Yesaya 25:8

25:8 he will swallow up death permanently. ¹ 

The sovereign Lord will wipe away the tears from every face,

and remove his people’s disgrace from all the earth.

Indeed, the Lord has announced it! ² 

Yesaya 45:25

45:25 All the descendants of Israel will be vindicated by the Lord

and will boast in him. ³ 

Yesaya 61:3

61:3 to strengthen those who mourn in Zion,

by giving them a turban, instead of ashes,

oil symbolizing joy, ⁴  instead of mourning,

a garment symbolizing praise, ⁵  instead of discouragement. ⁶ 

They will be called oaks of righteousness, ⁷ 

trees planted by the Lord to reveal his splendor. ⁸ 

[25:8]  ¹ sn The image of the Lord “swallowing” death would be especially powerful, for death was viewed in Canaanite mythology and culture as a hungry enemy that swallows its victims. See the note at 5:14.

[25:8]  ² tn Heb “has spoken” (so NAB, NASB, NIV, NRSV, NLT).

[45:25]  ³ tn Heb “In the Lord all the offspring of Israel will be vindicated and boast.”

[61:3]  ⁴ tn Heb “oil of joy” (KJV, ASV); NASB, NIV, NRSV “the oil of gladness.”

[61:3]  ⁵ tn Heb “garment of praise.”

[61:3]  ⁶ tn Heb “a faint spirit” (so NRSV); KJV, ASV “the spirit of heaviness”; NASB “a spirit of fainting.”

[61:3]  ⁷ tn Rather than referring to the character of the people, צֶדֶק (tsedeq) may carry the nuance “vindication” here, suggesting that God’s restored people are a testimony to his justice. See v. 2, which alludes to the fact that God will take vengeance against the enemies of his people. Cf. NAB “oaks of justice.”

[61:3]  ⁸ tn Heb “a planting of the Lord to reveal splendor.”