Because of Sennacherib’s arrogance, Yahweh will punish him.

Because you have raged against me: This line repeats the last line of the previous verse for emphasis (see the comments there). It gives the first reason for Yahweh’s punishment of Sennacherib.

And your arrogance has come to my ears is the second reason for his punishment. The Hebrew word rendered arrogance comes from a root meaning “to feel at peace and secure,” so it can mean “tranquility” or “self-confidence.” In this context it recalls the boastful and arrogant things that Sennacherib said, so arrogance is a good rendering. Other possibilities are “pride” (Good News Translation) and “insolence” (New International Version). Has come to my ears means that Yahweh has heard the Assyrian king’s arrogant words and taken note of them. A more natural rendering for this line in English is “I have heard your arrogant words.”

I will put my hook in your nose and my bit in your mouth: These two parallel lines begin to describe Yahweh’s control and punishment of Sennacherib. He will lead him by force in the same way that someone leads an animal. I will put my hook in your nose pictures the custom of leading certain animals, such as bulls and camels, by hooks in their noses. It may also be an allusion to the way the Assyrians treated their defeated enemies, as is known from Assyrian texts and monuments. They would place a metal hook through a captive’s nose or lip, tie a rope through the hook, and lead the captive away by the rope. The Assyrian king will be treated in the same way (compare Ezek 19.4). I will put … my bit in your mouth pictures the custom of placing bits in the mouths of certain animals, such as horses and mules, in order to control them while riding them. A bit is a short bar, usually made of metal, placed in the mouth of the animal. Its ends, which project from the mouth of the animal, are attached to ropes that fit over the head of the animal. By pulling on the ropes, the rider can control the actions of the animal. Some translators may have difficulty translating the imagery here, if working with animals in these ways is not part of their culture. However, they should try to use equally expressive language, relating to the way that owners control their animals. If that is impossible, a possible nonfigurative rendering is “I will lead you by force [or, against your will].”

And I will turn you back on the way by which you came: Yahweh will force Sennacherib to go back home to Assyria, without conquering Jerusalem. On the way by which you came seems to indicate that he will travel back on the same road he used to go to Judah. This is quite likely, since there were few roads and all traffic traveled more or less along the same route.

Translation examples for this verse are:

• Since you have raved against me and I have listened to your arrogance,
I will put my hook in your nose and my bit in your mouth,
and I will send you back by the way you came.”’

• Because you have spoken out against me and I have had to listen to your arrogant ravings,
I will lead you [like an animal] with a hook through your nose and a bit in your mouth,
and I will make you return home by the same way you came.”’

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 .