Isaiah 27:2-4

27:2 When that time comes, ¹ 

sing about a delightful vineyard! ² 

27:3 I, the Lord, protect it; ³ 

I water it regularly. ⁴ 

I guard it night and day,

so no one can harm it. ⁵ 

27:4 I am not angry.

I wish I could confront some thorns and briers!

Then I would march against them ⁶  for battle;

I would set them ⁷  all on fire,

[27:2]  ¹ tn Heb “in that day” (so KJV).

[27:2]  ² tn Heb “vineyard of delight,” or “vineyard of beauty.” Many medieval mss read כֶּרֶם חֶמֶר (kerem khemer, “vineyard of wine”), i.e., “a productive vineyard.”

[27:3]  ³ tn Heb “her.” Apparently “vineyard” is the antecedent, though normally this noun is understood as masculine (see Lev 25:3, however).

[27:3]  ⁴ tn Or perhaps, “constantly.” Heb “by moments.”

[27:3]  ⁵ tn Heb “lest [someone] visit [harm] upon it, night and day I guard it.”

[27:4]  ⁵ tn Heb “it.” The feminine singular suffix apparently refers back to the expression “thorns and briers,” understood in a collective sense. For other examples of a cohortative expressing resolve after a hypothetical statement introduced by נָתַן with מִי (miwith natan), see Judg 9:29; Jer 9:1-2; Ps 55:6.

[27:4]  ⁶ tn Heb “it.” The feminine singular suffix apparently refers back to the expression “thorns and briers,” understood in a collective sense.