This verse has another rhetorical question. However, this one expects a positive answer. It emphasizes that the farmer must plant the seed properly after preparing the soil if he is to have a good harvest. Instead of a question, Good News Translation uses statements again (see also the third example below).
When he has leveled its surface refers to the result of harrowing, mentioned in the previous verse. This line may be rendered “After he has leveled the soil.” More general renderings are “Once they have prepared the soil” (Good News Translation) and “When a field is ready” (Contemporary English Version).
Does he not scatter dill, sow cummin…?: Dill and cummin are two herbs used to add flavor when cooking. They are fine grass-like plants. Both are grown for the seeds they produce. These seeds contain oil that provides the flavoring. The Hebrew word for dill probably refers to black cumin (so New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh), while the word for cummin refers to ordinary cumin. Many languages may have only one word for these two herbs (see the third example below). The verb scatter describes the manner of sowing the seeds of these two herbs. They can be grown in clumps since they are small and easily harvested. Languages that do not have terms for these specific herbs should remember that the focus in this verse is on a contrast between them and grain crops. So translators can use a general term for plants that are used to spice food.
And put in wheat in rows and barley in its proper place: For the verb put in, Good News Translation has “plant,” which fits this context well. Wheat and barley are grain crops that are much larger than the herbs. Each wheat and barley plant produces heads of grain. At harvest time the whole plant is cut down and then threshed to remove the grains for making flour. If translators do not have names for these two grains in their language, they can use a general term for “grain” (see 17.5).
The phrases in rows and in its proper place are problematic since they do not occur in the Septuagint and their meanings are uncertain. Revised Standard Version follows Masoretic Text, which we recommend. New Jerusalem Bible renders the Hebrew for in rows as “millet,” which is another type of grain. Hebrew Old Testament Text Project says “millet” is a valid alternative, so translators could place it in a footnote. However, we suggest following the traditional rendering that views this phrase and in its proper place as referring to the manner of planting wheat and barley. Both these grain crops had to be planted in rows, so they could be harvested easily. They also were the main food crops, so they each needed a large area to grow.
And spelt as the border: Spelt is a type of wheat that can grow in less fertile soil. Since spelt may not be a common grain in many places, translators may have to use a general expression, such as “other grain.” “Rice” and “maize” should not be used as alternatives, because they were unknown in the biblical Mediterranean area. As the border (literally “its border”) means the spelt was planted at the edges of the wheat and barley fields. New Jerusalem Bible says “around the edges,” and Revised English Bible has “along the edge.” The reason for planting spelt at the edges is uncertain, but some commentators suggest it was done to identify individual plots of land.
Translation suggestions for this verse are:
• When he has made the surface smooth,
does he not scatter black cumin and ordinary cumin seeds,
and plant wheat in rows,
barley in another area,
with spelt around the edge?
• After making the ground level, does he not scatter dill and cumin,
plant wheat in rows and barley in another plot,
and around the edge some other grain?
• He is sure to level the ground, then scatter cumin seeds,
plant rows of wheat and barley in another plot,
and spelt around the edge.
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 .