Isaiah 49:12

49:12 Look, they come from far away!

Look, some come from the north and west,

and others from the land of Sinim! ¹ 

Isaiah 30:20

30:20 The sovereign master ²  will give you distress to eat

and suffering to drink; ³ 

but your teachers will no longer be hidden;

your eyes will see them. ⁴ 

[49:12]  ¹ tc The MT reads “Sinim” here; the Dead Sea Scrolls read “Syene,” a location in Egypt associated with modern Aswan. A number of recent translations adopt this reading: “Syene” (NAB, NRSV); “Aswan” (NIV); “Egypt” (NLT).

[30:20]  ² tn The Hebrew term translated “sovereign master” here is אֲדֹנָי (’adonai).

[30:20]  ³ tn Heb “and the Master will give to you bread – distress, and water – oppression.”

[30:20]  ⁴ tn Heb “but your teachers will no longer be hidden, your eyes will be seeing your teachers.” The translation assumes that the form מוֹרֶיךָ (morekha) is a plural participle, referring to spiritual leaders such as prophets and priests. Another possibility is that the form is actually singular (see GKC 273-74 §93.ss) or a plural of respect, referring to God as the master teacher. See HALOT 560-61 s.v. III מוֹרֶה. For discussion of the views, see J. N. Oswalt, Isaiah (NICOT), 1:560.