But the LORD of host is exalted in justice: The connector But marks the contrast between the humbling of humanity in the previous verse and the exalting of Yahweh here. This contrast was made before in 2.9-11, and 17. For the LORD of hosts, see 1.9; for exalted see 2.11. Is exalted in justice means that as Yahweh exercises justice he demonstrates his greatness and power. Some versions use a future tense here; for example, Bible en français courant (1997) renders this line as “The Lord of the universe will show his greatness by installing justice.” But New Jerusalem Bible uses a timeless present tense, as do Revised Standard Version and Good News Translation, with “Yahweh Sabaoth is the more respected for his judgment.”
And the Holy God shows himself holy in righteousness: Just as God shows his greatness by judging correctly, so he demonstrates how upright or distinctive he is by his righteous actions. The Holy God is parallel to the LORD of hosts. The Hebrew word for God is not the regular one, ʾelohim, but a shorter one, ʾel. ʾEl was the general term used by the Canaanites and other Semitic people for a god. This may be why Isaiah uses it here with the adjective Holy to distinguish Israel’s God from the Canaanite gods. For Holy see 1.4. Shows himself means that God’s actions (will) reveal his character. For a comparison of justice and righteousness, see 1.21. The abstract noun righteousness may be rendered “his righteous ways [or, deeds].” Bible en français courant (1997) has a future tense in this line, saying “the only true God will show that he is God by establishing his rule.” New Jerusalem Bible uses a timeless present as in the previous line: “God the Holy One has displayed his holiness by his justice!”
Good News Translation incorrectly reverses the ideas of justice and righteousness in this verse. For justice it says “judging his people”; for righteousness it has “doing what is right.”
Translation examples for this verse are:
• Yahweh of hosts, on the other hand, shows his greatness
in his exercise of justice,
the Holy God shows his holiness
in his righteous ways.
• But Yahweh of hosts is exalted
by his just dealings,
the Holy God in his righteous deeds
shows his holiness.
Quoted with permission from Ogden, Graham S. and Sterk, Jan. A Handbook on Isaiah. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2011. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .