Isaiah 1:3

1:3 An ox recognizes its owner,

a donkey recognizes where its owner puts its food; ¹ 

but Israel does not recognize me, ² 

my people do not understand.”

Isaiah 3:15

3:15 Why do you crush my people

and grind the faces of the poor?” ³ 

The sovereign Lord who commands armies ⁴  has spoken.

Isaiah 5:13

5:13 Therefore my ⁵  people will be deported ⁶ 

because of their lack of understanding.

Their ⁷  leaders will have nothing to eat, ⁸ 

their ⁹  masses will have nothing to drink. ¹⁰ 

Isaiah 52:6

52:6 For this reason my people will know my name,

for this reason they will know ¹¹  at that time ¹²  that I am the one who says,

‘Here I am.’”

Isaiah 57:14

57:14 He says, ¹³ 

“Build it! Build it! Clear a way!

Remove all the obstacles out of the way of my people!”

Isaiah 63:8

63:8 He said, “Certainly they will be my people,

children who are not disloyal.” ¹⁴ 

He became their deliverer.

[1:3]  ¹ tn Heb “and the donkey the feeding trough of its owner.” The verb in the first line does double duty in the parallelism.

[1:3]  ² tn Although both verbs have no object, the parallelism suggests that Israel fails to recognize the Lord as the one who provides for their needs. In both clauses, the placement of “Israel” and “my people” at the head of the clause focuses the reader’s attention on the rebellious nation (C. van der Merwe, J. Naudé, J. Kroeze, A Biblical Hebrew Reference Grammar, 346-47).

[3:15]  ³ sn The rhetorical question expresses the Lord’s outrage at what the leaders have done to the poor. He finds it almost unbelievable that they would have the audacity to treat his people in this manner.

[3:15]  ⁴ tn Heb “the master, the Lord who commands armies [traditionally, the Lord of hosts].” On the title “the Lord who commands armies,” see the note at 1:9.

[5:13]  ⁵ sn It is not certain if the prophet or the Lord is speaking at this point.

[5:13]  ⁶ tn The suffixed (perfect) form of the verb is used; in this way the coming event is described for rhetorical effect as occurring or as already completed.

[5:13]  ⁷ tn The third masculine singular suffix refers back to “my people.”

[5:13]  ⁸ tn Heb “Their glory will be men of hunger.” כָּבוֹד (kavod, “glory”) is in opposition to הָמוֹן (hamon, “masses”) and refers here to the rich and prominent members of the nation. Some prefer to repoint מְתֵי (mÿtey, “men of”) as מִתֵי (mitey, “dead ones of”).

[5:13]  ⁹ tn The third masculine singular suffix refers back to “my people.”

[5:13]  ¹⁰ tn Heb “and their masses will be parched [by] thirst.”

[52:6]  ⁷ tn The verb is understood by ellipsis (note the preceding line).

[52:6]  ⁸ tn Heb “in that day” (so KJV, NASB, NIV, NRSV).

[57:14]  ⁹ tn Since God is speaking throughout this context, perhaps we should emend the text to “and I say.” However, divine speech is introduced in v. 15.

[63:8]  ¹¹ tn Heb “children [who] do not act deceitfully.” Here the verb refers to covenantal loyalty.