Isaiah 63:19–64:2

Footnotes

1. 43 Heb “we were from antiquity” (see v. 16). The collocation עוֹלָם + מִן + הָיָה (hayah + min + ’olam) occurs only here.
2. 44 Heb “you did not rule them, your name was not called over them.” The expression “the name is called over” indicates ownership; see the note at . As these two lines stand they are very difficult to interpret. They appear to be stating that the adversaries just mentioned in v. 18 have not been subject to the Lord’s rule in the past, perhaps explaining why they could commit the atrocity described in v. 18b.
3. 1 In the chapter division occurs in a different place from the English BibleNET: 64:1 (63:19b ) and 64:2–12 (64:1–11 ). Beginning with 65:1 the verse numbers in the English Bible and the Hebrew Bible are again the same.
4. 2 Or “the heavens.” The Hebrew term שָׁמַיִם (shamayim) may be translated “heavens” or “sky” depending on the context.
5. 3 Or “quake.” נָזֹלּוּ (nazollu) is from the verbal root זָלַל (zalal, “quake”; see II זלל). Perhaps there is a verbal allusion to Judg 5:5, the only other passage where this verb occurs. In that passage the poet tells how the Lord’s appearance to do battle caused the mountains to shake.
6. 4 Heb “to make known your name to your adversaries.” Perhaps the infinitive construct with preposition -לְ (lamed) should be construed with “come down” in v. 1a, or subordinated to the following line: “To make known your name to your adversaries, let the nations shake from before you.”