Hear this, O house of Jacob, who are called by the name of Israel: The prophet addresses the people of Israel, telling them to listen. The imperative verb Hear is plural in Hebrew. As in other places, this command has a sense of challenge, even condemnation. The pronoun this points to what is about to be said in verses 3-11. The vocative phrase O house of Jacob refers to the Israelites (see the comments on 2.5). There is a strong possibility that criticism of Israel is contained within the reference to Jacob. According to Gen 27.35-36, the name Jacob comes from a Hebrew verb meaning “to supplant/deceive.” So there is a hint that Israel, the deceiver, has been deceiving itself about its religious life.

Who are called by the name of Israel refers to the new name given to Jacob in Gen 32.28.

And who came forth from the loins of Judah has a slight textual problem. Instead of loins, the Hebrew text has “waters.” Revised Standard Version emends the text to read loins. Hebrew Old Testament Text Project firmly endorses the Hebrew text, but explains that “waters” refers to the sperm of man, so it is a euphemism. Therefore we accept the advice of de~Waard that Good News Translation provides a good model for this line with “you that are descended from Judah,” and so does Revised English Bible with “and sprung from the seed of Judah.” Parole de Vie has “and you are born of Judah.” By calling his audience not only Jacob/Israel, but also the offspring of Judah, it is clear that the prophet is addressing the people in exile in Babylonia. They are the Judeans who were taken as captives there. Another possible model for this line is “children/offspring/descendants of Judah,” but the euphemism could be explained in a footnote.

Who swear by the name of the LORD means that the people use the name of Yahweh whenever they make a vow or promise, which implies that they invite Yahweh to punish them if they fail to keep the vow. Swearing in this way is one example of the people’s religious activity. This line may be rendered “you use the name of the LORD [or, invoke/call upon the LORD] whenever you make an oath/promise/vow.”

And confess the God of Israel is parallel to the previous line. The Hebrew verb rendered confess is literally “cause to remember.” It can be used with the sense of mentioning someone, thus to “invoke” or “call upon” that person. Since this line is parallel to the previous one, it is clear that it refers to the people calling upon Yahweh for help or praying to him generally. Both lines remind Israel of its formal religious practices. Good News Translation renders confess as “claim to worship” to convey the negative conclusion of the verse. Translators may use “worship,” “invoke,” “pray to,” or “call upon.” Of course, they should try to avoid repeating the verb already used in the previous line.

It should be clear in the translation that the LORD and the God of Israel refer to the same person. A model that does this for the fourth and fifth lines is “who swear by the name of the LORD, [who is] the God of Israel, and pray to him.”

But not in truth or right: The formal religious acts just described do not indicate genuine devotion. The religious life of the people of Judah was external only. This line forms the pivot around which the remainder of verses 1-2 revolves. The terms truth and right describe the basic requirements of any religious practice. It must be “genuine” or “honest” in terms of the worshiper’s attitude. It must also be “sincere” or done with total commitment. For this line Bible en français courant has “but without seriousness or loyalty.” Good News Translation opts for a crisp summary, saying “but you don’t mean a word you say.” Revised English Bible is more formal with “but not with honesty and sincerity.”

For the translation of this verse consider the following examples:

• Hear this, people of Jacob,
given the name “Israel,”
offspring of Judah.
You make vows using the name of Yahweh
and call on the God of Israel,
but you do not do so with truth and sincerity.

• Listen to what I have to say, Jacob,
also known as “Israel,”
born of Judah’s own body.
You make promises using Yahweh’s name,
you pray to Israel’s God,
but you are not genuine or sincere [about it].

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 .