The Prophet and His Day: Isaiah 1-39 - Free Bible Commentary
The Prophet and His Day: Isaiah 1-39 - Free Bible Commentary The Prophet and His Day: Isaiah 1-39 - Free Bible Commentary
} “LORD. . .LORD” The MT has Yah (%*, cf. 12:2; 26:4) twice, which should probably be just oneYHWH (%&%*). The scroll of Isaiah in the DSS has one Yah.} “among the inhabitants of the world” This translation is found in most English translations. TheMT has the word “cessation” (i.e., “the land of the dead,” BDB 293 I, -$%); the change to “world” (BDB317, $-%, comes from some Hebrew MSS and the Aramaic Targums). USB’s Hebrew Text Projectthinks it is a purposeful play on the terms (p. 93), not a textual confusion. The phrase “inhabitants of theworld” also occurs in Ps. 49:1.38:12 Hezekiah uses two metaphors to describe the end of his earthly life.1. the taking down of a tent (cf. II Cor. 5:1; II Pet. 1:13,14)2. cloth cut from a loomThere is a question of how to translate the first word in the MT, 9&$ (BDB 189, KB 217).1. dwelling, form found only here (BDB 190, #4, KB 217 I), NASB, NRSV, NJB, JPSOA, REB2. generation, life-span, common meaning of the root (BDB 189, KB 217 II), LXX, Peshitta,NKJV, TEVThere is also a question about the VERB (%-#, BDB 162, KB 191). It could mean1. “rolled up” from --#, BDB 164 II, Niphal PERFECT, cf. 34:4 (used in this sense only here)2. “removed” from %-#, Niphal PERFECT, a unique meaning here, usually it means eithera. uncover, revealb. to go away, send awayMost English translations use option #2, following the MT, but #1 fits the context well.} “From day until night You make an end of me” This is idiomatic language (cf. Job 4:20; Ps. 73:14)of a complete action.38:13NASB “I composed my soul”NKJV “I considered”NRSV, NJB “I cry for help”TEV “I cried out with pain”REB “I am racked with pain”The MT has “I have smoothed” (i.e., “stilled my soul”), %&–, BDB 1000, KB 1436, Piel PERFECT,but many translators assume a change to 3&:, BDB 1002, KB 1443 I, which means “to call out for help,”cf. 58:9, which seems to fit best.} “Like a lion — so He breaks all my bones” Hezekiah’s death is seen as an action of the sovereignLORD. The OT monotheism attributed all causes to the one God. The ancients did not recognizesecondary causes.The Hebrew uses strong metaphors to describe God’s actions, here a lion.38:14 As v. 13 describes the LORD’S power, v. 14 describes Hezekiah’s weakness.1. NASB, NJB, REB – “twitter”NKJV – “chatter”NRSV – “clamor”TEV – “my voice was thin and weak”This VERB (BDB 861, KB 1050, Pilpel IMPERFECT) means “to chirp,” “to peep.” It is used ofbirds here and 10:14, but in other places, of mediums (cf. 8:19; 29:4).2. “moan” – BDB 211, KB 237, Qal IMPERFECT, cf. 16:7; 59:11; Ezek. 7:16; Nah. 2:7. It denotessorrow for a current situation.369
3. eyes look wistfully to the heightsa. “look wistfully” – BDB 195, KB 223, Qal PERFECT, used of prayer to God in Ps. 79:8;116:6; 142:6 (cf. NIDOTTE, vol. 1, p. 951)b. “heights” – BDB 928, would be a metaphor for heaven (cf. 32:15; 57:15; 58:4)4. oppressed – BDB 799, this form is found only here. The Pual VERBAL form in 23:12 means“crushed.” Maybe Hezekiah was thinking of Ps. 103:6 or 146:7.} “O LORD” The MT has adon (BDB 10), as in v. 16, not YHWH, as in vv. 3,4,5,7,11,20 (twice), 22.} “be my security” This IMPERATIVE (BDB 786, KB 876, Qal IMPERATIVE) expresses Hezekiah’srequest based on his weakness. The VERB means a pledge (cf. Job 17:3; Ps. 119:122). YHWH Himselfwas Hezekiah’s hope and guarantee!NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: 38:15-2015"What shall I say?For He has spoken to me, and He Himself has done it;I will wander about all my years because of the bitterness of my soul.16O LORD, by these things men live,And in all these is the life of my spirit;O restore me to health and let me live!17Lo, for my own welfare I had great bitterness;It is You who has kept my soul from the pit of nothingness,For You have cast all my sins behind Your back.18For Sheol cannot thank You,Death cannot praise You;Those who go down to the pit cannot hope for Your faithfulness.19It is the living who give thanks to You, as I do today;A father tells his sons about Your faithfulness.20The LORD will surely save me;So we will play my songs on stringed instrumentsAll the days of our life at the house of the LORD."38:15-20 This strophe reveals the OT theology of Sheol. The afterlife was not a desirable place.38:15 “He has spoken. . .He Himself has done it” This reflects the sovereignty of the monotheistic Godof Israel. He speaks, it happens (cf. 55:11)!38:16 The second line is difficult in the MT. The LXX translates it as “and you revived my breath”;JPSOA translates it as “my life-breath is revived.”38:17NASBNKJVNRSVNJBREB, Peshitta“You who has kept my soul”“You have lovingly delivered my soul”“You have held back my life”“you have preserved my life”“you have saved me”370
