When the report comes to Egypt refers to the news of Sidon’s downfall reaching the Egyptian traders and others. We may say “When the Egyptians hear that Sidon is destroyed.”

They will be in anguish over the report about Tyre: Egypt will feel pain concerning the downfall of Sidon because of its trading relationship with it. The Hebrew verb rendered will be in anguish is the same one translated “travailed” in the previous verse. Here it refers to mental pain (see 13.8, where it has the same sense). It is repeated to give unity to this passage. The Hebrew for over the report about Tyre can also be understood as “like the report about Tyre.” If it has this sense, the verse is saying Egypt will react to news of Sidon’s fate in the same way it reacted to the fate of Tyre. Bible en français courant translates it this way, saying “At this news, Egypt will be in pain, as when she learned what happened to Tyre.” We recommend this understanding of the verse.

Translation examples for this verse are:

• When the Egyptians hear about it, they will feel distress as they did at the report about Tyre.

• The Egyptians will be in anguish at the news [of Sidon] just as they were at news of Tyre.

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 .