Discovery BoxIsaiah 57:6 
Context57:6 Among the smooth stones of the stream are the idols you love;
they, they are the object of your devotion. 1
You pour out liquid offerings to them,
you make an offering.
Because of these things I will seek vengeance. 2
Isaiah 63:5
Context63:5 I looked, but there was no one to help;
I was shocked because there was no one offering support. 3
So my right arm accomplished deliverance;
my raging anger drove me on. 4
1 tn Heb “among the smooth stones of the stream [is] your portion, they, they [are] your lot.” The next line indicates idols are in view.
2 tn The text reads literally, “Because of these am I relenting?” If the prefixed interrogative particle is retained at the beginning of the sentence, then the question would be rhetorical, with the Niphal of נָחָם (nakham) probably being used in the sense of “relent, change one’s mind.” One could translate: “Because of these things, how can I relent?” However, the initial letter he may be dittographic (note the final he [ה] on the preceding word). In this case one may understand the verb in the sense of “console oneself, seek vengeance,” as in 1:24.
3 sn See Isa 59:16 for similar language.
4 tn Heb “and my anger, it supported me”; NIV “my own wrath sustained me.”
