Isaiah 40:26

Context

40:26 Look up at the sky!¹

Who created all these heavenly lights?²

He is the one who leads out their ranks;³

he calls them all by name.

Because of his absolute power and awesome strength,

not one of them is missing.

Isaiah 56:7

Context

56:7 I will bring them to my holy mountain;

I will make them happy in the temple where people pray to me.⁴

Their burnt offerings and sacrifices will be accepted on my altar,

for my temple will be known as a temple where all nations may pray.”⁵

Isaiah 61:3

Context

61:3 to strengthen those who mourn in Zion,

by giving them a turban, instead of ashes,

oil symbolizing joy,⁶ instead of mourning,

a garment symbolizing praise,⁷ instead of discouragement.⁸

They will be called oaks of righteousness,⁹

trees planted by the Lord to reveal his splendor.¹⁰

[40:26] ¹tn Heb “Lift on high your eyes and see.”

[40:26] ²tn The words “heavenly lights” are supplied in the translation for clarification. See the following lines.

[40:26] ³tn Heb “the one who brings out by number their host.” The stars are here likened to a huge army that the Lord leads out. Perhaps the next line pictures God calling roll. If so, the final line may be indicating that none of them dares “go AWOL.” (“AWOL” is a military acronym for “absent without leave.”)

[56:7] ⁴tn Heb “in the house of my prayer.”

[56:7] ⁵tn Heb “for my house will be called a house of prayer for all the nations.”

[61:3] ⁷tn Heb “oil of joy” (KJV, ASV); NASB, NIV, NRSV “the oil of gladness.”

[61:3] ⁸tn Heb “garment of praise.”

[61:3] ⁹tn Heb “a faint spirit” (so NRSV); KJV, ASV “the spirit of heaviness”; NASB “a spirit of fainting.”

[61:3] ¹⁰tn Rather than referring to the character of the people, צֶדֶק (tsedeq) may carry the nuance “vindication” here, suggesting that God’s restored people are a testimony to his justice. See v. 2, which alludes to the fact that God will take vengeance against the enemies of his people. Cf. NAB “oaks of justice.”

[61:3] ¹¹tn Heb “a planting of the Lord to reveal splendor.”