He will raise a signal for a nation afar off: The pronoun He refers to Yahweh, the LORD. Translators may need to make this explicit if they begin a new section or even a new paragraph here (see Good News Translation). He will raise a signal is repeated in 11.12. The Hebrew term rendered signal is used 9 times in Isaiah (11.10 [“ensign” in Revised Standard Version], 12 [“ensign”]; 13.2; 18.3; 30.17; 31.9 [“standard”]; 33.23 [“sail”]; 49.22; 62.10 [“ensign”]). The sense of this line is obvious; Yahweh will call a distant foreign nation to come. We have seen already in 2.2-4 that Yahweh is the God of all nations. Here that lordship is demonstrated by his calling one of those far-off nations to be his agent. The identity of the nation is not mentioned, but we will soon learn of it. The phrase raise a signal (which could refer to the practice of raising flags as signals to an army at war) may be rendered as a verb, such as “signal,” “call,” or even “command.” Note that the verb here is specifically future: will raise. Afar off means “distant” (Good News Translation). With the singular “nation,” Revised Standard Version and Good News Translation have followed a text that is not recommended by Hebrew Old Testament Text Project. The Hebrew has the plural “nations.” Where possible, the plural should be kept, as New International Version, Contemporary English Version, and Bible en français courant (1997) have done. (But see the comments on the pronoun it in the next paragraph.)
And whistle for it from the ends of the earth is parallel in form and meaning to the previous line. Whistle is a form of signaling here. Its function is similar to raising banners in the previous line, but it is much less formal. The unusual Hebrew verb for whistle is used only here and in 7.18 in Isaiah. It speaks of God in the most human of terms (so it is anthropomorphic). He is pictured as a human being who only needs to whistle with his mouth to send a signal all over the earth. The Hebrew switches from the plural “nations” in the previous line to the singular it in this line. Some commentators have speculated that the focus has shifted from a general invitation to all nations to the particular nation that will respond. It is more likely that all nations that answer the LORD’s call are considered as a single army unit in this line and in the verses to follow. This kind of shifting from plural to singular is acceptable in Hebrew but may need to be modified in translation. This may mean keeping a plural form throughout these verses (so “them” here), or using a singular form from the beginning of the verse as many versions have done.
The phrase from the ends of the earth could be telling us where God will stand to send his signal, namely, at then ends of the earth. However, there is an ellipsis or gap in the line that makes it clear this is not the case. Supplying the verb “to come” before this phrase brings out the true sense (so Good News Translation). The ends of the earth is an idiom for the regions farthest away that were known at the time; it is a hyperbole and metaphor since the earth does not have ends. Translators should look for a similar idiom in their language.
And lo, swiftly, speedily it comes follows the literal form of the Hebrew text. This line stands alone, which is rather uncommon in Hebrew poetry. It thus calls attention to itself. The word lo translates a common Hebrew word that catches people’s attention. For lo … it comes, New Revised Standard Version has “Here they come…!” which is a good colloquial rendering of the expression in English. We may also say “Look [out], they are coming…!” There is a sense of urgency in this expression, which the translator should match. The two adverbs swiftly and speedily add emphasis. New Jerusalem Bible uses an intensifying construction for the whole line: “and see how swift, how fleet they come!” The singular subject it before the verb comes refers to the enemy nation. It may be translated with a plural as New Revised Standard Version has done if the focus is on the enemy troops: “Here they come, swiftly, speedily!” Translators may harmonize this pronoun with their choice of a singular or a plural for nation in the first line (see the discussion above).
Translation examples for this verse are:
• Yahweh will send a signal to a far off nation,
and whistle for it to come from the ends of the earth.
And look, here it comes [now]! It is speeding on its way!
• The LORD will signal to a distant enemy,
he will summon them from the far corner of the earth.
Look, here they come with great speed!
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 .