This verse opens with the quotation of a traditional saying, drawn from rural life, about two kinds of animals. These animals are contrasted in the second half of the verse with Israel. By means of this contrast, Yahweh makes it very clear how foolish and rebellious his people are. The ox and the donkey have a relationship with those who own and feed them, but this cannot be said of Israel. Besides the overall parallelism of the two parts of the verse, each half of the verse is in parallel form as well. In the first half of the verse the ox is parallel to the ass, and the owner is parallel to the master’s crib; the verb knows serves both lines (it is left implicit in the second line). In the second half of the verse there are also two pairs: Israel and my people, and not know and not understand. As for translation, we note that the conciseness of Revised Standard Version reflects the Hebrew text closely. Translators should examine if poetic effect can be achieved in the receptor language through being as concise as the Hebrew. Making an appropriate word choice is then the next issue. The demands for clarity and naturalness should never be forgotten, of course.
The ox knows its owner: The ox is not known for its intelligence, but even it is able to recognize its owner. Although the Hebrew text has The ox, its meaning is general and can be rendered “an ox” or “oxen.”
And the ass its master’s crib: The ass is supposedly less intelligent than the ox but even the ass knows where to find the food provided by its master. Ass in some English dialects has become an impolite term. That is why many versions use “donkey[s]” (Good News Translation, Contemporary English Version, New Revised Standard Version). As in the previous line, the definite article the on the word ass does not refer to one specific donkey but to any donkey or all donkeys. Although the verb “know” is not specified here, it is implied from the first line. If translators have to use a verb in this line, they may as well use a slightly more specific word like “recognize.” This will provide variety and intensify the meaning, both of which are characteristics of Hebrew poetic parallelism.
If the ox and the ass are not known in the receptor language, translators probably should not use the names of other animals considered to be rather dumb by the receptor-language culture. The danger of introducing elements or concepts in the translation that do not match the culture of Old Testament times would be too great. Translators may use more general terms, such as “bull” (Good News Translation “Cattle”) in the first line, and “domestic animal” or “animal used to carry burdens” in the second line. However, long phrases should be avoided if possible.
Crib is an old English term for a “feeding trough” or “manger” (New International Version, New American Bible [New American Bible]). The expression its master’s crib does not simply mean that the master owns the feeding box, but that the food placed in it for the donkey is provided by the animal’s owner. Contemporary English Version keeps the focus on the owner rather than on the act of feeding by rendering the first two lines as “Oxen and donkeys know who owns and feeds them.” Another option for the second line is “and the donkey knows where his master feeds him” (compare Good News Translation).
But Israel does not know: The contrast between the ox and donkey and the Israelites is indicated both by the introductory contrastive particle but as well as by the negative verb phrase does not know. The fact that the proper noun Israel comes at the head of the sentence in Hebrew shows that it is being emphasized—it is Israel that does not know, not some other group. The verb know in Hebrew carries more meaning than just having knowledge; it refers to a relationship. What is it that Israel does not know? The text does not say. The examples in the first half of the verse refer to an owner and a master. Therefore we can assume that a similar idea is present in the application here: Israel does not know its master, the LORD. If translators have to provide an object for the verb know, they may add “its master” or “me.” Good News Translation provides this object in an indirect way with “But that is more than my people Israel know.”
Israel does not refer to the northern kingdom of Israel, which is called “Ephraim” later in the text (see 7.2), but it is used here to designate all of God’s covenant people. Although Isaiah’s main focus is Judah and Jerusalem (see 1.1), both the northern kingdom of Israel and the southern kingdom of Judah are included here. Generally, it is difficult if not impossible for translators to bring out either one or the other meaning of the word Israel. When it is important in certain contexts to be precise, it may be necessary to include a footnote. This is not necessary here since the context is sufficiently clear.
My people does not understand: My people is parallel to Israel and is often used in combination with it (see, for example, 1 Sam 2.29; Jer 7.12). The expression my people is rich in meaning, because it is a direct reference to the covenant relationship between Yahweh and Israel. The verb phrase does not understand is parallel to does not know, but it also carries the implied meaning of the people being rather foolish. These two phrases are parallel and synonymous; translators should realize that this is intended as a means of emphasis. In many languages the same kind of repetition may provide that emphasis. Good News Translation often reduces two parallel and synonymous phrases to a single one, but it does not do so here. If an object is needed for the verb understand, translators could be explicit by saying “my people do not understand me” or “… anything.”
Alternative models for this verse are:
• Even an ox knows its owner,
and a donkey knows its master’s feedbox.
Israel, on the other hand, doesn’t know me;
my people don’t understand anything!
• [Even] cattle know who their owner is, and donkeys know [where to find] their master’s feedbox, but Israel doesn’t know [its master]. My people don’t understand [anything]!
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 .