At the beginning of this chapter the LORD compared the city of Jerusalem to a barren woman, and promised her countless children. Now he speaks of these children and of their future prosperity.

All your sons shall be taught by the LORD: The Hebrew noun rendered sons refers to “children,” not just male children. Your sons is the future population of Jerusalem, so Good News Translation says “your people.” Shall be taught by the LORD is literally “taught of Yahweh,” which means Yahweh will be the people’s teacher (compare 2.3; 50.4). He will teach them his ways. It is also possible that his teaching will involve learning the skills to rebuild the city. Bible en français courant renders this line as “Your children will all be my disciples” (similarly New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh), which avoids the passive verb. Good News Translation also uses an active construction with “I myself will teach your people.” In addition, Good News Translation and Bible en français courant change the third person reference to the LORD to first person, since the prophet is quoting him. These models may be helpful for some languages.

And great shall be the prosperity of your sons is the result of receiving Yahweh’s teachings and following them. The Hebrew noun for prosperity (shalom) is the same one rendered “peace” in verse 10. This term refers to a person’s total well-being, not just to material prosperity (see the comments on 26.12). It is probably best to avoid the rendering prosperity (also Revised English Bible, New Jerusalem Bible, Bible en français courant), since it points more to material wealth. However, “peace” (New International Version, New American Bible) is questionable also, because this term is vague. New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh uses “happiness,” which is better. Good News Translation says “prosperity and peace” to express it more fully. Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch also uses two terms by rendering this whole line as “and they will live in happiness and undisturbed peace.”

For the translation of this verse consider the following examples:

• “Yahweh will teach all your children [or, people],
and great will be their sense of well-being.

• “All your children will be taught by Yahweh,
and they will be thoroughly contented.

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 .