Isaiah 3:25

3:25 Your ¹  men will fall by the sword,

your strong men will die in battle. ² 

Isaiah 5:13

5:13 Therefore my ³  people will be deported ⁴ 

because of their lack of understanding.

Their ⁵  leaders will have nothing to eat, ⁶ 

their ⁷  masses will have nothing to drink. ⁸ 

Isaiah 41:14

41:14 Don’t be afraid, despised insignificant Jacob, ⁹ 

men of ¹⁰  Israel.

I am helping you,” says the Lord,

your protector, ¹¹  the Holy One of Israel. ¹² 

[3:25]  ¹ tn The pronoun is feminine singular, suggesting personified Zion, as representative of its women, is the addressee. The reference to “her gates’ in v. 26 makes this identification almost certain.

[3:25]  ² tn Heb “your strength in battle.” The verb in the first clause provides the verbal idea for the second clause.

[5:13]  ³ sn It is not certain if the prophet or the Lord is speaking at this point.

[5:13]  ⁴ 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]  ⁵ tn The third masculine singular suffix refers back to “my people.”

[5:13]  ⁶ 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]  ⁷ tn The third masculine singular suffix refers back to “my people.”

[5:13]  ⁸ tn Heb “and their masses will be parched [by] thirst.”

[41:14]  ⁵ tn Heb “O worm Jacob” (NAB, NIV). The worm metaphor suggests that Jacob is insignificant and despised.

[41:14]  ⁶ tn On the basis of the parallelism (note “worm”) and an alleged Akkadian cognate, some read “louse” or “weevil.” Cf. NAB “O maggot Israel”; NRSV “you insect Israel.”

[41:14]  ⁷ tn Heb “your kinsman redeemer.” A גָּאַל (ga’al, “kinsman redeemer”) was a protector of the extended family’s interests.

[41:14]  ⁸ sn See the note on the phrase “the Holy One of Israel” in 1:4.