- Page 344 and 345: l. eternity everlasting(1) I Kgs. 8
- Page 346 and 347: all people are honored and treated
- Page 348 and 349: ISAIAH 33PARAGRAPH DIVISIONS OF MOD
- Page 350 and 351: WORD AND PHRASE STUDYNASB (UPDATED)
- Page 352 and 353: } “locusts” Locust invasions we
- Page 354 and 355: 33:13 “You who are far away. . .y
- Page 356 and 357: 3. or bothIn v. 17, both “your ey
- Page 358 and 359: B. Because there is a double space
- Page 360 and 361: 34:4 This hyperbolic language relat
- Page 362 and 363: NKJV “night creature”NRSV, NJB
- Page 364 and 365: 1. seek, BDB 205, KB 233, Qal IMPER
- Page 366 and 367: WORD AND PHRASE STUDYNASB (UPDATED)
- Page 368 and 369: . fear not, BDB 431, KB 432, Qal IM
- Page 370 and 371: ISAIAH 36PARAGRAPH DIVISIONS OF MOD
- Page 372 and 373: 36:2 “And the king of Assyria sen
- Page 374 and 375: 36:7 “whose high places and whose
- Page 376 and 377: 2. Arpad was a city in northern Syr
- Page 378 and 379: 1. First paragraph2. Second paragra
- Page 380 and 381: } “I will make him fall by the sw
- Page 382 and 383: 37:19 The truth of v. 18 is seen to
- Page 384 and 385: II.3. Model Prayer, Matt. 6:5-13; L
- Page 386 and 387: C. Other aspects1. Perseverancea. L
- Page 388 and 389: translation. The term can have eith
- Page 390 and 391: ISAIAH 38PARAGRAPH DIVISIONS OF MOD
- Page 392 and 393: NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: 38:4-64Then th
- Page 396 and 397: The MT has the VERB “loved” (8-
- Page 398 and 399: ISAIAH 39PARAGRAPH DIVISIONS OF MOD
- Page 400 and 401: Also note that the Babylon of Hezek
- Page 402 and 403: B. A. Briggs in his book, General I
- Page 404 and 405: APPENDIX TWOINTRODUCTION TO OLD TES
- Page 406 and 407: E. Prophets represent God to the pe
- Page 408 and 409: APPENDIX THREEA BRIEF HISTORICAL SU
- Page 410 and 411: Haran. He engaged the Babylonian fo
- Page 412 and 413: n. 1340-1310 Haremhab3. 19th Dynast
- Page 414 and 415: APPENDIX FOURCHARTSOLD TESTAMENT TI
- Page 416 and 417: KINGS AND EVENTS OF THE BABYLONIAN,
- Page 418 and 419: GREECE359 - 336 Philip II of Macedo
- Page 420 and 421: GREEK359 - 336 Philip II of Macedon
- Page 422 and 423: JUDAH’S KINGS (I CHR. 3:1-16; MAT
- Page 424: APPENDIX FIVE - DOCTRINAL STATEMENT
3. eyes look wistfully to the heightsa. “look wistfully” – BDB 195, KB 223, Qal PERFECT, used of prayer to God in Ps. 79:8;116:6; 142:6 (cf. NIDOTTE, vol. 1, p. 951)b. “heights” – BDB 928, would be a metaphor for heaven (cf. 32:15; 57:15; 58:4)4. oppressed – BDB 799, this form is found only here. <strong>The</strong> Pual VERBAL form in 23:12 means“crushed.” Maybe Hezekiah was thinking of Ps. 103:6 or 146:7.} “O LORD” <strong>The</strong> MT has adon (BDB 10), as in v. 16, not YHWH, as in vv. 3,4,5,7,11,20 (twice), 22.} “be my security” This IMPERATIVE (BDB 786, KB 876, Qal IMPERATIVE) expresses Hezekiah’srequest based on his weakness. <strong>The</strong> VERB means a pledge (cf. Job 17:3; Ps. 119:122). YHWH Himselfwas Hezekiah’s hope <strong>and</strong> guarantee!NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: 38:15-2015"What shall I say?For He has spoken to me, <strong>and</strong> He Himself has done it;I will w<strong>and</strong>er about all my years because of the bitterness of my soul.16O LORD, by these things men live,And in all these is the life of my spirit;O restore me to health <strong>and</strong> let me live!17Lo, for my own welfare I had great bitterness;It is You who has kept my soul from the pit of nothingness,For You have cast all my sins behind Your back.18For Sheol cannot thank You,Death cannot praise You;Those who go down to the pit cannot hope for Your faithfulness.19It is the living who give thanks to You, as I do today;A father tells his sons about Your faithfulness.20<strong>The</strong> LORD will surely save me;So we will play my songs on stringed instrumentsAll the days of our life at the house of the LORD."38:15-20 This strophe reveals the OT theology of Sheol. <strong>The</strong> afterlife was not a desirable place.38:15 “He has spoken. . .He Himself has done it” This reflects the sovereignty of the monotheistic Godof Israel. He speaks, it happens (cf. 55:11)!38:16 <strong>The</strong> second line is difficult in the MT. <strong>The</strong> LXX translates it as “<strong>and</strong> you revived my breath”;JPSOA translates it as “my life-breath is revived.”38:17NASBNKJVNRSVNJBREB, Peshitta“You who has kept my soul”“You have lovingly delivered my soul”“You have held back my life”“you have preserved my life”“you have saved me”370
Change language