Isaiah 30:17-18

30:17 One thousand will scurry at the battle cry of one enemy soldier; ¹ 

at the battle cry of five enemy soldiers you will all run away, ² 

until the remaining few are as isolated ³ 

as a flagpole on a mountaintop

or a signal flag on a hill.”

The Lord Will Not Abandon His People

30:18 For this reason the Lord is ready to show you mercy;

he sits on his throne, ready to have compassion on you. ⁴ 

Indeed, the Lord is a just God;

all who wait for him in faith will be blessed. ⁵ 

[30:17]  ¹ tn Heb “One thousand from before [or “because of”] one battle cry.” גְּעָרָה (gÿ’arah) is often defined as “threat,” but in war contexts it likely refers to a shout or battle cry. See Ps 76:6.

[30:17]  ² tn Heb “from before [or “because of”] the battle cry of five you will flee.

[30:17]  ³ tn Heb “until you are left” (so NAB, NASB, NRSV).

[30:18]  ⁴ tn Heb “Therefore the Lord waits to show you mercy, and therefore he is exalted to have compassion on you.” The logical connection between this verse and what precedes is problematic. The point seems to be that Judah’s impending doom does not bring God joy. Rather the prospect of their suffering stirs within him a willingness to show mercy and compassion, if they are willing to seek him on his terms.

[30:18]  ⁵ tn Heb “Blessed are all who wait for him.”