50:3 Our God approaches and is not silent; 1
consuming fire goes ahead of him
and all around him a storm rages. 2
50:21 When you did these things, I was silent, 3
so you thought I was exactly like you. 4
But now I will condemn 5 you
and state my case against you! 6
1 tn According to GKC 322 §109.e, the jussive (note the negative particle אַל, ’al) is used rhetorically here “to express the conviction that something cannot or should not happen.”
2 tn Heb “fire before him devours, and around him it is very stormy.”
3 tn Heb “these things you did and I was silent.” Some interpret the second clause (“and I was silent”) as a rhetorical question expecting a negative answer, “[When you do these things], should I keep silent?” (cf. NEB). See GKC 335 §112.cc.
sn The Lord was silent in the sense that he delayed punishment. Of course, God’s patience toward sinners eventually runs out. The divine “silence” is only temporary (see v. 3, where the psalmist, having described God’s arrival, observes that “he is not silent”).
4 tn The Hebrew infinitive construct (הֱיוֹת, heyot) appears to function like the infinitive absolute here, adding emphasis to the following finite verbal form (אֶהְיֶה, ’ehyeh). See GKC 339-40 §113.a. Some prefer to emend הֱיוֹת (heyot) to the infinitive absolute form הָיוֹ (hayo).
5 tn Or “rebuke” (see v. 8).
6 tn Heb “and I will set in order [my case against you] to your eyes.” The cohortative form expresses the