Discovery BoxIsaiah 2:19 
Context2:19 They 1 will go into caves in the rocky cliffs
and into holes in the ground, 2
trying to escape the dreadful judgment of the Lord 3
and his royal splendor,
when he rises up to terrify the earth. 4
Isaiah 2:21
Context2:21 so they themselves can go into the crevices of the rocky cliffs
and the openings under the rocky overhangs, 5
trying to escape the dreadful judgment of the Lord 6
and his royal splendor,
when he rises up to terrify the earth. 7
Isaiah 3:14
Context3:14 The Lord comes to pronounce judgment
on the leaders of his people and their officials.
He says, 8 “It is you 9 who have ruined 10 the vineyard! 11
You have stashed in your houses what you have stolen from the poor. 12
Isaiah 26:11
Context26:11 O Lord, you are ready to act, 13
but they don’t even notice.
They will see and be put to shame by your angry judgment against humankind, 14
yes, fire will consume your enemies. 15
Isaiah 26:14
Context26:14 The dead do not come back to life,
the spirits of the dead do not rise. 16
That is because 17 you came in judgment 18 and destroyed them,
you wiped out all memory of them.
Isaiah 29:6
Context29:6 Judgment will come from the Lord who commands armies, 19
accompanied by thunder, earthquake, and a loud noise,
by a strong gale, a windstorm, and a consuming flame of fire.
1 tn The identity of the grammatical subject is unclear. The “idols” could be the subject; they will “go” into the caves and holes when the idolaters throw them there in their haste to escape God’s judgment (see vv. 20-21). The picture of the idols, which represent the foreign deities worshiped by the people, fleeing from the Lord would be highly polemical and fit the overall mood of the chapter. However it seems more likely that the idolaters themselves are the subject, for v. 10 uses similar language in sarcastically urging them to run from judgment.
2 tn Heb “dust”; ASV “into the holes of the earth.”
3 tn Heb “from the dread of the Lord,” that is, from the dread that he produces in the objects of his judgment.” The words “trying to escape” are supplied in the translation for stylistic reasons.
4 tn Or “land.” It is not certain if these verses are describing the judgment of Judah (see vv. 6-9) or a more universal judgment on all proud men.
5 sn The precise point of vv. 20-21 is not entirely clear. Are they taking the idols into their hiding places with them, because they are so attached to their man-made images? Or are they discarding the idols along the way as they retreat into the darkest places they can find? In either case it is obvious that the gods are incapable of helping them.
6 tn Heb “from the dread of the Lord,” that is, from the dread that he produces in the objects of his judgment.” The words “trying to escape” are supplied in the translation for stylistic reasons.
7 tn Or “land.” It is not certain if these verses are describing the judgment of Judah (see vv. 6-9) or a more universal judgment on all proud men. Almost all English versions translate “earth,” taking this to refer to universal judgment.
8 tn The words “he says” are supplied in the translation for stylistic reasons.
9 tn The pronominal element is masculine plural; the leaders are addressed.
10 tn The verb בָּעַר (ba’ar, “graze, ruin”; HALOT 146 s.v. II בער) is a homonym of the more common בָּעַר (ba’ar, “burn”; see HALOT 145 s.v. I בער).
11 sn The vineyard is a metaphor for the nation here. See 5:1-7.
12 tn Heb “the plunder of the poor [is] in your houses” (so NASB).
13 tn Heb “O Lord, your hand is lifted up.”
14 tn Heb “They will see and be ashamed of zeal of people.” Some take the prefixed verbs as jussives and translate the statement as a prayer, “Let them see and be put to shame.” The meaning of the phrase קִנְאַת־עָם (qin’at-’am, “zeal of people”) is unclear. The translation assumes that this refers to God’s angry judgment upon people. Another option is to understand the phrase as referring to God’s zealous, protective love of his covenant people. In this case one might translate, “by your zealous devotion to your people.”
15 tn Heb “yes, fire, your enemies, will consume them.” Many understand the prefixed verb form to be jussive and translate, “let [fire] consume” (cf. NAB, NIV, NRSV). The mem suffixed to the verb may be enclitic; if a pronominal suffix, it refers back to “your enemies.”
16 sn In light of what is said in verse 14b, the “dead” here may be the “masters” mentioned in verse 13.
17 tn The Hebrew term לָכֵן (lakhen) normally indicates a cause-effect relationship between what precedes and follows and is translated, “therefore.” Here, however, it infers the cause from the effect and brings out what is implicit in the previous statement. See BDB 487 s.v.
18 tn Heb “visited [for harm]” (cf. KJV, ASV); NAB, NRSV “you have punished.”
19 tn Heb “from the Lord who commands armies [traditionally, the Lord of hosts] there will be visitation.” The third feminine singular passive verb form תִּפָּקֵד (tippaqed, “she/it will be visited”) is used here in an impersonal sense. See GKC 459 §144.b.
