Discovery BoxIsaiah 47:9 
Context47:9 Both of these will come upon you
suddenly, in one day!
You will lose your children and be widowed. 1
You will be overwhelmed by these tragedies, 2
despite 3 your many incantations
and your numerous amulets. 4
Isaiah 47:12
Context47:12 Persist 5 in trusting 6 your amulets
and your many incantations,
which you have faithfully recited 7 since your youth!
Maybe you will be successful 8 –
maybe you will scare away disaster. 9
1 tn Heb “loss of children and widowhood.” In the Hebrew text the phrase is in apposition to “both of these” in line 1.
2 tn Heb “according to their fullness, they will come upon you.”
3 tn For other examples of the preposition bet (בְּ) having the sense of “although, despite,” see BDB 90 s.v. III.7.
4 sn Reference is made to incantations and amulets, both of which were important in Mesopotamian religion. They were used to ward off danger and demons.
5 tn Heb “stand” (so KJV, ASV); NASB, NRSV “Stand fast.”
6 tn The word “trusting” is supplied in the translation for clarification. See v. 9.
7 tn Heb “in that which you have toiled.”
8 tn Heb “maybe you will be able to profit.”
9 tn Heb “maybe you will cause to tremble.” The object “disaster” is supplied in the translation for clarification. See the note at v. 9.
