You will say 7 to the prisoners, ‘Come out,’
and to those who are in dark dungeons, 8 ‘Emerge.’ 9
They will graze beside the roads;
on all the slopes they will find pasture.
9:11 Moreover, as for you, because of our covenant relationship secured with blood, I will release your prisoners from the waterless pit. 9:12 Return to the stronghold, you prisoners, with hope; today I declare that I will return double what was taken from you.
1 tn Heb “his prisoners he does not despise.”
2 tn Heb “may the painful cry of the prisoner come before you.”
3 tn Heb “according to the greatness of your arm leave the sons of death.” God’s “arm” here symbolizes his strength to deliver. The verbal form הוֹתֵר (hoter) is a Hiphil imperative from יָתַר (yatar, “to remain; to be left over”). Here it must mean “to leave over; to preserve.” However, it is preferable to emend the form to הַתֵּר (hatter), a Hiphil imperative from נָתַר (natar, “be free”). The Hiphil form is used in Ps 105:20 of Pharaoh freeing Joseph from prison. The phrase “sons of death” (see also Ps 102:21) is idiomatic for those condemned to die.
4 tn Heb “the sons of death.” The phrase “sons of death” (see also Ps 79:11) is idiomatic for those condemned to die.
5 tc The pronominal suffix is masculine, even though its antecedent appears to be the grammatically feminine noun “world.” Some have suggested that the form עָרָיו (’arayv, plural noun with third masculine singular suffix) should be emended to עָרֶיהָ (’areha, plural noun with third feminine singular suffix). This emendation may be unnecessary in light of other examples of lack of agreement a suffix and its antecedent noun.
6 tn Heb “and his prisoners did not let loose to [their] homes.” This really means, “he did not let loose his prisoners and send them back to their homes.’ On the elliptical style, see GKC 366 §117.o.
7 tn Heb “to say.” In the Hebrew text the infinitive construct is subordinated to what precedes.
8 tn Heb “in darkness” (so KJV, NAB, NASB, NIV, NRSV); NLT “the prisoners of darkness.”
9 tn Heb “show yourselves” (so ASV, NAB, NASB).