And I got reliable witness … to attest for me: Two men witnessed Isaiah’s actions. There has been much discussion regarding the form of the Hebrew verb here. The differing opinions can be found in the various translations. For some the Hebrew form suggests a future act (so Hebrew Old Testament Text Project, New International Version, Contemporary English Version), but the context seems to imply a description of what Isaiah had actually done (so Revised Standard Version). Some think it should be treated as an imperative, as in the Septuagint (see Good News Translation, for example, where the words are part of the instructions given by the LORD). The weight of opinion is generally on the use of a past tense, indicating completed action. Note, however, that for me in Hebrew (left implicit in Good News Translation) could apply either to Isaiah or to the LORD, depending on how the verb form is understood here.

The Hebrew root meaning “witness” appears twice here, once as a verb and once as a noun. Isaiah called, or is told to call, two persons whose testimony would be trustworthy. Their presence would make the tablet an official document, presumably giving it more weight. What exactly these people were to witness is impossible to tell; it could be the fact that Isaiah wrote the message, or it could be the message itself. Translators should try to reflect this uncertainty if possible. Witnesses may be rendered as a verb by translating this verse as follows: “I got two reliable persons: the priest … I asked them to see [for themselves] what I was doing.”

Uriah the priest and Zechariah the son of Jeberechiah: Only the first person is mentioned elsewhere; see 2 Kgs 16.10-16. Isaiah refers to Uriah as the priest since he was the high priest during the reign of King Ahaz. Since the priests were in charge of sacrifices and other duties at the Temple, possible renderings for priest are “sacrificer” and “one who offers sacrifices.”

For the translation of this verse consider the following examples:

• So I called two witnesses who could be relied upon, Uriah the priest and Zechariah the son of Jeberechiah. They witnessed for me.

• So I asked Uriah the priest and Zechariah the son of Jeberechiah to serve as reliable witnesses for me.

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 .