This verse confirms the contents of the preceding verses: the land of Edom is permanently assigned to wild creatures.

He has cast the lot for them: This line speaks of Yahweh dividing the land of Edom among the wild creatures mentioned in the previous verses. The pronoun He renders an independent pronoun in the Hebrew text, so it is emphatic. Revised English Bible expresses it well by beginning with “He it is who….” New American Bible has “It is he who….” We may say “It is Yahweh who…” (similarly Good News Translation). The word lot renders a Hebrew word that suggests drawing a stone from a bag in order to make a choice between several alternatives. Casting a lot implies making a choice based on chance. Several translations, such as RSV/NRSV, hint at this implied meaning, but others simply interpret the phrase to mean “assign.” Revised English Bible translates this line as “He it is who has allotted each its place.” Good News Translation also speaks of dividing the land, implying a conscious decision, not one based on chance. The prepositional phrase for them means “on their behalf” or “for their benefit,” that is, for the benefit of the creatures that will inhabit Edom.

His hand has portioned it out to them with the line is parallel in meaning with the previous line. His hand refers to Yahweh himself. Portioned it out to them means that Yahweh has divided the land and given it to the birds and wild animals. The pronoun it refers to the land of Edom, since the last line speaks of “dwelling in it.” Yahweh has divided it with the line. As in verse 11, line refers to a measuring line, a builder’s tool. Here it is a figure for the certainty and the thoroughness with which the LORD assigns the land to its new inhabitants. For this line Bible en français courant has “he has taken his measuring line to divide up the land for them.”

They shall possess it for ever, from generation to generation they shall dwell in it: These two parallel lines repeat ideas from verses 10-11. The verbs possess and dwell and the phrases for ever and from generation to generation link back directly to those verses. Translators should use the same terminology in rendering these various terms and phrases, so that readers can appreciate the connection between this concluding verse and the earlier ones. The pronoun they refers to the wild creatures, and it points to Edom.

For the translation of this verse consider the following examples:

• It is Yahweh who has made this decision for these creatures [or, for these birds and animals],
it is his hand that has divided Edom for them;
they will take possession of it [or, Edom] for ever,
from one generation to the next they will live there.

• It is Yahweh who has assigned Edom to them,
it is his action that has divided it for them;
they will take possession of Edom for ever,
one generation after the other will dwell there.

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 .