Thus says the Lord GOD: For this standard quote frame to begin divine speech, see the comments on 7.7. The form of the divine speech introduction differs slightly from previous examples. For the Lord GOD, see 3.15.

Behold, I will lift up my hand to the nations, and raise my signal to the peoples: The word Behold calls Zion’s attention to what Yahweh is about to do. New International Version renders it “See,” but Good News Translation omits it. I will lift up my hand to the nations means God will lift his hand to signal the nations to carry out the task that he will give them. The importance of this gesture is emphasized by the parallel clause and raise my signal to the peoples. For raise my signal, see the comments on 5.26. God will lift his hand and raise his flag to signal the leaders of the nations that they must begin the task of bringing Zion’s children home. Good News Translation summarizes both lines in the brief, rather prosaic rendering “I will signal to the nations.”

And they shall bring your sons in their bosom, and your daughters shall be carried on their shoulders: These two lines are another example of all-inclusive parallelism. They give the response of the nations to Yahweh’s signal. They will bring God’s people home from wherever they have been scattered. The initial Hebrew conjunction rendered and can introduce the result or the purpose of the signal given, so it may be rendered “then” or “so that.” They shall bring your sons in their bosom is a poetic way of saying how the nations will bring Zion’s people back home. In their bosom may be rendered “in their arms” (New International Version, Revised English Bible, New Jerusalem Bible, New American Bible). And your daughters shall be carried on their shoulders is another poetic description of the way the nations will bring Zion’s people back. Both lines indicate that not only will the rulers of foreign nations let the Israelites go home, they will be gentle and caring, making sure they get home safely. The passive verb shall be carried may be rendered as an active one by saying “they [the nations] will carry” (similarly New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh).

Translators will need to consider whether it is appropriate to maintain the figures of speech in the last two lines of this verse. In many languages other expressions are used to describe how children are carried. In some cultures babies are carried on the mother’s back or in a sling on the mother’s hip. However, care has to be taken not to introduce cultural features that are foreign to the culture of the Bible. So the use of “in their arms” and “on their shoulders” may be simplest, but note that New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh “on their backs” in the last line.

Good News Translation gives only a brief rendering of these two lines, but it offers a useful model by indicating where the nations will carry God’s people. They will bring them “home,” namely to Jerusalem. Bible en français courant also indicates the destination by rendering these two lines as “And they will bring back your sons by taking them in their arms, they will bring back your daughters by carrying them on their shoulders.” Contemporary English Version is more explicit with “to return your sons and daughters to the arms of Jerusalem.”

For the translation of this verse consider the following examples:

• Thus says my Lord Yahweh:
“Look! I will raise my hand to signal to the nations,
and raise my flag to the peoples;
then they will carry your sons in their arms,
and your daughters on their shoulders.

• Thus says my Master Yahweh:
“I will raise my hand as a sign to the nations,
and lift high my flag to the peoples,
so that they will bring back your sons in their arms,
and your daughters they will carry on their shoulders.

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 .