Isaiah 44:12

44:12 A blacksmith works with his tool ¹ 

and forges metal over the coals.

He forms it ²  with hammers;

he makes it with his strong arm.

He gets hungry and loses his energy; ³ 

he drinks no water and gets tired.

Isaiah 63:1

The Victorious Divine Warrior

63:1 Who is this who comes from Edom, ⁴ 

dressed in bright red, coming from Bozrah? ⁵ 

Who ⁶  is this one wearing royal attire, ⁷ 

who marches confidently ⁸  because of his great strength?

“It is I, the one who announces vindication,

and who is able to deliver!” ⁹ 

[44:12]  ¹ tn The noun מַעֲצָד (ma’atsad), which refers to some type of tool used for cutting, occurs only here and in Jer 10:3. See HALOT 615 s.v. מַעֲצָד.

[44:12]  ² tn Some English versions take the pronoun “it” to refer to an idol being fashioned by the blacksmith (cf. NIV, NCV, CEV). NLT understands the referent to be “a sharp tool,” which is then used by the carpenter in the following verse to carve an idol from wood.

[44:12]  ³ tn Heb “and there is no strength”; NASB “his strength fails.”

[63:1]  ⁴ sn Edom is here an archetype for the Lord’s enemies. See 34:5.

[63:1]  ⁵ tn Heb “[in] bright red garments, from Bozrah.”

[63:1]  ⁶ tn The interrogative particle is understood by ellipsis; note the first line of the verse.

[63:1]  ⁷ tn Heb “honored in his clothing”; KJV, ASV “glorious in his apparel.”

[63:1]  ⁸ tc The Hebrew text has צָעָה (tsa’ah), which means “stoop, bend” (51:14). The translation assumes an emendation to צָעַד (tsa’ad, “march”; see BDB 858 s.v. צָעָה).

[63:1]  ⁹ tn Heb “I, [the one] speaking in vindication [or “righteousness”], great to deliver.”