Isaiah 28:9

28:9 Who is the Lord ¹  trying to teach?

To whom is he explaining a message? ² 

Those just weaned from milk!

Those just taken from their mother’s breast! ³ 

Isaiah 40:14

40:14 From whom does he receive directions? ⁴ 

Who ⁵  teaches him the correct way to do things, ⁶ 

or imparts knowledge to him,

or instructs him in skillful design? ⁷ 

Isaiah 59:8

59:8 They are unfamiliar with peace;

their deeds are unjust. ⁸ 

They use deceitful methods,

and whoever deals with them is unfamiliar with peace. ⁹ 

[28:9]  ¹ tn Heb “he”; the referent (the Lord) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[28:9]  ² tn Heb “Who is he teaching knowledge? For whom is he explaining a message?” The translation assumes that the Lord is the subject of the verbs “teaching” and “explaining,” and that the prophet is asking the questions. See v. 12. According to some vv. 9-10 record the people’s sarcastic response to the Lord’s message through Isaiah.

[28:9]  ³ tn Heb “from the breasts.” The words “their mother’s” are supplied in the translation for clarification. The translation assumes that this is the prophet’s answer to the questions asked in the first half of the verse. The Lord is trying to instruct people who are “infants” morally and ethically.

[40:14]  ⁴ tn Heb “With whom did he consult, so that he gave discernment to him?”

[40:14]  ⁵ tn Heb “and taught him.” The vav (ו) consecutive with prefixed verbal form continues the previous line. The translation employs an interrogative pronoun for stylistic reasons.

[40:14]  ⁶ tn The phrase אֹרַח מִשְׁפָּט (’orakh mishpat) could be translated “path of justice” (so NASB, NRSV), but in this context, where creative ability and skill is in view, the phrase is better understood in the sense of “the way that is proper or fitting” (see BDB 1049 s.v. מִשְׁפָּט 6); cf. NIV, NCV “the right way.”

[40:14]  ⁷ tn Heb “or the way of understanding causes him to know?”

[59:8]  ⁷ tn Heb “a way of peace they do not know, and there is no justice in their pathways.”

[59:8]  ⁸ tn Heb “their paths they make crooked, everyone who walks in it does not know peace.”