Isaiah 3:3
Context3:3 captains of groups of fifty,
the respected citizens, 1
advisers and those skilled in magical arts, 2
and those who know incantations.
Isaiah 34:5
Context34:5 He says, 3 “Indeed, my sword has slaughtered heavenly powers. 4
Look, it now descends on Edom, 5
on the people I will annihilate in judgment.”


[3:3] 1 tn Heb “the ones lifted up with respect to the face.” For another example of the Hebrew idiom, see 2 Kgs 5:1.
[3:3] 2 tn Heb “and the wise with respect to magic.” On the meaning of חֲרָשִׁים (kharashim, “magic”), see HALOT 358 s.v. III חרשׁ. Some understand here a homonym, meaning “craftsmen.” In this case, one could translate, “skilled craftsmen” (cf. NIV, NASB).
[34:5] 3 tn The words “he says” are supplied in the translation for clarification. The Lord speaks at this point.
[34:5] 4 tn Heb “indeed [or “for”] my sword is drenched in the heavens.” The Qumran scroll 1QIsaa has תראה (“[my sword] appeared [in the heavens]”), but this is apparently an attempt to make sense out of a difficult metaphor. Cf. NIV “My sword has drunk its fill in the heavens.”
[34:5] 5 sn Edom is mentioned here as epitomizing the hostile nations that oppose God.