27:6 The time is coming when Jacob will take root; 1
Israel will blossom and grow branches.
The produce 2 will fill the surface of the world. 3
41:14 Don’t be afraid, despised insignificant Jacob, 4
men of 5 Israel.
I am helping you,” says the Lord,
your protector, 6 the Holy One of Israel. 7
44:21 Remember these things, O Jacob,
O Israel, for you are my servant.
I formed you to be my servant;
O Israel, I will not forget you! 8
48:12 Listen to me, O Jacob,
Israel, whom I summoned!
I am the one;
I am present at the very beginning
and at the very end. 9
48:20 Leave Babylon!
Flee from the Babylonians!
Announce it with a shout of joy!
Make this known!
Proclaim it throughout the earth! 10
Say, ‘The Lord protects 11 his servant Jacob.
58:1 “Shout loudly! Don’t be quiet!
Yell as loud as a trumpet!
Confront my people with their rebellious deeds; 12
confront Jacob’s family with their sin! 13
1 tc The Hebrew text reads literally, “the coming ones, let Jacob take root.” הַבָּאִים (habba’im, “the coming ones”) should probably be emended to יָמִים בָאִים (yamim va’im, “days [are] coming”) or בְּיָמִים הַבָּאִים (biyamim habba’im, “in the coming days”).
2 tn Heb “fruit” (so KJV, NAB, NASB, NIV, NRSV, NLT).
3 sn This apparently refers to a future population explosion. See 26:18.
4 tn Heb “O worm Jacob” (NAB, NIV). The worm metaphor suggests that Jacob is insignificant and despised.
5 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.”
6 tn Heb “your kinsman redeemer.” A גָּאַל (ga’al, “kinsman redeemer”) was a protector of the extended family’s interests.
7 sn See the note on the phrase “the Holy One of Israel” in 1:4.
8 tc The verb in the Hebrew text is a Niphal imperfect with a pronominal suffix. Although the Niphal ordinarily has the passive sense, it can have a reflexive nuance as well (see above translation). Some have suggested an emendation to a Qal form: “Do not forget me” (all the ancient versions, NEB, REB; see GKC 369 §117.x). “Do not forget me” would make a good parallel with “remember these things” in the first line. Since the MT is the harder reading and fits with Israel’s complaint that God had forgotten her (Isa 40:27), the MT reading should be retained (NASB, NKJV, NRSV, ESV). The passive has been rendered as an active in the translation in keeping with contemporary English style (so also NIV, NCV, TEV, NLT).
9 tn Heb “I [am] he, I [am the] first, also I [am the] last.”
10 tn Heb “to the end of the earth” (so KJV, NASB, NRSV).
11 tn Heb “redeems.” See the note at 41:14.
12 tn Heb “declare to my people their rebellion.”
13 tn Heb “and to the house of Jacob their sin.” The verb “declare” is understood by ellipsis (note the preceding line).