41:20 I will do this so 1 people 2 will observe and recognize,
so they will pay attention and understand
that the Lord’s power 3 has accomplished this,
and that the Holy One of Israel has brought it into being.” 4
50:4 The sovereign Lord has given me the capacity to be his spokesman, 5
so that I know how to help the weary. 6
He wakes me up every morning;
he makes me alert so I can listen attentively as disciples do. 7
57:11 Whom are you worried about?
Whom do you fear, that you would act so deceitfully
and not remember me
or think about me? 8
Because I have been silent for so long, 9
you are not afraid of me. 10
1 tn The words “I will do this” are supplied in the translation for clarification. The Hebrew text has here simply, “in order that.”
2 tn Heb “they”; NAB, NRSV “that all may see”; CEV, NLT “Everyone will see.”
3 tn Heb “hand” (so KJV, NASB, NIV, NRSV).
4 tn Or “created it” (KJV, NAB, NASB, NIV, NRSV); TEV “has made it happen.”
5 tn Heb “has given to me a tongue of disciples.”
sn Verses 4-11 contain the third of the so-called servant songs, which depict the career of the Lord’s special servant, envisioned as an ideal Israel (49:3) who rescues the exiles and fulfills God’s purposes for the world. Here the servant alludes to opposition (something hinted at in 49:4), but also expresses his determination to persevere with the Lord’s help.
6 tc Heb “to know [?] the weary with a word.” Comparing it with Arabic and Aramaic cognates yields the meaning of “help, sustain.” Nevertheless, the meaning of עוּת (’ut) is uncertain. The word occurs only here in the OT (see BDB 736 s.v.). Various scholars have suggested an emendation to עָנוֹת (’anot) from עָנָה (’anah, “answer”): “so that I know how to respond kindly to the weary.” Since the Qumran scroll 1QIsaa and the Vulgate support the MT reading, that reading is retained.
7 tn Heb “he arouses for me an ear, to hear like disciples.”
8 tn Heb “you do not place [it] on your heart.”
9 tn Heb “Is it not [because] I have been silent, and from long ago?”
10 sn God’s patience with sinful Israel has caused them to think that they can sin with impunity and suffer no consequences.