The LORD of hosts has sworn: Sworn means Yahweh is making an oath or a very serious promise. The oath is in two parallel parts. The repetition emphasizes that Yahweh is determined to fulfill his plans. For the LORD of hosts, see 1.9.

As I have planned, so shall it be is literally “If not as I have planned, so will it be.” The initial words in Hebrew are typical of oaths in the Old Testament (see 5.9, where the same oath structure occurs). When God is the one who promises to do something, the full form of the oath is usually “‘As I live,’ says Yahweh, ‘if I do [or, do not]….’” (see, for example, Num 14.28; Deut 32.40-41; Ezek 17.16, 19). Translators should make it clear that this is an oath. The Hebrew verb rendered planned is from a root that has various meanings, such as “to resemble,” “to intend,” “to destroy,” or “to be silent.” The context determines which meaning it has. Since this verb is parallel to purposed in the last half of the verse, it means “to plan/intend” here. So shall it be means Yahweh’s plan will succeed. He is in control.

And as I have purposed, so shall it stand is parallel to the previous two lines. The verb stand may be rendered “be established.”

In languages where it is difficult to translate these parallel lines in a meaningful way, they may be combined. Contemporary English Version offers a model: “Everything I have planned will happen just as I said.” However, if this is done, some of the seriousness of the oath formula will probably be lost. Other possible models for this verse are:

• Yahweh of hosts has sworn an oath: “Just as I have planned, so it will happen; just as I have purposed, so it will come about.

• Yahweh of hosts assures firmly that just as he has planned, so it will be; just as he has decided it will be, so it will be done.

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 .