The last verse of this subunit has an abrupt change of tone. Verses 19-21 describe a good relationship between Yahweh and Egypt in the future, but verse 22 speaks of punishment. No reason is given for this reversal. In the context it is possible that verse 22 expresses a potential situation rather than an actual one. According to this verse, if Yahweh punished the Egyptians, he would heal them after they repented. New Jerusalem Bible has this sense by beginning with “And if Yahweh strikes Egypt…”

And the LORD will smite Egypt, smiting and healing: The Hebrew verb rendered smite is used sometimes in the Old Testament for God’s punishing action against persons or nations (see the comments on “be smitten” in 1.5, which translates another Hebrew verb). Both Good News Translation and Contemporary English Version use the verb “punish” here. The Hebrew verb for smite can also refer to a plague (see Exo 8.2; 32.35). So another series of plagues upon Egypt may be in view here. However, this time there will also be healing. In this context healing is not a healing of some sickness but a removal of troubles. A nonfigurative alternative for healing is “removing trouble/misfortune/suffering.”

And they will return to the LORD means they will repent. This implies that Yahweh will punish Egypt because of their wrongdoing. After they repent, he will heed their supplications and heal them. The Hebrew verb rendered heed … supplications expresses a rather complex idea. According to BDB, the form of this verb here is only used in reference to God, and means “be entreated and then grant the entreaty.” The Egyptians make an earnest and humble petition to Yahweh and he grants it. Good News Translation says “he will hear their prayers” (similarly New Jerusalem Bible), but this does not fully express the Hebrew verb here in English. New International Version is better with “he will respond to their pleas” (similarly Revised English Bible, New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh). For heal them, see the comments above on healing. It may be rendered “remove their trouble.” Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch says “help them up again.”

Consider the following translation examples for this verse:

• Yahweh will strike the Egyptians and then heal them. They will then turn back to Yahweh who will respond to their humble request and give healing.

• If Yahweh struck the Egyptians, he would both strike and heal. They would return to Yahweh and he would respond to their plea and heal them.

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 .