Isaiah 41:14

Don’t be afraid, despised insignificant Jacob, ¹  men of ²  Israel. I am helping you,” says the Lord, your protector, ³  the Holy One of Israel. ⁴ 

De 7:7; Job 19:25; Job 25:6; Ps 19:14; Ps 22:6; Isa 43:14; Isa 44:6,24; Isa 47:4; Isa 48:17; Isa 49:7,26; Isa 54:5,8; Isa 59:20; Isa 60:16; Isa 63:16; Jer 50:34; Mt 7:14; Lu 12:32; Ro 9:27; Ga 3:13; Tit 2:14; Re 5:9

¹ tn Heb “O worm Jacob” (NAB, NIV). The worm metaphor suggests that Jacob is insignificant and despised.

² 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.”

³ tn Heb “your kinsman redeemer.” A גָּאַל (ga’al, “kinsman redeemer”) was a protector of the extended family’s interests.

⁴ sn See the note on the phrase “the Holy One of Israel” in 1:4.