Discovery BoxIsaiah 29:18 
Context29:18 At that time 1 the deaf will be able to hear words read from a scroll,
and the eyes of the blind will be able to see through deep darkness. 2
Isaiah 30:33
Context30:33 For 3 the burial place is already prepared; 4
it has been made deep and wide for the king. 5
The firewood is piled high on it. 6
The Lord’s breath, like a stream flowing with brimstone,
will ignite it.
Isaiah 50:10
Context50:10 Who among you fears the Lord?
Who obeys 7 his servant?
Whoever walks in deep darkness, 8
without light,
should trust in the name of the Lord
and rely on his God.
Isaiah 51:10
Context51:10 Did you not dry up the sea,
the waters of the great deep?
Did you not make 9 a path through the depths of the sea,
so those delivered from bondage 10 could cross over?
Isaiah 59:9
Context59:9 For this reason deliverance 11 is far from us 12
and salvation does not reach us.
We wait for light, 13 but see only darkness; 14
we wait for 15 a bright light, 16 but live 17 in deep darkness. 18
1 tn Or “In that day” (KJV).
2 tn Heb “and out of gloom and darkness the eyes of the blind will see.”
sn Perhaps this depicts the spiritual transformation of the once spiritually insensitive nation (see vv. 10-12, cf. also 6:9-10).
3 tn Or “indeed.”
4 tc The Hebrew text reads literally, “for arranged from before [or “yesterday”] is [?].” The meaning of תָּפְתֶּה (tafÿteh), which occurs only here, is unknown. The translation above (as with most English versions) assumes an emendation to תֹּפֶת (tofet, “Topheth”; cf. NASB, NIV, NLT) and places the final hey (ה) on the beginning of the next word as an interrogative particle. Topheth was a place near Jerusalem used as a burial ground (see Jer 7:32; 19:11).
5 tn The Hebrew text reads literally, “Also it is made ready for the king, one makes it deep and wide.” If one takes the final hey (ה) on תָּפְתֶּה (tafÿteh) and prefixes it to גָּם (gam) as an interrogative particle (see the preceding note), one can translate, “Is it also made ready for the king?” In this case the question is rhetorical and expects an emphatic affirmative answer, “Of course it is!”
6 tn Heb “its pile of wood, fire and wood one makes abundant.”
sn Apparently this alludes to some type of funeral rite.
7 tn Heb “[who] listens to the voice of his servant?” The interrogative is understood by ellipsis (note the preceding line).
8 tn The plural indicates degree. Darkness may refer to exile and/or moral evil.
9 tn The Hebrew text reads literally, “Are you not the one who dried up the sea, the waters of the great deep, who made…?”
10 tn Heb “the redeemed” (so ASV, NASB, NIV, NRSV); KJV “the ransomed.”
11 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.
12 sn The prophet speaks on behalf of the sinful nation and confesses its sins.
13 sn Light here symbolizes prosperity and blessing.
14 tn Heb “but, look, darkness”; NIV “but all is darkness.”
15 tn The words “we wait for” are supplied in the translation; the verb is understood by ellipsis (note the preceding line).
16 tn The plural noun form may indicate degree here.
17 tn Or “walk about”; NCV “all we have is darkness.”
18 tn The plural noun form may indicate degree here.
