Isaiah 3:4

3:4 The Lord says, ¹  “I will make youths their officials;

malicious young men ²  will rule over them.

Isaiah 3:25

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

your strong men will die in battle. ⁴ 

Isaiah 46:8

46:8 Remember this, so you can be brave! ⁵ 

Think about it, you rebels! ⁶ 

Isaiah 51:21

51:21 So listen to this, oppressed one,

who is drunk, but not from wine!

Isaiah 65:22

65:22 No longer will they build a house only to have another live in it, ⁷ 

or plant a vineyard only to have another eat its fruit, ⁸ 

for my people will live as long as trees, ⁹ 

and my chosen ones will enjoy to the fullest what they have produced. ¹⁰ 

[3:4]  ¹ tn The words “the Lord says” are supplied in the translation for clarification. The prophet speaks in vv. 1-3 (note the third person reference to the Lord in v. 1), but here the Lord himself announces that he will intervene in judgment. It is unclear where the Lord’s words end and the prophet’s pick up again. The prophet is apparently speaking again by v. 8, where the Lord is referred to in the third person. Since vv. 4-7 comprise a thematic unity, the quotation probably extends through v. 7.

[3:4]  ² tn תַעֲלוּלִים (ta’alulim) is often understood as an abstract plural meaning “wantonness, cruelty” (cf. NLT). In this case the chief characteristic of these leaders is substituted for the leaders themselves. However, several translations make the parallelism tighter by emending the form to עוֹלְלִים (’olÿlim, “children”; cf. ESV, NASB, NCV, NIV, NKJV, NRSV). This emendation is unnecessary for at least two reasons. The word in the MT highlights the cruelty or malice of the “leaders” who are left behind in the wake of God’s judgment. The immediate context makes clear the fact that they are mere youths. The coming judgment will sweep away the leaders, leaving a vacuum which will be filled by incompetent, inexperienced youths.

[3:25]  ³ 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]  ⁴ tn Heb “your strength in battle.” The verb in the first clause provides the verbal idea for the second clause.

[46:8]  ⁵ tn The meaning of the verb אָשַׁשׁ (’ashash, which appears here in the Hitpolel stem) is uncertain. BDB 84 s.v. אשׁשׁ relates it to a root meaning “found, establish” in Arabic; HALOT 100 s.v. II אשׁשׁ gives the meaning “pluck up courage.” The imperative with vav (ו) may indicate purpose following the preceding imperative.

[46:8]  ⁶ tn Heb “return [it], rebels, to heart”; NRSV “recall it to mind, you transgressors.”

[65:22]  ⁷ tn Heb “they will not build, and another live [in it].”

[65:22]  ⁸ tn Heb “they will not plant, and another eat.”

[65:22]  ⁹ tn Heb “for like the days of the tree [will be] the days of my people.”

[65:22]  ¹⁰ tn Heb “the work of their hands” (so KJV, NASB, NIV, NRSV); NLT “their hard-won gains.”