Discovery BoxIsaiah 8:12 
Context8:12 “Do not say, ‘Conspiracy,’ every time these people say the word. 1
Don’t be afraid of what scares them; don’t be terrified.
Isaiah 33:14
Context33:14 Sinners are afraid in Zion;
They say, 4 ‘Who among us can coexist with destructive fire?
Who among us can coexist with unquenchable 5 fire?’
Isaiah 41:14
Context41:14 Don’t be afraid, despised insignificant Jacob, 6
men of 7 Israel.
I am helping you,” says the Lord,
your protector, 8 the Holy One of Israel. 9
Isaiah 43:5
Context43:5 Don’t be afraid, for I am with you.
From the east I will bring your descendants;
from the west I will gather you.
Isaiah 51:12
Context51:12 “I, I am the one who consoles you. 10
Why are you afraid of mortal men,
of mere human beings who are as short-lived as grass? 11
1 tn Heb “Do not say, ‘Conspiracy,’ with respect to all which these people say, ‘Conspiracy.’” The verb translated “do not say” is second masculine plural, indicating that this exhortation is directed to Isaiah and other followers of the Lord (see v. 16).
sn The background of this command is uncertain. Perhaps the “conspiracy” in view is the alliance between Israel and Syria. Some of the people may even have thought that individuals in Judah were plotting with Israel and Syria to overthrow the king.
2 tn Or “trembling” (ASV, NAB, NASB, NIV, NRSV); NLT “shake with fear.”
3 tn Or “the defiled”; TEV “The sinful people of Zion”; NLT “The sinners in Jerusalem.”
4 tn The words “they say” are supplied in the translation for clarification.
5 tn Or “perpetual”; or “everlasting” (KJV, ASV, NAB, NIV, NRSV).
6 tn Heb “O worm Jacob” (NAB, NIV). The worm metaphor suggests that Jacob is insignificant and despised.
7 tn On the basis of the parallelism (note “worm”) and an alleged Akkadian cognate, some read “louse” or “weevil.” Cf. NAB “O maggot Israel”; NRSV “you insect Israel.”
8 tn Heb “your kinsman redeemer.” A גָּאַל (ga’al, “kinsman redeemer”) was a protector of the extended family’s interests.
9 sn See the note on the phrase “the Holy One of Israel” in 1:4.
10 tc The plural suffix should probably be emended to the second masculine singular (which is used in v. 13). The final mem (ם) is probably dittographic; note the mem at the beginning of the next word.
11 tn Heb “Who are you that you are afraid of man who dies, and of the son of man who [as] grass is given up?” The feminine singular forms should probably be emended to the masculine singular (see v. 13). They have probably been influenced by the construction אַתְּ־הִיא (’at-hi’) in vv. 9-10.
