29:17 In just a very short time 1
Lebanon will turn into an orchard,
and the orchard will be considered a forest. 2
33:3 The nations run away when they hear a loud noise; 3
the nations scatter when you spring into action! 4
46:2 Together they bend low and kneel down;
they are unable to rescue the images; 5
they themselves 6 head off into captivity. 7
63:10 But they rebelled and offended 8 his holy Spirit, 9
so he turned into an enemy
and fought against them.
1 tn The Hebrew text phrases this as a rhetorical question, “Is it not yet a little, a short [time]?”
2 sn The meaning of this verse is debated, but it seems to depict a reversal in fortunes. The mighty forest of Lebanon (symbolic of the proud and powerful, see 2:13; 10:34) will be changed into a common orchard, while the common orchard (symbolic of the oppressed and lowly) will grow into a great forest. See J. N. Oswalt, Isaiah (NICOT), 1:538.
3 tn Heb “at the sound of tumult the nations run away.”
4 tn Heb “because of your exaltation the nations scatter.”
5 tn Heb “[the] burden,” i.e., their images, the heavy burden carried by the animals.
6 tn נַפְשָׁם (nafsham, “their souls/lives”) is equivalent here to a third masculine plural suffix, but the third feminine singular verb הָלָכָה (halakhah, “they go”) agrees with the feminine noun נֶפֶשׁ (nefesh, “soul, life”).
7 sn The downfall of Babylon is depicted here. The idols are carried off by the victorious enemy; the gods are likened to defeated captives who cower before the enemy and are taken into exile.
8 tn Or “grieved, hurt the feelings of.”
9 sn The phrase “holy Spirit” occurs in the OT only here (in v. 11 as well) and in Ps 51:11 (51:13 HT), where it is associated with the divine presence.