But you are cast out, away from your sepulchre: But you renders an emphatic Hebrew expression that begins the contrast between the king of Babylonia and the kings of other nations. This line does not refer to the removal of the Babylonian king’s body from his grave, but it means he was not buried properly at all, unlike other kings. Bible en français courant has “But you [singular], you are thrown outside, you have been left without a tomb.” New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh says “While you were left lying unburied.” For languages that require an active verb here, translators may say “But they have thrown you outside and left you unburied” or “However, nobody placed you in your tomb/grave.”
Like a loathed untimely birth: Revised Standard Version‘s rendering is based on a change to the Hebrew text (similarly Bible en français courant). The Babylonian king’s lack of burial is compared with the way a stillborn child was treated. However, the Isaiah text from Qumran supports Masoretic Text, which has “like a hated branch.” New International Version has “like a rejected branch,” and Contemporary English Version says “like a broken branch.” De~Waard suggests we retain Masoretic Text. This is also the cautious recommendation of Hebrew Old Testament Text Project, but the sense of this reading is not so obvious. New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh has “Like loathsome carrion” (similarly Revised English Bible). It bases its rendering on a slight change to the Hebrew text. This seems to be the reading that lies behind Good News Translation‘s rather free rendering. So translators have three readings to choose from, all three of which are supported by major versions. We cautiously recommend the reading of Masoretic Text.
Clothed with the slain, those pierced by the sword: This pictures the Babylonian king lying dead and unburied on the battlefield. However, this line is difficult to understand fully. Good News Translation, New International Version, New Jerusalem Bible, Bible en français courant, and Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch think that clothed here means “covered,” in the sense that the king was buried under a heap of dead soldiers. In Hebrew grammar a noun that follows a passive participle generally identifies the agent of the action in the participle. This is the case in the clause those pierced by the sword, which refers to those killed in battle. However, the Hebrew participle rendered clothed is in construct state with the word translated the slain, so clothed with the slain more likely means “clothed like the slain.” The king still wore his battle dress like the dead warriors as they lay unburied on the battlefield. New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh expresses this meaning, saying “[In] the clothing of the slain gashed by the sword.” Even though New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh’s rendering differs from that in many other versions, we recommend it.
Who go down to the stones of the Pit describes being buried. Go down continues the “rise up – go down” theme. The stones of the Pit probably refers to a mass grave made in rocky ground for those who died in battle. This seems to be Good News Translation‘s interpretation of this line, which reads “thrown with them into a rocky pit.” Bijbel in Gewone Taal says it explicitly with “thrown down into a mass grave.” Alternatively, the stones of the Pit could refer to the deepest part of Sheol, which Contemporary English Version hints at in its footnote on “the deep rocky pit,” calling it “The world of the dead.” The Pit is a synonym for Sheol (see verse 15). This expression could refer specifically to the part of Sheol where those who died without proper burial went. Since this is poetry, all of these meanings could be hinted at in these words.
Like a dead body trodden under foot: This is another simile describing the dead Babylonian king. Here he is compared to a dead animal or insect on which people walk without thinking about it. It is another picture of his lack of worth and of people’s contempt for him.
We suggest the following examples for translating this verse:
• However, you were left unburied, [abandoned] like a branch thrown away, clothed like those slain by the sword and who go to the stony ground of the Pit, treated like a dead body that one treads on.
• But you, they did not bury you, but left you like a branch they throw away; you wore the same clothes as those killed by the sword [or, dead soldiers], who are buried in the stony ground of the world of the dead; you were like a dead body trampled over.
• But you were left without burial, thrown aside like a stick, covered by the corpses of others who died by the sword and who lie in the stony Pit, treated like a dead insect one treads on.
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 .