41:14 Don’t be afraid, despised insignificant Jacob, 1
men of 2 Israel.
I am helping you,” says the Lord,
your protector, 3 the Holy One of Israel. 4
1 tn Heb “O worm Jacob” (NAB, NIV). The worm metaphor suggests that Jacob is insignificant and despised.
2 tn On the basis of the parallelism (note “worm”) and an alleged Akkadian cognate, some read “louse” or “weevil.” Cf. NAB “O maggot Israel”; NRSV “you insect Israel.”
3 tn Heb “your kinsman redeemer.” A גָּאַל (ga’al, “kinsman redeemer”) was a protector of the extended family’s interests.
4 sn See the note on the phrase “the Holy One of Israel” in 1:4.