Isaiah 8:16

8:16 Tie up the scroll as legal evidence, ¹ 

seal the official record of God’s instructions and give it to my followers. ² 

Isaiah 10:31

10:31 Madmenah flees,

the residents of Gebim have hidden.

Isaiah 24:12

24:12 The city is left in ruins; ³ 

the gate is reduced to rubble. ⁴ 

Isaiah 26:2

26:2 Open the gates so a righteous nation can enter –

one that remains trustworthy.

Isaiah 32:8

32:8 An honorable man makes honorable plans;

his honorable character gives him security. ⁵ 

Isaiah 43:18

43:18 “Don’t remember these earlier events; ⁶ 

don’t recall these former events.

Isaiah 43:27

43:27 The father of your nation ⁷  sinned;

your spokesmen ⁸  rebelled against me.

Isaiah 60:3

60:3 Nations come to your light,

kings to your bright light.

[8:16]  ¹ tn Heb “tie up [the] testimony.” The “testimony” probably refers to the prophetic messages God has given him. When the prophecies are fulfilled, he will be able to produce this official, written record to confirm the authenticity of his ministry and to prove to the people that God is sovereign over events.

[8:16]  ² tn Heb “seal [the] instruction among my followers.” The “instruction” probably refers to the prophet’s exhortations and warnings. When the people are judged for the sins, the prophet can produce these earlier messages and essentially say, “I told you so.” In this way he can authenticate his ministry and impress upon the people the reality of God’s authority over them.

[24:12]  ³ tn Heb “and there is left in the city desolation.”

[24:12]  ⁴ tn Heb “and [into] rubble the gate is crushed.”

[32:8]  ⁵ tn Heb “and he upon honorable things stands.”

[43:18]  ⁷ tn Heb “the former things” (so KJV, NASB, NIV, NRSV); NLT “forget all that.”

[43:27]  ⁹ 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]  ¹⁰ 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.