Isaiah 57:6

57:6 Among the smooth stones of the stream are the idols you love;

they, they are the object of your devotion. ¹ 

You pour out liquid offerings to them,

you make an offering.

Because of these things I will seek vengeance. ² 

Isaiah 30:7

30:7 Egypt is totally incapable of helping. ³ 

For this reason I call her

‘Proud one ⁴  who is silenced.’” ⁵ 

Isaiah 65:24

65:24 Before they even call out, ⁶  I will respond;

while they are still speaking, I will hear.

Isaiah 61:9

61:9 Their descendants will be known among the nations,

their offspring among the peoples.

All who see them will recognize that

the Lord has blessed them.” ⁷ 

Isaiah 49:21

49:21 Then you will think to yourself, ⁸ 

‘Who bore these children for me?

I was bereaved and barren,

dismissed and divorced. ⁹ 

Who raised these children?

Look, I was left all alone;

where did these children come from?’”

[57:6]  ¹ tn Heb “among the smooth stones of the stream [is] your portion, they, they [are] your lot.” The next line indicates idols are in view.

[57:6]  ² tn The text reads literally, “Because of these am I relenting?” If the prefixed interrogative particle is retained at the beginning of the sentence, then the question would be rhetorical, with the Niphal of נָחָם (nakham) probably being used in the sense of “relent, change one’s mind.” One could translate: “Because of these things, how can I relent?” However, the initial letter he may be dittographic (note the final he [ה] on the preceding word). In this case one may understand the verb in the sense of “console oneself, seek vengeance,” as in 1:24.

[30:7]  ³ tn Heb “As for Egypt, with vanity and emptiness they help.”

[30:7]  ⁴ tn Heb “Rahab” (רַהַב, rahav), which also appears as a name for Egypt in Ps 87:4. The epithet is also used in the OT for a mythical sea monster symbolic of chaos. See the note at 51:9. A number of English versions use the name “Rahab” (e.g., ASV, NAB, NASB, NIV, NRSV) while others attempt some sort of translation (cf. CEV “a helpless monster”; TEV, NLT “the Harmless Dragon”).

[30:7]  ⁵ tn The MT reads “Rahab, they, sitting.” The translation above assumes an emendation of הֵם שָׁבֶת (hem shavet) to הַמָּשְׁבָּת (hammashbat), a Hophal participle with prefixed definite article, meaning “the one who is made to cease,” i.e., “destroyed,” or “silenced.” See HALOT 444-45 s.v. ישׁב.

[65:24]  ⁵ tn The verb that introduces this verse serves as a discourse particle and is untranslated; see note on “in the future” in 2:2.

[61:9]  ⁷ tn Heb “all who see them will recognize them, that they [are] descendants [whom] the Lord has blessed.”

[49:21]  ⁹ tn Heb “and you will say in your heart.”

[49:21]  ¹⁰ tn Or “exiled and thrust away”; NIV “exiled and rejected.”