Isaiah 53:2

53:2 He sprouted up like a twig before God, ¹ 

like a root out of parched soil; ² 

he had no stately form or majesty that might catch our attention, ³ 

no special appearance that we should want to follow him. ⁴ 

Isaiah 57:10

57:10 Because of the long distance you must travel, you get tired, ⁵ 

but you do not say, ‘I give up.’ ⁶ 

You get renewed energy, ⁷ 

so you don’t collapse. ⁸ 

Isaiah 38:14

38:14 Like a swallow or a thrush I chirp,

I coo ⁹  like a dove;

my eyes grow tired from looking up to the sky. ¹⁰ 

O sovereign master, ¹¹  I am oppressed;

help me! ¹² 

Isaiah 7:25

7:25 They will stay away from all the hills that were cultivated, for fear of the thorns and briers. ¹³  Cattle will graze there and sheep will trample on them. ¹⁴ 

Isaiah 55:13

55:13 Evergreens will grow in place of thorn bushes,

firs will grow in place of nettles;

they will be a monument to the Lord, ¹⁵ 

a permanent reminder that will remain. ¹⁶ 

Isaiah 5:2

5:2 He built a hedge around it, ¹⁷  removed its stones,

and planted a vine.

He built a tower in the middle of it,

and constructed a winepress.

He waited for it to produce edible grapes,

but it produced sour ones instead. ¹⁸ 

[53:2]  ¹ tn Heb “before him.” Some suggest an emendation to “before us.” If the third singular suffix of the Hebrew text is retained, it probably refers to the Lord (see v. 1b). For a defense of this reading, see R. Whybray, Isaiah 40-66 (NCBC), 173-74.

[53:2]  ² sn The metaphor in this verse suggests insignificance.

[53:2]  ³ tn Heb “that we might see him.” The vav conjunctive prefixed to the imperfect introduces a result clause here. See GKC 504-5 §166.a.

[53:2]  ⁴ tn Heb “that we should desire him.” The vav conjunctive prefixed to the imperfect introduces a result clause here. See GKC 504-5 §166.a.

[57:10]  ⁵ tn Heb “by the greatness [i.e., “length,” see BDB 914 s.v. רֹב 2] of your way you get tired.”

[57:10]  ⁶ tn Heb “it is hopeless” (so NAB, NASB, NIV); NRSV “It is useless.”

[57:10]  ⁷ tn Heb “the life of your hand you find.” The term חַיָּה (khayyah, “life”) is here used in the sense of “renewal” (see BDB 312 s.v.) while יָד (yad) is used of “strength.”

[57:10]  ⁸ tn Heb “you do not grow weak.”

[38:14]  ⁹ tn Or “moan” (ASV, NAB, NASB, NRSV); KJV, CEV “mourn.”

[38:14]  ¹⁰ tn Heb “my eyes become weak, toward the height.”

[38:14]  ¹¹ tn The Hebrew term translated “sovereign master” here and in v. 16 is אֲדֹנָי (’adonay).

[38:14]  ¹² tn Heb “stand surety for me.” Hezekiah seems to be picturing himself as a debtor who is being exploited; he asks that the Lord might relieve his debt and deliver him from the oppressive creditor.

[7:25]  ¹³ tn Heb “and all the hills which were hoed with a hoe, you will not go there [for] fear of the thorns and briers.”

[7:25]  ¹⁴ tn Heb “and it will become a pasture for cattle and a trampling place for sheep.”

[55:13]  ¹⁷ tn Heb “to the Lord for a name.” For שֵׁם (shem) used in the sense of “monument,” see also 56:5, where it stands parallel to יָד (yad).

[55:13]  ¹⁸ tn Or, more literally, “a permanent sign that will not be cut off.”

[5:2]  ²¹ tn Or, “dug it up” (so NIV); KJV “fenced it.’ See HALOT 810 s.v. עזק.

[5:2]  ²² tn Heb “wild grapes,” i.e., sour ones (also in v. 4).