13:14a–d

Notice the parallel lines that are similar in meaning:

14a I will ransom them from the power of Sheol;

14b I will redeem them from Death.

14c Where, O Death, are your plagues ?

14d Where, O Sheol, is your sting ?

There are two main interpretations of these four clauses:

(1) The first two clauses are rhetorical questions. The implied answer is “No.” The LORD indicates by means of these rhetorical questions that he will punish Israel. For example:

Shall I ransom them from the power of Sheol? Shall I redeem them from Death? (New Revised Standard Version)

The second two clauses are also rhetorical questions. The LORD taunts death, implying, “Where is the destruction that you should bring to Israel? For example:

O Death, where are your plagues? O Sheol, where is your destruction? (New Revised Standard Version)

(2) The first two clauses are statements. The LORD promises to save the people of Israel. For example:

I shall ransom them from the power of Sheol; I shall redeem them from Death. (English Standard Version)

The second two clauses are rhetorical questions. In light of the LORD’s preceding promise to save Israel, he here mocks death because it can no longer destroy. For example:

O Death, where are your plagues? O Sheol, where is your sting? (English Standard Version)
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It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1) along with a majority of versions and commentaries. It best fits the context of judgment in the surrounding verses.

Some versions translate in a way that makes the implied meanings more explicit. For example:

Will I deliver them from the power of Sheol? No, I will not! Will I redeem them from death? No, I will not! O Death, bring on your plagues! O Sheol, bring on your destruction! (NET Bible)
-or-
Should I, the Lord, rescue you from death and the grave? No! I call death and the grave to strike you like a plague. (Contemporary English Version)

The Good News Translation translates the rhetorical questions in the first two clauses as statements:

I will not save this people from the world of the dead or rescue them from the power of death. (Good News Translation)

This may be a good translation option if a rhetorical question is not natural or effective in your language.

13:14a–b

ransom…redeem: The Hebrew word for ransom means “transfer ownership of a person or object to another.” The Hebrew word for redeem means here “reclaim [Israel] as one’s own.” In this context of ransoming/redeeming from death, the words could be translated as “save/rescue.” For example:

Will I save them from the place of the dead? Will I rescue them from death? (New Century Version)

power of Sheol: The Hebrew phrase is more literally “hand of Sheol.” In Hebrew a common figurative meaning of “hand” is power or strength.

The word Sheol can refer to “place of the dead” or just “death.”

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

the power of Sheol (Revised Standard Version)
-or-
the place of the dead (New Century Version)

Some versions leave the word power implied. For example:

“Should I ransom them from the grave? (New Living Translation (2004))

13:14c–d

Where: Here the word Where does not ask about the literal location of plagues and destruction. It is used as part of a taunt. See interpretation (1) above. Some versions translate the taunt in a different way. For example, the New Living Translation (2004) translates the rhetorical questions as commands:

O death, bring on your terrors! O grave, bring on your plagues! (New Living Translation (2004))

plagues: The Hebrew word means any kind of disease that causes death.

sting: There are two main interpretations of the meaning of the Hebrew word:

(1) It means “destruction.” For example:

O Sheol, where is your destruction? (New Revised Standard Version)

(2) It means sting. For example:

O Sheol, where is your sting? (English Standard Version)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1). The most common meaning of the Hebrew word is “destruction.” It has good support from the majority of versions and scholars. However, both interpretations have good version support, so it is recommended that you give the other option in a footnote. For example:

This is what the Masoretic Text probably means. Some ancient and modern versions have “sting” here.

13:14e

Compassion is hidden from My eyes: The Hebrew word translated as Compassion is found only here in the Old Testament and the meaning is debated. There are two main interpretations of this line:

(1) The LORD will not show compassion. For example:

I will no longer have pity for this people. (Good News Translation)

(2) The LORD will not change his plan to save his people. For example:

I won’t even think of changing my plans. (God’s Word)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1) along with most versions. It better fits the recommended interpretation in 14:a-d and the context of judgment in the surrounding verses.

Here are some other ways to translate this line:

I refuse to show mercy. (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
For I will not take pity on them. (New Living Translation (2004))

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