Isaiah 19:15

19:15 Egypt will not be able to do a thing,

head or tail, shoots and stalk.

Isaiah 37:28

37:28 I know where you live

and everything you do

and how you rage against me.

Isaiah 40:25

40:25 “To whom can you compare me? Whom do I resemble?”

says the Holy One.


tn Heb “And there will not be for Egypt a deed, which head and tail, shoot and stalk can do.” In 9:14-15 the phrase “head or tail” refers to leaders and prophets, respectively. This interpretation makes good sense in this context, where both leaders and advisers (probably including prophets and diviners) are mentioned (vv. 11-14). Here, as in 9:14, “shoots and stalk” picture a reed, which symbolizes the leadership of the nation in its entirety.

tc Heb “your going out and your coming in and how you have raged against me.” Several scholars have suggested that this line is probably dittographic (note the beginning of the next line). However, most English translations include the statement in question at the end of v. 28 and the beginning of v. 29. Interestingly, the LXX does not have this clause at the end of v. 28 and the Qumran scroll 1QIsaa does not have it at the beginning of v. 29. In light of this ambiguous manuscript evidence, it appears best to retain the clause in both verses.

sn See the note on the phrase “the Holy One of Israel” in 1:4.