This is poetic imagery in which the prophet adds a description of darkness and gloom to accompany the desolation brought by the invading army. Not only will the earth be left in ruins, but the heavens also will be affected by the devastation. God’s punishing action is presented as an event that impacts all creation. The keyword heavens is described fully here as the stars, sun, and moon. This threefold description of the heavens is highly poetic and frequently used in the Old Testament (see, for example, Psa 148.3; Ezek 32.7; Joel 2.10). Behind the imagery lies the idea of Yahweh as the Creator, calling all creation to join in his activity. It stresses the seriousness and completeness of his action.

The opening word For renders the Hebrew particle ki. Here it is more likely an emphatic marker (“Indeed”) rather than a logical connector (“Because”). This verse adds to the description of the previous verse rather than gives its explanation. Good News Translation omits the particle.

The stars of the heavens and their constellations will not give their light: The stars will become invisible, because their light will be hidden from sight. Darkness is often associated with the day of the LORD (Joel 2.2; Amos 5.18). Constellations are groups of stars. The unusual Hebrew term rendered constellations is a plural form of a word found in Job 9.9 referring to one of the constellations, Orion. The use of the plural form here suggests that it refers to all the stars in the Orion star formation, or to all constellations. For the stars of the heavens and their constellations, it might be simplest to say “all the stars of the sky/heavens.”

The sun will be dark at its rising: The sun will also become invisible like the stars, probably because clouds block their light. So translators should not try to picture a “dark sun” rising.

The moon will not shed its light: A third heavenly light will be hidden. Night will be as dark as when there is no moon or when the moon is hidden by heavy clouds. Shed means “to give out” or “to provide.”

For translation of this verse consider the following models:

• Indeed, the stars in heaven and the constellations will not give light, the sun will be hidden when it rises, and the moon will give no light.

• No star in heaven will give light, the sun when it rises will be invisible, and the moon will not shed light.

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 .