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
41:16 You will winnow them and the wind will blow them away;
the wind will scatter them.
You will rejoice in the Lord;
you will boast in the Holy One of Israel.
41:20 I will do this so 5 people 6 will observe and recognize,
so they will pay attention and understand
that the Lord’s power 7 has accomplished this,
and that the Holy One of Israel has brought it into being.” 8
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.
5 tn The words “I will do this” are supplied in the translation for clarification. The Hebrew text has here simply, “in order that.”
6 tn Heb “they”; NAB, NRSV “that all may see”; CEV, NLT “Everyone will see.”
7 tn Heb “hand” (so KJV, NASB, NIV, NRSV).
8 tn Or “created it” (KJV, NAB, NASB, NIV, NRSV); TEV “has made it happen.”