Discovery BoxIsaiah 41:1 
ContextThe Lord Challenges the Nations
41:1 “Listen to me in silence, you coastlands! 1
Let the nations find renewed strength!
Let them approach and then speak;
let us come together for debate! 2
Isaiah 41:21
ContextThe Lord Challenges the Pagan Gods
41:21 “Present your argument,” says the Lord.
1 tn Or “islands” (KJV, NIV, CEV); TEV “distant lands”; NLT “lands beyond the sea.”
2 tn The Hebrew term מִשְׁפָּט (mishpat) could be translated “judgment,” but here it seems to refer to the dispute or debate between the Lord and the nations.
3 tn Heb “strong [words],” see HALOT 870 s.v. *עֲצֻמוֹת.
4 sn Apparently this challenge is addressed to the pagan idol gods, see vv. 23-24.
