In righteousness you shall be established: In Hebrew the phrase In righteousness comes before the verb to give it prominence. In other words, the city of Jerusalem will be founded first and foremost on righteousness. The meaning of the Hebrew word for righteousness (tsedaqah) is uncertain, since it can also mean “salvation/rescue,” “victory,” “vindication” (see verse 17), or “justice” in Second Isaiah (see the comments on 46.12). It most likely means “vindication” or “justice” in this context, so it may be rendered “saving justice.” The Hebrew verb rendered be established means “to be stable/secure” (see the comments on 2.2). It is a passive verb, so it implies that someone makes Jerusalem secure through justice. The agent could be the leaders of the restored community or even Yahweh. New Jerusalem Bible keeps the passive construction by rendering this line as “In saving justice you will be made firm.” Good News Translation uses an active verb, saying “Justice and right will make you strong,” which some languages may find helpful.

You shall be far from oppression means there will be no oppression in the city. However, the Hebrew verb rendered you shall be far is an imperative, calling the people to refrain from all oppressive acts. Most commentators recognize that the imperative verb in Masoretic Text is the correct text, but they believe an indicative verb fits the context better. An indicative verb describes the situation rather than demanding it. If an indicative verb is used, then the oppression could come from the people of Jerusalem or from outside forces. If an imperative is used, then the oppression can only come from within the city. For oppression see the comments on 30.12 and 33.15. New International Version has “Tyranny.” We recommend that translators use an imperative here, as in Masoretic Text (see the examples below). God is calling on the people not to undermine the “peace” that he will bring (verse 13). However, an indicative verb may be correct here since the preceding and following verbs are not imperatives. All the versions consulted use indicative verbs; for example, Revised English Bible renders this line as “You will be free from oppression” (similarly New Jerusalem Bible), and New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh has “You shall be safe from oppression” (similarly to Bible en français courant).

For you shall not fear: The Hebrew particle ki rendered for could be a logical connector (so Revised Standard Version) or an emphatic marker, which may be translated “Indeed.” Either view fits this context. You shall not fear gives assurance to the people of Jerusalem that they will no longer live in fear of oppression (see verse 4, where the Hebrew verb here occurs as an imperative). The imperfect verb form in this clause denotes a permanent situation. The people will never be afraid.

And from terror, for it shall not come near you is parallel to the previous line. The imperative verb “be far from” in the previous line is implied here. Terror is another object of this verb. The people of Jerusalem must refrain from terrifying each other. If an indicative verb is used here, the terror could be caused by the people themselves or a foreign power, like oppression in the previous line. If so, God is assuring the people that they will no longer be terrified. The Hebrew particle ki rendered for could be a logical connector or an emphatic marker, as in the previous line. It shall not come near you assures the people that there will be no terror in the restored city. The Hebrew verb in this clause is in the imperfect form, as in the second clause of the previous line. For this whole line Bible en français courant translates “You will be freed of terror, it will no longer threaten you.”

Translation examples for this verse are:

• You will be founded on justice.
Leave behind all oppression!
Indeed you will not be afraid again.
Leave behind all terror!
Indeed it will be far from you.

• You will establish yourself upon justice.
Put aside oppression,
for you need have no fear.
Put aside your deepest fear,
for it will not come near you.

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 .