But now marks the contrast between this section concerning the bright future for God’s people and the previous section concerning their present exile (see the introductory comments on verses 1-21). Good News Translation omits this connector, but translators should keep it.

Thus says the LORD introduces Yahweh’s speech in verses 1d-7 (see the comments on 7.7). Like Revised Standard Version and Good News Translation, many versions also place quote marks around his speech. Good News Translation also places the verb says just before the quote, which other languages may find helpful (see also the examples below).

He who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: These synonymous parallel lines describe Yahweh. The Hebrew verbs rendered created and formed are keywords in this section and form an inclusio for it (see the introductory comments on verses 1-21 and 1-7). Both these verbs occur in the creation story of Gen 1–2. Here they are used for Yahweh’s establishment of the people of Israel. For created see the comments on 40.26. For the parallel names Jacob and Israel, see the comments on 9.8 and 40.27. The pronoun you is singular in Hebrew, but translators may use plural, especially if they refer to “the people of Jacob/Israel” here. Good News Translation combines these two lines by saying “Israel, the LORD who created you.” This rendering loses the emphasis in Hebrew. If possible, translators should keep both lines.

Fear not: Yahweh first tells his people not to be afraid. For this significant command in Isaiah, see the comments on 35.4 and 40.9.

For I have redeemed you is the reason why the people should not be afraid. It is because Yahweh has rescued them before. For the Hebrew verb rendered redeemed, see the comments on 41.14, where it is translated “Redeemer.” The term is used figuratively to describe the release of the Israelites from Egypt (see, for example, Exo 15.13). Here Yahweh links the old Exodus with the possibility of a new one, this time bringing back the Israelites from Babylonia. Good News Translation uses the verb “save,” while Bible en français courant (1997) has “liberate.”

I have called you by name, you are mine means God claims the Israelites as his own people, because he has established a special relationship with them. In Hebrew to call someone by name is to enter a close relationship with him. Most translations consulted translate I have called you by name literally. However, Bible en français courant says “I have engaged you personally.” Another possible rendering is “I have established a personal relationship with you.”

For the translation of this verse consider the following examples:

• But now, Yahweh who created you, O Jacob,
who formed you, O Israel, says this:
“Do not be afraid.
I have saved you.
I have called you by name;
you belong to me.

• Yet now, the LORD who created you, Jacob,
who made you, Israel, says this:
“Don’t be afraid since I have rescued you.
I have called you personally; you are mine.

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 .