Isaiah 43:27-28

43:27 The father of your nation ¹  sinned;

your spokesmen ²  rebelled against me.

43:28 So I defiled your holy princes,

and handed Jacob over to destruction,

and subjected ³  Israel to humiliating abuse.”

[43:27]  ¹ tn Heb “your first father.” This could refer to Abraham (see 51:2), but elsewhere in Isaiah he does not appear in a negative light (see 29:22; 41:8; 63:16). A more likely candidate is Jacob/Israel, also referred to as the nation’s “father” elsewhere (see 58:14; 63:16).

[43:27]  ² tn On the meaning of the term לִיץ (lits), see HALOT 590 s.v. מֵלִיץ. This may refer to the nation’s prophets, priests, and/or kings.

[43:28]  ³ tn The word “subjected” is supplied in the translation for stylistic reasons.