In contrast to the foreigners who do the hard work in the fields, Judah’s people will have their own special ministry of service to Yahweh and will enjoy the riches provided by foreign nations.

But you shall be called the priests of the LORD: But you renders an emphatic Hebrew expression that marks the contrast between the people of Judah and the foreigners who serve them. You shall be called the priests of the LORD is a figurative expression. It does not mean that every person in Judah will serve as a priest in the Temple when it is rebuilt. Priests of the LORD is an honorary title. New Jerusalem Bible and New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh indicate this by placing quote marks around it. The actual priests (see 8.2) who served Yahweh did not own land, so they had no flocks or herds. For this reason the community had to support its priests with food and other gifts. Likewise, the people of Judah will become like priests who depend on support from the community. Here it is the foreigners who will work for them (verse 5) and the wealth of the nations that will support them (verse 6b). If translators wish to hint at this implied meaning, they could render this line as “But you will be like priests of the LORD.” A footnote might be required to clarify the meaning.

Men shall speak of you as the ministers of our God is parallel to the previous line. Men shall speak of you as is literally “it will be said of you,” which may be rendered simply “people will say you are.” Ministers of our God is another honorary title, so New Jerusalem Bible and New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh also place it within quote marks. The Hebrew root rendered ministers normally refers to serving or working for someone who holds very high office; for example, it is used of Joseph serving in Pharaoh’s court, of those who serve the king, as well as of priestly service in the Temple (see the comments on 56.6). It is not used of people serving at ordinary tasks. So the word “servants” should be avoided if it has the sense of someone doing menial work. However, Good News Translation and Bible en français courant use “servants” as the best common-language equivalent of ministers.

You shall eat the wealth of the nations means Judah will enjoy goods from foreign nations. The verb eat may be rendered “enjoy.” The wealth of the nations refers to the abundance of goods that the foreign countries will give Judah (see 60.5, 11). The Hebrew word for wealth literally means “strength,” but here it has the figurative sense of “riches” (see the comments on 10.14).

And in their riches you shall glory is parallel to the previous line. The Hebrew noun for riches is literally “glory,” but it has the sense of “wealth” in this context (see the comments on 10.3, where it is rendered “wealth”). The meaning of the Hebrew verb rendered glory is uncertain, since this is the only place it occurs in the Old Testament. According to Hebrew Old Testament Text Project, it can mean “boast” or “change.” If it has the sense of “boast,” then the whole line means Judah will boast in the wealth of the other nations. If it has the sense of “change,” then the overall meaning is that their wealth will become Judah’s. Like Revised Standard Version, most versions prefer the sense of “boast”; for example, New International Version has “and in their riches you will boast,” and Good News Translation says “And be proud that it is yours.” Revised English Bible follows the other sense by saying “and succeed to [that is, inherit] their riches.” We recommend the sense of “boast.”

For the translation of this verse consider the following examples:

• But you will become known as Yahweh’s priests,
people will refer to you as our God’s ministers.
You will enjoy the wealth of foreign nations,
and boast in their riches.

• But people will call you Yahweh’s priests,
and refer to you as ministers of our God.
You will enjoy the bounty of the nations,
and inherit the riches they provide.

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 .