Discovery BoxIsaiah 8:22 
Context8:22 When one looks out over the land, he sees 1 distress and darkness, gloom 2 and anxiety, darkness and people forced from the land. 3
Isaiah 59:9
Context59:9 For this reason deliverance 4 is far from us 5
and salvation does not reach us.
We wait for light, 6 but see only darkness; 7
we wait for 8 a bright light, 9 but live 10 in deep darkness. 11
1 tn Heb “and behold” (so KJV, ASV, NASB).
2 tn The precise meaning of מְעוּף (mÿ’uf) is uncertain; the word occurs only here. See BDB 734 s.v. מָעוּף.
3 tn Heb “ and darkness, pushed.” The word מְנֻדָּח (mÿnudakh) appears to be a Pual participle from נדח (“push”), but the Piel is unattested for this verb and the Pual occurs only here.
4 tn מִשְׁפָּט (mishpat), which refers to “justice” in the earlier verses, here refers to “justice from God,” or “vindication.” Because the people are unjust, God refuses to vindicate them before their enemies. See v. 11.
5 sn The prophet speaks on behalf of the sinful nation and confesses its sins.
6 sn Light here symbolizes prosperity and blessing.
7 tn Heb “but, look, darkness”; NIV “but all is darkness.”
8 tn The words “we wait for” are supplied in the translation; the verb is understood by ellipsis (note the preceding line).
9 tn The plural noun form may indicate degree here.
10 tn Or “walk about”; NCV “all we have is darkness.”
11 tn The plural noun form may indicate degree here.
