Verse 4 begins the second half of the chiasmus built around the foreigner and eunuch (see the introductory comments on this section [56.1-8]). The sentence in this verse is completed in the next one.

For thus says the LORD repeats the standard divine quote frame (see Isa 56.1). The Hebrew particle ki rendered For may be a logical connector or an emphatic marker here. It may be translated “Now” or left implied (so Good News Translation, Revised English Bible).

To the eunuchs …: The rest of this verse gives the three marks of the eunuchs who have become members of God’s people.

For who keep my sabbaths, the first requirement, see Isa 56.2.

Who choose the things that please me, the second requirement, is literally “and they choose in what I have taken pleasure.” They choose to do God’s will. This requirement is more general than the other two, and it may well include them. Revised English Bible translates “who choose to do my will.”

And hold fast my covenant is the third requirement. As in verse 2, the Hebrew verb rendered hold fast means “to keep in every detail.” Good News Translation says “faithfully keep.” My covenant refers to the agreement God made with his people to establish an intimate relationship with them (see the comments on 24.5). It could be the covenant with Abraham, Moses, or David. It included laws, especially the requirements of justice and righteousness here. By living out these requirements the eunuchs show their willingness to accept the covenant relationship and live within it.

Translation examples for this verse are:

• Now Yahweh says:
“To those eunuchs who observe my Sabbath laws,
who determine to fulfill my will,
and who strictly keep the covenant I made with my people….

• Yahweh says to the eunuchs who keep his Sabbath laws,
who decide to do what pleases him,
and who faithfully keep the covenant between him and his people….

If translators wish to express this verse as a separate sentence, they may render verses 4-5 as follows:

• 4 Now Yahweh says:
“There are eunuchs who observe my Sabbath laws,
who determine to fulfill my will,
and who strictly keep the covenant I made with my people.
5 To those eunuchs I will give in my house….

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 .