For Zion’s sake I will not keep silent, and for Jerusalem’s sake I will not rest: These two parallel lines each begin with a Hebrew expression that is rendered For … sake. New Jerusalem Bible says simply “About,” meaning “concerning.” Bible en français courant is better with “Out of love for.” What the prophet says about Jerusalem in the remainder of the section is very positive, so For … sake may be rendered “For the good of” (similarly Contemporary English Version) or “For the benefit of.” In a rather free rendering Good News Translation omits this phrase, which we do not recommend. Good News Translation combines the synonymous names Zion (see 1.8) and Jerusalem by only using “Jerusalem.” This follows its principle of using the better known name when there are two different but synonymous names for the same place or person.

In verse 2 the prophet addresses his audience directly, using second person pronouns (“you” and “your”) that are feminine singular in Hebrew to refer to Jerusalem. Good News Translation makes this clear by beginning verse 2 with the vocative “Jerusalem.” But Contemporary English Version, Bible en français courant, and Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch make the identity of the addressee clear by using this vocative and second person pronouns for Jerusalem here in verse 1, which other languages may find helpful.

I will not keep silent and I will not rest both express a determination to speak up and do something for the benefit of Jerusalem. For the Hebrew verb rendered keep silent, see the comments on 42.14, where it is translated “held … peace.” This verb occurs again in verse 6. For the Hebrew verb rendered rest, see the comments on 7.4, where it is translated “be quiet.” I will not rest means the prophet will continue to work for the goal he mentions in the last half of this verse. Bible en français courant (1997) says “I will not remain inactive.” Both these expressions may be rendered positively by saying “I will speak up … I will continue to work.” Good News Translation has “I will speak out … I will not be silent,” referring to speech both times, which is possible. New International Version is similar with “I will not keep silent … I will not remain quiet” (similarly Revised English Bible).

Until her vindication goes forth as brightness, and her salvation as a burning torch: In these two parallel lines the prophet states the goal of his work. He will not give up until it is as evident as light to everyone that God has vindicated and saved the people of Judah. At this time the people doubt the actual fulfillment of God’s promises. Third Isaiah assures them that God will indeed act, even if the fulfillment of Second Isaiah’s earlier promises seems to have been delayed. They will be able to rebuild their cities in Judah and reestablish their livelihood. The pronoun her refers to Jerusalem and its people. Her vindication may mean God will vindicate the people, that is, prove them innocent, or it may mean he will rescue them (see the comments on 61.10, where the Hebrew root here is rendered “righteousness”). If it has the later sense, then it is synonymous in meaning with her salvation (see 61.10). Good News Translation understands them as synonymous by rendering them “she is saved” and “her victory.” For her vindication and her salvation, Revised English Bible has “her victory” and “her deliverance,” New International Version says “her righteousness” and “her salvation,” New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh uses “her victory” and “her triumph,” and New Jerusalem Bible chooses “her saving justice” and “her salvation.”

Goes forth as brightness and as a burning torch are similes that both express confidence that God’s vindication and rescue of his people will become widely known. “Light” is a major figure for salvation in Third Isaiah (see, for example, 59.9; 60.1). The verb goes forth does not express movement but rather public awareness. This verb is implied in the last line. The Hebrew noun for brightness is the same one that occurs in 59.9; 60.3 and 19. Here it occurs in a simile referring to the dawn. For as brightness, New Revised Standard Version has “like the dawn” (similarly New Jerusalem Bible, Bible en français courant), and Revised English Bible says “like the sunrise.” For the Hebrew word rendered torch, see the comments on 50.11, where a similar word is translated “brands.” It may be rendered “lamp” or “light.”

For the translation of this verse consider the following examples:

• For the good of Zion I will not remain silent,
for the good of Jerusalem I will not remain quiet,
not until she is vindicated and shines brightly,
not until she is rescued and burns like a light [or, gives light like a lamp/torch].

• I will not keep silent for Zion’s benefit,
I will not give up for Jerusalem’s benefit,
not until God proves her innocent and she shines forth,
not until God rescues her and her light is seen.

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 .