Discovery BoxIsaiah 4:1
Context4:1 Seven women will grab hold of
one man at that time. 1
They will say, “We will provide 2 our own food,
we will provide 3 our own clothes;
but let us belong to you 4 –
take away our shame!” 5
Isaiah 6:2
Context6:2 Seraphs 6 stood over him; each one had six wings. With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, 7 and they used the remaining two to fly.
Isaiah 19:18
Context19:18 At that time five cities 8 in the land of Egypt will speak the language of Canaan and swear allegiance to the Lord who commands armies. One will be called the City of the Sun. 9
Isaiah 23:15
Context23:15 At that time 10 Tyre will be forgotten for seventy years, 11 the typical life span of a king. 12 At the end of seventy years Tyre will try to attract attention again, like the prostitute in the popular song: 13
Isaiah 36:9
Context36:9 Certainly you will not refuse one of my master’s minor officials and trust in Egypt for chariots and horsemen. 14
Isaiah 47:9
Context47:9 Both of these will come upon you
suddenly, in one day!
You will lose your children and be widowed. 15
You will be overwhelmed by these tragedies, 16
despite 17 your many incantations
and your numerous amulets. 18
Isaiah 66:17
Context66:17 “As for those who consecrate and ritually purify themselves so they can follow their leader and worship in the sacred orchards, 19 those who eat the flesh of pigs and other disgusting creatures, like mice 20 – they will all be destroyed together,” 21 says the Lord.
[4:1] 1 tn Or “in that day” (ASV).
[4:1] 2 tn Heb “eat” (so NASB, NIV, NRSV); CEV “buy.”
[4:1] 3 tn Heb “wear” (so NASB, NRSV); NCV “make.”
[4:1] 4 tn Heb “only let your name be called over us.” The Hebrew idiom “call the name over” indicates ownership. See 2 Sam 12:28, and BDB 896 s.v. I ָקרָא Niph. 2.d.(4). The language reflects the cultural reality of ancient Israel, where women were legally the property of their husbands.
[4:1] 5 sn This refers to the humiliation of being unmarried and childless. The women’s words reflect the cultural standards of ancient Israel, where a woman’s primary duties were to be a wife and mother.
[6:2] 6 tn Hebrew שָׂרָף (saraf, “seraph”) literally means “burning one,” perhaps suggesting that these creatures had a fiery appearance (cf. TEV, CEV “flaming creatures”; NCV “heavenly creatures of fire”). Elsewhere in the OT the word “seraph” refers to poisonous snakes (Num 21:6; Deut 8:15; Isa 14:29; 30:6). Perhaps they were called “burning ones” because of their appearance or the effect of their venomous bites, which would cause a victim to burn up with fever. It is possible that the seraphs seen by Isaiah were at least partially serpentine in appearance. Though it might seem strange for a snake-like creature to have wings, two of the texts where “seraphs” are snakes describe them as “flying” (Isa 14:29; 30:6), perhaps referring to their darting movements. See the note at 14:29.
[6:2] 7 sn Some understand “feet” here as a euphemistic reference to the genitals.
[19:18] 11 sn The significance of the number “five” in this context is uncertain. For a discussion of various proposals, see J. N. Oswalt, Isaiah (NICOT), 1:376-77.
[19:18] 12 tc The Hebrew text has עִיר הַהֶרֶס (’ir haheres, “City of Destruction”; cf. NASB, NIV) but this does not fit the positive emphasis of vv. 18-22. The Qumran scroll 1QIsaa and some medieval Hebrew
[23:15] 16 tn Or “in that day” (KJV). The verb that introduces this verse serves as a discourse particle and is untranslated; see note on “in the future” in 2:2.
[23:15] 17 sn The number seventy is probably used in a stereotypical, nonliteral sense here to indicate a long period of time that satisfies completely the demands of God’s judgment.
[23:15] 18 tn Heb “like the days of a king.”
[23:15] 19 tn Heb “At the end of seventy years it will be for Tyre like the song of the prostitute.”
[36:9] 21 tn Heb “How can you turn back the face of an official [from among] the least of my master’s servants and trust in Egypt for chariots and horsemen?” In vv. 8-9 the chief adviser develops further the argument begun in v. 6. His reasoning seems to be as follows: “In your weakened condition you obviously need military strength. Agree to the king’s terms and I will personally give you more horses than you are capable of outfitting. If I, a mere minor official, am capable of giving you such military might, just think what power the king has. There is no way the Egyptians can match our strength. It makes much better sense to deal with us.”
[47:9] 26 tn Heb “loss of children and widowhood.” In the Hebrew text the phrase is in apposition to “both of these” in line 1.
[47:9] 27 tn Heb “according to their fullness, they will come upon you.”
[47:9] 28 tn For other examples of the preposition bet (בְּ) having the sense of “although, despite,” see BDB 90 s.v. III.7.
[47:9] 29 sn Reference is made to incantations and amulets, both of which were important in Mesopotamian religion. They were used to ward off danger and demons.
[66:17] 31 tn Heb “the ones who consecrate themselves and the ones who purify themselves toward the orchards [or “gardens”] after the one in the midst.” The precise meaning of the statement is unclear, though it is obvious that some form of idolatry is in view.
[66:17] 32 tn Heb “ones who eat the flesh of the pig and the disgusting thing and the mouse.”
