Verse 5 speaks generally of evil rulers, but the application is evident: Babylonia is no longer able to oppress the nations because Yahweh has stripped away the power of its rulers. The message is clear with the image of breaking the staff and scepter, two symbols of authority.

The LORD has broken the staff of the wicked: The use of the past tense verb has broken indicates that the power of Babylonia had come to an end when this prophecy was uttered. A staff is a long, hand-held shaft made of wood or metal, which has a variety of uses (see the comments on 9.4). Here it is a symbol of leadership. If the figure of the staff is not known, translators may need to refer directly to the power it symbolizes, as Good News Translation has done. The wicked renders a plural Hebrew noun, referring to the Babylonian rulers, but translators should not make this explicit.

The scepter of rulers is parallel to the staff of the wicked. The verb has broken in the previous line serves this one also, so it has two objects. The Hebrew word rendered scepter is translated “rod” in 9.4. Here it refers to a decorated rod that is used by a ruler to symbolize his or her authority. It can be made of wood, precious metal, or both. The noun rulers also refers to the Babylonian leaders, but there is an interesting play on words here in Hebrew since the “taunt” (mashal in verse 4) is directed against the rulers (moshelim). Rulers may be rendered “those who ruled.”

Good News Translation combines both lines of this verse, which may be a helpful model for other languages. Other translation models for this verse are:

• Yahweh has smashed the power of evildoers, the symbols of those who ruled.

• Yahweh has broken the rod and scepter, symbols of authority of the evildoers who ruled.

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 .