I will make your oppressors eat their own flesh, and they shall be drunk with their own blood as with wine: These two parallel lines give very graphic images of the self-destruction of Zion’s enemies that results from God’s actions. They refer figuratively to self-destruction rather than literally to cannibalism. In ancient times these kinds of things did actually happen in very extreme circumstances (see, for example, 2 Kgs 6.24-31). Most versions render these lines literally, which suggests that they refer to cannibalism. However, the fact that the second line speaks of the enemies getting drunk on blood as though on wine shows that these two lines are probably hyperbolic metaphors for mutual destruction. Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch renders them nonfiguratively by saying “Your oppressors will kill each other, and in a bloody frenzy, destroy each other” (similarly Good News Translation).

Regardless of the precise meaning of these words, the idea that God describes his future actions in terms of such gruesome and revolting images may be a problem in some cultures. It gives a picture that some feel is difficult to reconcile with a loving, caring God. However, as translators, we cannot “tone down” the statements by allowing our personal theological views to influence our rendering. But if they are rendered literally, a footnote such as the following may be needed: “These statements need to be seen within the culture and time of the prophet. Their meaning is that God will make the enemies of his people violently destroy each other.” The other option is to use nonfigurative language, as in Good News Translation and Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch (see also the third example below).

If translators use a literal rendering for I will make your oppressors eat their own flesh, they should avoid giving the impression that Zion’s enemies will each eat parts of their own bodies. If translators use a literal rendering here, it is better to say “I will make your oppressors devour each other” or “… those that oppressed/conquered you eat the flesh/bodies of each other.”

And they shall be drunk with their own blood as with wine describes the enemies drinking the blood of their fellow citizens, and becoming drunk with it. Drunkenness usually results from drinking too much wine (see the comments on 1.22). Therefore the thought here is that they will drink so much blood that, if it had been wine they were drinking, they would be drunk. Since in reality no one can become drunk by drinking blood, it is obvious that the expressions are metaphorical. Together these two lines speak of the destruction of all those who oppose Zion and God’s people. Although the picture here is more graphic than usual, the message to Zion is no different from others: God will destroy the nation’s enemies and rescue his people.

Then all flesh shall know that I am the LORD your Savior, and your Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob: This will be the result of God delivering his people and destroying their enemies. In the first line the word flesh means “body” since it is used literally. Here all flesh refers figuratively to all human beings, the peoples of the world (see the comments on 40.5). God makes himself known not only to Israel but to the nations as well (compare 45.6). They will all acknowledge that Yahweh is the one who saves his people, who redeems them. For know see verse 23. For languages that find it difficult to distinguish your Savior (see 43.3) and your Redeemer (see 41.14), translators may combine these two phrases (see the third example below). For the Mighty One of Jacob, see the comments on “the Mighty One of Israel” at 1.24.

For the translation of this verse consider the following examples:

• I will cause those who oppress you to eat each other,
and drink each other’s blood until they are drunk, as with wine.
Then the whole world will acknowledge that I am Yahweh,
your Savior, your Redeemer, the Mighty God of Jacob.”

• I will make your enemies devour themselves,
drinking each other’s blood as though drinking wine and getting drunk.
As a result, all people will recognize that I am Yahweh,
the one who saves and redeems you,
the one who is Israel’s Mighty God.”

• I will make those that oppress you destroy each other completely;
I will make them murder each other in total violence.
Then all the earth will know that I, the LORD, am your Savior,
that I am the powerful God of Israel.”

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 .