This verse closes the subsection by applying to God the well-known image of a shepherd leading his flock. The pronouns he and his refer to God.

He will feed his flock like a shepherd: This first line is a general statement about God as a shepherd taking care of his flock. Then the next three lines expand on how he takes care of them. Feed and shepherd render the same Hebrew verb, so this line is literally “He will shepherd his flock like a shepherd.” This verb includes more than just finding pasture for the flock. It involves protection and care of all kinds, so feed is better translated “tend” (New International Version, Revised English Bible) or “care for” (Contemporary English Version; similarly Good News Translation). The Hebrew word for flock can include any domestic animals, such as sheep, goats, and cattle (see the comments on 17.2). Shepherding flocks is alien to many cultures, but translators should not abandon the shepherd imagery here altogether since it is so central in the Bible. Not referring to it would risk distorting the message. Where the practice of shepherding flocks is unknown, it may be necessary to be more explicit about what is implied here. Translators may need to speak of God caring for his people in the same way that a person, called a shepherd, looks after his animals in the countryside. It may also be useful to have an entry on shepherd in the glossary. Bible en français courant‘s glossary has “A person who is given the task of guiding a flock to grazing grounds and to guard over the sheep and the goats that have been entrusted to him. In the Bible this term is often an image of the leaders of the people of Israel. God himself is sometimes called a shepherd (Psa 23.1; 80.2) and Jesus presents himself as the shepherd who gives his life for those who are entrusted to him (John 10.11).” However, it is unlikely that Isaiah will be the first book translated in the receptor language, so translators will need to consider how they have rendered this term elsewhere.

He will gather the lambs in his arms means Yahweh picks up very young lambs. The Hebrew word for lambs refers to newborn sheep. These animals are often not strong enough to keep up with the rest of the flock, so the shepherd has to carry them. In Hebrew it is possible to link in his arms with the verb feed in the previous line, but most versions prefer to link it with verb gather. The Hebrew word for arms is singular, so Revised English Bible renders this line as “and with his arm keep them together” (similarly Bible en français courant). This is possible, but we prefer the interpretation of Revised Standard Version.

He will carry them in his bosom continues the picture of the previous line. After Yahweh picks up the newborn lambs, he carries them in his bosom, that is, on his chest. Many languages will have their own expression for carrying objects in this way. Bible en français courant says “he carries the lambs against himself,” while New International Version has “and carries them close to his heart.”

And gently lead those that are with young means that Yahweh as a shepherd also gives special attention to sheep that are nursing lambs. The Hebrew verb rendered gently lead refers to leading these sheep to where they can find water and a place to rest, so Revised English Bible has “lead … to water,” and New Jerusalem Bible says “leading to … rest.” It may be rendered “carefully lead.” Those that are with young renders a Hebrew participle that refers to female sheep nursing their lambs. They require more attention from a shepherd. Good News Translation links this line closely with the previous one by saying “he will gently lead their mothers,” which is an acceptable model.

Both Revised Standard Version and Good News Translation use the future tense throughout this verse, but the Hebrew grammar also allows the present tense (so Contemporary English Version, New International Version, New Jerusalem Bible, New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh, Bible en français courant).

For the translation of this verse consider the following examples:

• He will care for his flock as a shepherd does.
He will pick up the [young] lambs,
carry them in his arms,
and gently lead the ewes with lambs.

• He will take care of his people just as a farmer cares for his animals.
He will pick up the young ones,
carry them in his arms,
and carefully lead the mothers [still] feeding their young.

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 .