Isaiah 35:3-4
Context35:3 Strengthen the hands that have gone limp,
steady the knees that shake! 1
“Be strong! Do not fear!
Look, your God comes to avenge!
With divine retribution he comes to deliver you.” 3
Daniel 5:6
Context5:6 Then all the color drained from the king’s face 4 and he became alarmed. 5 The joints of his hips gave way, 6 and his knees began knocking together.
Hebrews 12:12
Context12:12 Therefore, strengthen 7 your listless hands and your weak knees, 8
[35:3] 1 tn Heb “staggering knees”; KJV, ASV, NRSV “feeble knees”; NIV “knees that give way.”
[35:4] 2 tn Heb “Say to the hasty of heart,” i.e., those whose hearts beat quickly from fear.
[35:4] 3 tn The jussive form וְיֹשַׁעֲכֶם (vÿyosha’akhem), which is subordinated to the preceding imperfect with vav conjunctive, indicates purpose.
[5:6] 4 tn Aram “[the king’s] brightness changed for him.”
[5:6] 5 tn Aram “his thoughts were alarming him.”
[5:6] 6 tn Aram “his loins went slack.”
[12:12] 8 sn A quotation from Isa 35:3. Strengthen your listless hands and your weak knees refers to the readers’ need for renewed resolve and fresh strength in their struggles (cf. Heb 10:36-39; 12:1-3).