Each of the four rhetorical questions in this verse begins with the same negative interrogative expression in Hebrew (literally “Not…?”). Each question is longer than the previous one. They are like steps leading to a climax. This produces a powerful rhythm, especially when read aloud.

None of the verbs in these questions has an object. This may cause difficulty in languages that require objects for some of these verbs. In such cases it is best to use a general, indefinite object, such as “it” or “this.” The response in verses 22-24 provides the object for these verbs.

Have you not known?: This question implies that the prophet’s audience should know what he is about to say. It should be general knowledge. The Hebrew verb here is in the imperfect form, so it refers to an ongoing situation. In English it is better rendered in the present tense. Good News Translation does this with “Do you not know?” The pronoun you is plural throughout this subsection, referring to the people of Judah again.

Have you not heard? is parallel and very close in meaning to the first question but views the situation from a different angle, that of hearers. It implies that the people should have heard about it from someone. Good News Translation combines this question with the previous one.

Has it not been told you from the beginning? implies that someone should have told the people about it long ago. If the passive verb Has … been told requires an active form in some languages, this question may be rendered “Hasn’t somebody told you about it…?” From the beginning is literally “from the head.” This time phrase does not refer to “the beginning” in Gen 1.1. However, it does prepare for the next question, which refers to the creation of the earth. It is a key phrase in chapters 40–48, referring to the distant past (see 41.4, 26; 46.10; 48.16). Good News Translation says “long ago,” and New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh has “From the very first.”

Have you not understood from the foundations of the earth?: The foundations of the earth refers to the creation of the earth (see the comments on 24.18). For Revised Standard Version from the foundations of the earth is a time phrase that is parallel with from the beginning in the previous question. However, this phrase may be the object of the verb understood; for example, Good News Translation renders this question as “Have you not heard how the world began?” (similarly New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh; see also the first example below). Hebrew Old Testament Text Project prefers what Good News Translation has done here, but translators may follow either interpretation.

Translation examples for this verse are:

• Don’t you know? Haven’t you heard?
Has nobody told you long ago?
Don’t you have any understanding of how the earth began?

• Do you not know it? Have you not heard about it?
Has nobody told you about it from the very first?
Have you no understanding of it from when the earth was founded?

• Surely you know this. Certainly you have heard about it.
Someone must have told you about it from ancient times.
You must have understanding of it from when the earth was founded.

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 .