Yesaya 40:14

40:14 From whom does he receive directions? ¹ 

Who ²  teaches him the correct way to do things, ³ 

or imparts knowledge to him,

or instructs him in skillful design? ⁴ 

Yesaya 45:6

45:6 I do this ⁵  so people ⁶  will recognize from east to west

that there is no God but me;

I am the Lord, I have no peer.

Yesaya 49:20

49:20 Yet the children born during your time of bereavement

will say within your hearing,

‘This place is too cramped for us, ⁷ 

make room for us so we can live here.’ ⁸ 

[40:14]  ¹ tn Heb “With whom did he consult, so that he gave discernment to him?”

[40:14]  ² tn Heb “and taught him.” The vav (ו) consecutive with prefixed verbal form continues the previous line. The translation employs an interrogative pronoun for stylistic reasons.

[40:14]  ³ tn The phrase אֹרַח מִשְׁפָּט (’orakh mishpat) could be translated “path of justice” (so NASB, NRSV), but in this context, where creative ability and skill is in view, the phrase is better understood in the sense of “the way that is proper or fitting” (see BDB 1049 s.v. מִשְׁפָּט 6); cf. NIV, NCV “the right way.”

[40:14]  ⁴ tn Heb “or the way of understanding causes him to know?”

[40:14]  sn The implied answer to the rhetorical questions in vv. 13-14 is, “No one.” In contrast to Marduk, the creator-god of Mesopotamian myths who receives help from the god of wisdom, the Lord neither needs nor receives any such advice or help. See R. Whybray, Heavenly Counsellor (SOTSMS), 64-77.

[45:6]  ⁵ tn The words “I do this” are supplied in the translation for stylistic reasons.

[45:6]  ⁶ tn Heb “they” (so KJV, ASV); TEV, CEV “everyone”; NLT “all the world.”

[49:20]  ⁷ tn Heb “me.” The singular is collective.

[49:20]  ⁸ tn Heb “draw near to me so I can dwell.”