The Hebrew text of verse 10 is difficult and it allows for a variety of interpretations. The Hebrew pronoun mi that introduces the verse can be understood either as an interrogative pronoun meaning “Who” (as in Revised Standard Version) or as an indefinite pronoun meaning “Whoever” (as in Good News Translation with “All of you”). If this pronoun introduces a question, it is not clear how far the question extends in the verse. If it introduces a statement, it also is not clear how far it extends. Some of the options occurring in modern versions are the following:

(1) There is one rhetorical question and it covers the whole verse (Revised Standard Version, New Revised Standard Version).
(2) There is a rhetorical question followed by a statement (New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh, Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch).
(3) There are two rhetorical questions followed by a command (New Jerusalem Bible).
(4) There is one statement, ending in a command (Good News Translation).
(5) There are two statements, each ending with a command (Revised English Bible, Bible en français courant).

Translators need to decide on the form and overall interpretation of verse 10 before rendering it. All the versions quoted above are possible models, but the ambiguity in RSV/NRSV needs to be avoided.

Who among you fears the LORD and obeys the voice of his servant…? is literally “Who[ever] among you fears Yahweh, obeying the voice of his servant….” The pronoun you could refer generally to all the Israelites in exile and more particularly to those who have maintained faith in the LORD and trust in his servant, despite the suffering (darkness) they experience. For some commentators this pronoun refers to those opposed to the servant and his mission. Contemporary English Version understands it in this way by rendering this rhetorical question as a strong negative statement, saying “None of you respect the LORD or obey his servant….” But not many accept this interpretation of these lines. Contemporary English Version admits as much in a footnote that states, “One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text of verse 10.” Most who see a rhetorical question here understand it as having a positive implication, referring to those who do fear the LORD.

Fears the LORD does not mean to be afraid of Yahweh. It means to be in awe of him (see the comments on 11.2). New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh has “reveres the LORD,” Good News Translation “honor…,” and Contemporary English Version “respect….” Bible en français courant says “recognizes the authority of the Lord.” These same type of person also obeys the voice of his servant. That is to say, when God’s servant came to announce freedom to the exiles, there were some who responded positively. The first two lines could be regarded as a simple statement of fact that says “Whoever reveres the LORD obeys his servant,” but no version consulted takes this option. However, the Hebrew participle rendered as obeys is regarded by some as the jussive verb (see option 5 above): for example, Revised English Bible renders the second line as “let him obey his servant’s commands,” and Bible en français courant has “let him listen to his servant!” Like Good News Translation, neither of these versions render the voice literally, which other languages may find helpful. God’s servant is not the speaker here unless, as some believe, he is referring to himself in an indirect way using third person speech.

Who walks in darkness and has no light: This is a relative clause in Hebrew, introduced by the relative pronoun ʾasher. Normally in this grammatical construction the noun modified by the relative clause is the noun that stands immediately before it. In this sentence that would be his servant. However, in this context many commentators and translations agree that the relative clause refers back to the initial “Who” or “Whoever.” Walks in darkness is a figurative expression for the Israelites who live in exile (see the comments on 9.2). Has no light is a parallel image. Like the verbs fears and obeys, the singular verbs walks and has have a collective sense. Translators may use plural forms if they are more natural (see Good News Translation).

Yet trusts in the name of the LORD and relies upon his God: These two lines are parallel. As noted above, Revised Standard Version and New Revised Standard Version view them as part of the overall question; for many others they are commands (using jussive verbs in Hebrew) to the suffering exiles to trust in Yahweh. If the previous relative clause is taken to refer to the servant, then the Hebrew verbs rendered trusts and relies are not jussives but regular imperfects that describe the servant’s trust in Yahweh. The problem with this latter view is that a connection with verse 11 becomes difficult. There would no longer be a contrast between two groups of people (those who trust the LORD [verse 10] and those who disobey him [verse 11]), but one between an individual (the servant [verse 10]) and a group (the rebels [verse 11]). The name of the LORD refers to the LORD himself (see the comments on 12.4). This expression is parallel and synonymous with his God. If plural forms have been used with the previous verbs in this verse, it may also be done with the verbs trusts and relies, and his God may be rendered “their God.”

There is no consensus concerning the interpretation of this verse. The Hebrew text is ambiguous, allowing for several possible interpretations. Translators may wish to follow a traditional rendering found in a version widely used in their region. On the other hand, they are also free to follow any of the other interpretations quoted above that are permitted by the Hebrew text. If footnotes are being used, then it is important to advise readers that the translation of the Hebrew represents only one possible meaning. Alternative renderings may be noted.

For the translation of this verse consider the following examples:

• Who among you honors Yahweh, obeying what his servant says,
who walks in the dark, without a light,
yet who trusts Yahweh and relies on his God?

• Whoever honors Yahweh and obeys his servant,
whoever walks in the dark, having no light,
let him trust in Yahweh’s name and rely on his God!

• Which of you honors the LORD, and obeys his servant,
who suffers in this darkness, and is without light?
Let him trust in Yahweh and rely on his God.

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 .