The Hebrew particle ki rendered For could be a logical connector, as in verses 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 9 (so Revised Standard Version). However, it could be a conditional conjunction that introduces a possible but unlikely event (compare 51.6). New International Version and Revised English Bible give it this sense by rendering it “Though,” and Bible en français courant is similar with “Even if.” Another possible model is “For even if,” which combines both senses.

The mountains may depart and the hills be removed refers to an impossible event, but God asks his people to imagine it happening anyway. Mountains and hills are symbols of things in nature that endure and never change position. For the use of these two terms together, see the comments on 2.2. Depart may be rendered “go/move elsewhere.” The Hebrew verb rendered be removed carries the sense of something that will shake and then collapse. For the first two lines of this verse Bible en français courant (1997) has “Even if the hills were to shake, even if the mountains were to change place,” while Good News Translation says simply “The mountains and hills may crumble.”

But my steadfast love shall not depart from you, and my covenant of peace shall not be removed: These two parallel lines provide a contrast with the previous two. Even if the mountains and hills were to collapse or disappear, such will never happen to God’s love for his people or to his promise of peace with them. Repeating the verbs depart and be removed heightens the contrast. The Hebrew verbs for depart (mush) and be removed (mut) are similar in sound; their assonance emphasizes the LORD’s promises here. The Hebrew word for steadfast love is the same one rendered “love” in verse 8 (see the comments there). For my steadfast love shall not depart from you, New International Version has “my unfailing love for you will not be shaken,” New Jerusalem Bible says “my faithful love will never leave you,” and Revised English Bible translates “my love will be immovable and never fail.” Good News Translation says simply “my love for you will never end,” which we do not recommend.

The Hebrew noun phrase rendered my covenant of peace (literally “covenant of my peace”) occurs in almost the same form in Num 25.12; Ezek 34.25; 37.26. Here it refers to God’s covenant with Noah, mentioned in the previous verse. In Gen 9.8-17, where God makes his covenant with Noah, the expression covenant of peace does not occur, but the promise of peace is implied. For covenant see the comments on 24.5. The Hebrew word for peace (shalom) means the enjoyment of safety and security and all that makes for a sense of wholeness (see the comments on 26.12). For my covenant of peace, Revised English Bible has “my covenant promising peace,” and New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh says “My covenant of friendship.” Good News Translation renders my covenant of peace shall not be moved as “I will keep forever my promise of peace,” and Bible en français courant has “the commitment that I take to assure your well-being will remain unshakable.” Both these models use an active verb rather than a passive one, which will be helpful for other languages.

Says the LORD, who has compassion on you: The prophet assures his people once more that this message comes from Yahweh. The Hebrew verb rendered has compassion is the same one translated “have compassion” in verse 8 (see the comments there).

For the translation of this verse consider the following examples:

• Even if the mountains moved
and the hills collapsed,
yet my loyalty to you would never move,
and my covenant that gives you peace would never collapse,”
says Yahweh who has compassion for you.

• Although mountains may move,
and hills collapse,
yet my love for you will not move,
nor will my covenant giving you peace collapse.”
This is what Yahweh, the compassionate one, says.

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 .