Isaiah 8:21

8:21 They will pass through the land ¹  destitute and starving. Their hunger will make them angry, ²  and they will curse their king and their God ³  as they look upward.

Isaiah 53:2

53:2 He sprouted up like a twig before God, ⁴ 

like a root out of parched soil; ⁵ 

he had no stately form or majesty that might catch our attention, ⁶ 

no special appearance that we should want to follow him. ⁷ 

Isaiah 62:11

62:11 Look, the Lord announces to the entire earth: ⁸ 

“Say to Daughter Zion,

‘Look, your deliverer comes!

Look, his reward is with him

and his reward goes before him!’” ⁹ 

[8:21]  ¹ tn Heb “he will pass through it.” The subject of the collective singular verb is the nation. (See the preceding note.) The immediately preceding context supplies no antecedent for “it” (a third feminine singular suffix in the Hebrew text); the suffix may refer to the land, which would be a reasonable referent with a verb of motion. Note also that אֶרֶץ (’erets, “land”) does appear at the beginning of the next verse.

[8:21]  ² tn The verb that introduces this verse serves as a discourse particle and is untranslated; see note on “in the future” in 2:2.

[8:21]  ³ tn Or “gods” (NAB, NRSV, CEV).

[53:2]  ⁴ 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]  ⁵ sn The metaphor in this verse suggests insignificance.

[53:2]  ⁶ 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]  ⁷ 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.

[62:11]  ⁷ tn Heb “to the end of the earth” (so NASB, NRSV).

[62:11]  ⁸ sn As v. 12 indicates, the returning exiles are the Lord’s reward/prize. See also 40:10 and the note there.