Here the prophet tells the people to encourage one another. He addresses the same people as in the previous verse, inviting them to speak to any among them who might be afraid. Verse 4 provides the content of what the people should say to achieve the goal of verse 3.

Say to those who are of a fearful heart: Those who are of fearful heart is literally “those whose heart is quick.” Here this probably pictures those whose hearts are beating quickly, who are panicking because God will come (compare 32.2, where the same expression is rendered “the mind of the rash”). Revised English Bible says “the anxious.” Good News Translation has “everyone who is discouraged,” but it is better to say “everyone who is panicking.” In Hebrew culture the fast beating of the heart is a sign of panic, but in other languages different body parts may be used to indicate panic.

Be strong, fear not!: The command Be strong renders the same Hebrew verb translated “Strengthen” in the previous verse. It tells those who are panicking to be courageous. The command fear not appears in a number of contexts in the Old Testament (see the comments on 7.4), and seems to have a special meaning when God appears. Although the Hebrew verb rendered fear has a meaning that extends from fear to awe and worship, in this context fear not encourages the people not to be afraid.

Behold, your God will come with vengeance, with the recompense of God: Behold tells those who are afraid to note the following encouraging message concerning God’s arrival. It seems to suggest that God is almost visible, being so close. It may be rendered “See.” New Revised Standard Version begins with “Here is your God. He will come….” Your God does not mean that the people are speaking about another God different from their own. “Our [inclusive] God” may be better, or simply “God” (Good News Translation).

The terms vengeance and recompense are repeated from 34.8 (see the comments there even though it uses a different Hebrew word for “recompense”). Here the terms apply to the manner and purpose of God’s coming. Vengeance implies God’s powerful action to set things right, to establish justice again. This vengeance is against Judah’s enemies. Come with vengeance may be rendered “come to bring vengeance.” Recompense carries the sense of compensating people for wrong done against them. God will compensate the people of Judah for what has been done to them. The recompense of God is a literal rendering of the Hebrew, which may mean “the reward God gives.” However, the Hebrew word translated of God often has a simple superlative sense, as in Jonah 3.3, where it is rendered “exceedingly” in the phrase “an exceedingly great city.” This is why New Revised Standard Version renders the recompense of God as “terrible recompense,” which refers to the terrifying way God will act when he rewards Judah. His actions will strike terror into their enemies. However, we believe the superlative expression here focuses on the extent of the reward rather than its terrifying manner, so a better rendering is “great reward” (see the examples below).

He will come and save you states further the purpose of God’s coming. Save refers to God’s rescue of his people from their enemies and to the positive changes he will make for them and their land. These changes are detailed in the following verses.

Bible en français courant translates the second part of this verse as follows: “here is your God. He comes to avenge you and pay back to your enemies the evil they have done to you; he himself is coming to save you.”

For the translation of this verse we may say:

• Say to any who are panicking, “Be strong and don’t be afraid!
See, our God is coming!
He will come to bring vengeance,
and with great reward he will come and rescue you.”

• Say to those who are frightened, “Don’t be afraid. Be strong!
Look, God is coming to bring vengeance,
he will come with great reward and rescue you.”

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 .