Isaiah 13:3

13:3 I have given orders to my chosen soldiers; ¹ 

I have summoned the warriors through whom I will vent my anger, ² 

my boasting, arrogant ones. ³ 

Isaiah 42:1

The Lord Commissions His Special Servant

42:1 ⁴ “Here is my servant whom I support,

my chosen one in whom I take pleasure.

I have placed my spirit on him;

he will make just decrees ⁵  for the nations. ⁶ 

[13:3]  ¹ tn Heb “my consecrated ones,” i.e., those who have been set apart by God for the special task of carrying out his judgment.

[13:3]  ² tn Heb “my warriors with respect to my anger.”

[13:3]  ³ tn Heb “the boasting ones of my pride”; cf. ASV, NASB, NRSV “my proudly exulting ones.”

[42:1]  ⁴ sn Verses 1-7 contain the first of Isaiah’s “servant songs,” which describe the ministry of a special, ideal servant who accomplishes God’s purposes for Israel and the nations. This song depicts the servant as a just king who brings justice to the earth and relief for the oppressed. The other songs appear in 49:1-13; 50:4-11; and 52:13-53:12.

[42:1]  ⁵ tn Heb “he will bring out justice” (cf. ASV, NASB, NRSV).

[42:1]  ⁶ sn Like the ideal king portrayed in Isa 11:1-9, the servant is energized by the divine spirit and establishes justice on the earth.