Isaiah 1:26

1:26 I will reestablish honest judges as in former times,

wise advisers as in earlier days. ¹ 

Then you will be called, ‘The Just City,

Faithful Town.’”

Isaiah 49:1

Ideal Israel Delivers the Exiles

49:1 Listen to me, you coastlands! ² 

Pay attention, you people who live far away!

The Lord summoned me from birth; ³ 

he commissioned me when my mother brought me into the world. ⁴ 

[1:26]  ¹ tn Heb “I will restore your judges as in the beginning; and your counselors as in the beginning.” In this context, where social injustice and legal corruption are denounced (see v. 23), the “judges” are probably government officials responsible for making legal decisions, while the “advisers” are probably officials who helped the king establish policies. Both offices are also mentioned in 3:2.

[49:1]  ² tn Or “islands” (NASB, NIV); NLT “in far-off lands.”

[49:1]  ³ tn Heb “called me from the womb.”

[49:1]  ⁴ tn Heb “from the inner parts of my mother he mentioned my name.”