10:20a
And: The Greek word here is usually translated “and” or “but.” Some English versions use “Then” to indicate that Isaiah spoke after Moses (10:19b). Isaiah lived many years after the time Moses lived.
Isaiah boldly says: The Greek is literally, “Isaiah is-bold/daring and says.” God spoke the words of 10:20b–c and Isaiah wrote them in Scripture. Here are other ways to translate this clause:
Isaiah is bold ⌊in/with⌋ writing ⌊these words of God⌋ :
-or-
Isaiah was fearless enough to tell that the Lord had said (Contemporary English Version)
These words introduce a quote from the Old Testament. Some languages usually introduce Old Testament quotes in a certain way. For example:
⌊in the Scriptures⌋ Isaiah boldly ⌊wrote what God⌋ said
-or-
Isaiah ⌊wrote in the Holy Book God⌋ boldly saying this
says: The Greek verb is present tense says, but Isaiah wrote the words of 10:20b–c over seven hundred years before Paul lived. Greek scholars call it the historical present. In many languages the normal way of referring to a past event must be used. For example:
to have said
Paul introduced the quote in 10:21b with the words “as for Israel,” which implies that the quote in 10:20b–c was about the Gentiles. If you want to make explicit who Paul spoke of in this verse, you should refer to the Gentiles. For example:
to say ⌊about the non-Jews⌋
10:20b
The words of 10:20b–c are from Isaiah 65:1.
I was found by those who did not seek Me: This clause is passive. Some languages must translate with an active clause. For example:
those who did not seek me found me
I was found: Here the word found indicates that people learn who the true God is. It does not imply that God was lost or hiding. Translate with that meaning. For example:
I was discovered
-or-
they learned about me
was found: Here the word was indicates that in the past, at various times, people found God. Your translation should not indicate or imply that people found God all at the same time.
those who did not seek Me: The Greek verb here refers to seeking at any time. For example:
those not seeking me
10:20c
I revealed Myself: There are numerous ways to interpret the Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as revealed Myself. Here are the main ones:
(1) Here it refers to God making himself manifest or revealing himself to people. For example:
I have shown myself (Revised Standard Version)
(Berean Standard Bible, Revised Standard Version, New International Version, New American Standard Bible, King James Version, English Standard Version, New Living Translation (2004), New American Bible, Revised Edition, Revised English Bible, New Century Version)
(2) Here it refers to God making himself visible to people. For example:
I appeared (Good News Translation)
(Good News Translation, New Jerusalem Bible, Contemporary English Version)
It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1), because BDAG and L&N support it.
those who did not ask for Me: This phrase refers to people who asked others to tell them about the one true God. The Greek verb here refers to asking at any time. For example:
those not asking for me
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