Revised Standard Version has a helpful stanza break here to set off verses 13-17 from the previous verses, but Good News Translation, New Jerusalem Bible, and Bible en français courant allow the text to continue without a break. Verses 13-17 tell us what judgment will follow for those who have been criticized in verses 11-12. (The feasting and drinking in verses 11-12 contrast with the hunger and thirst in verse 13.) However, this punishment may also apply to the people in the previous Woe Oracle (verses 10-12). Verses 13 and 14 both begin with Therefore, which provides a natural link with the previous Woe Oracles. Except for verses 15-17, Good News Translation continues to refer to the Israelites in the second person plural to the end of this section.

Therefore may be rendered “For that [or, those] reason[s].” It is important that the proper relationship between this verse and the previous ones be shown clearly. Good News Translation simply says “and so.” Bible en français courant adds emphasis here by beginning with “That is why the Lord makes this declaration: ‘My people….’” This translation not only expands on Therefore, but also makes it explicit that the LORD is speaking. If a direct quote is used here for the LORD, it should close at the end of this verse.

My people go into exile for want of knowledge: My people is used in 1.3 (see the comments there). It expresses sympathy and implies unity between the speaker and the people. Good News Translation simply says “you,” but this unfortunately tends to divide the speaker from those who suffer. Translators who take Good News Translation as a model should at least say “you, my people.”

The Hebrew verb form rendered go into exile is the one that describes an action as being complete. But in prophetic speech it can also point to something that will happen in the future. The speaker sees the event as so certain that he pictures it as having happened already. With this sense here go into exile refers to the future exile of Judah, including exile to Babylonia. It could also refer to the fate of Israel, the northern kingdom. In 721 B.C., when the Assyrians captured Samaria, they took the people of Israel captive and scattered them throughout the Assyrian Empire. Revised Standard Version uses the present tense here, so no specific time is expressed. New Jerusalem Bible has “is in exile,” which is difficult to explain in the present context. It is recommended that translators use a future verbal form here, which is the choice of Good News Translation, New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh, Bible en français courant, and others.

The important word exile is found here in Isaiah for the first time. It refers both to taking prisoners after a war, as well as to removing them from their home country. Of these two elements, it is the second (being away from home) that is most prominent. Nevertheless, in many languages exile will be rendered “captivity” or “imprisonment.” If so, it may be advisable to qualify this term with a phrase such as “away from [the] home [country]” or something similar. Since the word exile in the Bible mostly refers to the captivity of a whole nation and not one individual, this idea may be expressed as well by saying “captivity of the people away from their country.” This expression is quite long, but if it is used once in full the first time, it may be shortened later by simply saying “captivity.” Sometimes exile can be rendered with the help of a verb such as “to deport”; for example, for go into exile, Bible en français courant has “will be deported.”

The phrase for want of knowledge means that the people are unaware of something, but it is not specified what that “something” is. New Revised Standard Version says “without knowledge,” but the sense is still not obvious. New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh is slightly different with “For not giving heed.” Heed to what? It could mean they do not know where they are heading. However, it is clear from most English renderings that the general view is that Israel has failed to fully appreciate what Yahweh has done. Bible en français courant translates “because it [my people] has understood nothing.” Revised English Bible is quite specific, saying “because they lack all knowledge of me” (similarly Contemporary English Version).

In view of the uncertain meaning of the Hebrew text, translators are advised to reflect the general sense only. A translation that tries to specify the knowledge in question will prevent readers from seeing the different layers of meaning that the text may contain. However, translators have to ensure that their translation makes sense. Then, even if its wording does not immediately display a single clear and obvious meaning, it should invite the reader to give it further thought. De Nieuwe Bijbelvertaling provides a helpful model, saying “without knowing why.”

The last two lines of this verse are an example of all-inclusive parallelism. These two lines do not mean that the leaders will be hungry and the rest of the people will be thirsty, but rather that everyone will be hungry and thirsty (see the second translation example below).

Their honored men are dying of hunger seems to be related to the crisis mentioned in verse 10, where it says Yahweh’s judgment will cause a famine of wine and grain. It could also refer to the fact that the people in exile will be mistreated and starved. The word men is not in the Hebrew text. The Hebrew word rendered honored men is an abstract noun meaning “glory, honor.” Here it refers to people, both men and women, who are honored within the society. Notice New Century Version “All the great people” and Bible en français courant “Its elite.”

And their multitude is parched with thirst: The Hebrew noun rendered multitude comes from a root meaning “to roar” or “to be noisy.” The idea is that when a lot of people are together there is also a lot of noise. The associated meaning here is “crowd.” Bible en français courant says “popular masses.” Other possibilities are “common people” and “all the other people” (contrasting with “the honored people” in the previous line). Parched is a good rendering for the rare Hebrew word here. It means that something is very, very dry. It often is used to describe the desert or a person badly in need of a drink. Like the previous line, we cannot be certain whether this one describes an actual situation or whether it is a figure of speech. However, for translation purposes it is best to use fairly literal but meaningful renderings in both lines.

For the translation of this verse consider the following examples:

• For that reason my people will be taken into exile
lacking understanding;
their honored ones will be hungry
and their masses thirsty.

• Therefore my people who are ignorant
will be taken into exile;
honored citizens as well as the crowds of people
will be very hungry and very thirsty.

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 .