Here the LORD says many people will associate themselves closely with him in response to his blessings. The people who respond in this way could be the Israelites affirming their relationship with Yahweh because of what he is doing for them. More likely, they are foreigners who see how Yahweh is blessing his people.

This one will say, ‘I am the LORD’s’: This one renders the Hebrew demonstrative pronoun zeh. This pronoun also occurs in the next two lines, rendered another. This repetition highlights that very many people will associate themselves with Yahweh. Some of them will say I am the LORD’s, which means they commit themselves to him. This clause may be rendered “I belong to the LORD” or “I serve the LORD.” Since this is a quote within the LORD’s speech, some languages may prefer indirect speech here; for example, the whole line may be rendered “Some will say that they belong to the LORD.”

Another will call himself by the name of Jacob means some people will identify themselves with the nation of Israel, so foreigners are clearly in view here. They wish to become members of God’s people. Good News Translation translates “They will come to join the people of Israel.”

And another will write on his hand, ‘The LORD’s’: This line is literally “and this one will write his hand, ‘To Yahweh.’” This could mean that some will use their hands to write “To Yahweh,” but this seems redundant. Most versions see it as meaning that some will write “To Yahweh” on their hands. With either interpretation some will plainly claim that they have a close relationship with Yahweh, so this line is parallel and similar in meaning to the first one. For this line Bible en français courant has “Another will write on his hand: ‘Property of the Lord.’” Another possible rendering is “Some will write on their hands, ‘I belong to the LORD.’” Revised English Bible provides a model with indirect speech, saying “another will write the LORD’s name on his hand” (similarly Good News Translation).

And surname himself by the name of Israel is parallel and synonymous with the second line. The Hebrew verb rendered surname has the sense of adding a new name to one’s regular name, which Revised English Bible expresses by translating the whole line as “and the name of Israel will be added to his own.” Bible en français courant (1997) says “and will be proud to bear the name of Israel.” Good News Translation expresses the meaning clearly with “and call themselves one of God’s people.”

Good News Translation‘s rendering is problematic since it indicates that everyone carries out the four responses in this verse, but in Hebrew each response is an example of what some people do. Some respond in one way, while others respond in another way. The following examples for the verse make this clear:

• One person will claim ‘I belong to Yahweh,’
another will say his name is Jacob,
yet another will write on his hand, ‘For Yahweh,’
and [another] will use the name Israel.”

• Some will say that they belong to Yahweh,
some will call themselves people of Jacob,
some will write that they belong to Yahweh’s,
and others will identify themselves as Israelites.”

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 .