Notes for Isa 59:1LEB
"short" (so NAB, NASB, NIV, NRSV).
"or his ear too heavy [i.e., "dull"] to hear."
Notes for Isa 59:2LEB
"and your sins have caused [his] face to be hidden from you so as not to hear."
Notes for Isa 59:4LEB
"no one pleads with justice."
"nothing"; NAB "emptiness."
Or "trouble" (NIV), or "harm."
Notes for Isa 59:5LEB
"that which is pressed in hatches [as] a snake."
Notes for Isa 59:6LEB
"their deeds are deeds of sin, and the work of violence [is] in their hands."
Notes for Isa 59:7LEB
"their feet run to evil."
"they quickly pour out innocent blood."
"their thoughts are thoughts of sin, destruction and crushing [are] in their roadways."
Notes for Isa 59:8LEB
"a way of peace they do not know, and there is no justice in their pathways."
"their paths they make crooked, everyone who walks in it does not know peace."
Notes for Isa 59:9LEB
מִשְׁפָּט
(mishpat), which refers to "justice" in the earlier verses, here refers to "justice from Yahweh," or "vindication." Because the people are unjust, Yahweh refuses to vindicate them before their enemies. See v. 11.
The prophet speaks on behalf of the sinful nation and confesses its sins.
Light here symbolizes prosperity and blessing.
"but, look, darkness"; NIV "but all is darkness."
The words "we wait for" are supplied in the translation; the verb is understood by ellipsis (note the preceding line).
The plural noun form may indicate degree here.
Or "walk about"; NCV "all we have is darkness."
The plural noun form may indicate degree here.
Notes for Isa 59:10LEB
"like there are no eyes."
among the strong, like dead men."
Notes for Isa 59:11LEB
See the note at v. 9.
Notes for Isa 59:12LEB
"for many are our rebellious deeds before you."
"indeed [or "for"] our rebellious deeds (are) with us, and our sins, we know them."
Notes for Isa 59:13LEB
"speaking." A new sentence was started here in the translation for stylistic reasons.
"conceiving and uttering from the heart words of falsehood."
Notes for Isa 59:14LEB
Or "righteousness" (ASV, NASB, NIV, NRSV); KJV, NAB "justice."
Or "for" (KJV, NRSV).
Notes for Isa 59:15LEB
"and it is displeasing in his eyes."
Notes for Isa 59:16LEB
"man" (so KJV, ASV); TEV "no one to help."
Or "appalled" (NAB, NIV, NRSV), or "disgusted."
"and his arm delivers for him."
"and his justice [or "righteousness"] supports him."
Notes for Isa 59:17LEB
Or "righteousness" (KJV, NASB, NIV, NRSV, NLT); NCV "goodness."
Or "a breastplate" (traditional; so many English versions); TEV "a coat of armour."
"and [as] a helmet deliverance on his head."
"and he puts on the clothes of vengeance [as] a garment."
Notes for Isa 59:18LEB
"in accordance with deeds, so he repays, anger to his adversaries, repayment to his enemies."
Or "islands" (KJV, NIV).
Notes for Isa 59:19LEB
"fear." A few medieval Hebrew mss read "see."
"and they fear from the west the name of the Yahweh."
"and from the rising of the sun his splendor."
"narrow"; NAB, NIV, NRSV "pent-up."
"the wind of the Yahweh drives it on." The term רוּחַ (ruakh) could be translated "breath" here (see Isa 30:28LEB).
Notes for Isa 59:20LEB
Or "redeemer." See the note at Isa 41:14LEB.
"and to those who turn from rebellion in Jacob."
Notes for Isa 59:21LEB
Or "my covenant with" (so many English versions); NCV "my agreement with."
The Yahweh promises the repentant (note "to them") that they and their offspring will possess his spirit and function as his spokesmen. In this regard they follow in the footsteps of the Yahweh’s special servant. See Isa 42:1LEB; Isa 49:2LEB; Isa 51:16LEB.
"from now and on into the future."