Discovery BoxIsaiah 42:24 
Context42:24 Who handed Jacob over to the robber?
Who handed Israel over to the looters? 1
Was it not the Lord, against whom we sinned?
They refused to follow his commands;
they disobeyed his law. 2
Isaiah 53:2
Context53:2 He sprouted up like a twig before God, 3
like a root out of parched soil; 4
he had no stately form or majesty that might catch our attention, 5
no special appearance that we should want to follow him. 6
1 tn Heb “Who gave to the robber Jacob, and Israel to the looters?” In the first line the consonantal text (Kethib) has מְשׁוֹסֶה (mÿshoseh), a Polel participle from שָׁסָה (shasah, “plunder”). The marginal reading (Qere) is מְשִׁיסָּה (mÿshissah), a noun meaning “plunder.” In this case one could translate “Who handed Jacob over as plunder?”
2 tn Heb “they were not willing in his ways to walk, and they did not listen to his law.”
3 tn Heb “before him.” Some suggest an emendation to “before us.” If the third singular suffix of the Hebrew text is retained, it probably refers to the Lord (see v. 1b). For a defense of this reading, see R. Whybray, Isaiah 40-66 (NCBC), 173-74.
4 sn The metaphor in this verse suggests insignificance.
5 tn Heb “that we might see him.” The vav conjunctive prefixed to the imperfect introduces a result clause here. See GKC 504-5 §166.a.
6 tn Heb “that we should desire him.” The vav conjunctive prefixed to the imperfect introduces a result clause here. See GKC 504-5 §166.a.
