As noted in the introductory comments on 63.15—64.12, Masoretic Text and those versions that follow its verse numbering add 64.1a to this verse.

We have become like those over whom thou hast never ruled: Because of the devastation in Judah, the returned exiles feel God no longer rules them as their protector. They believe he has abandoned them. Never is literally “not from of old.” The Hebrew word for “from of old” is the same one used in verse 16 and occurs again in 64.4.

Like those who are not called by thy name: The people also feel that God no longer has an intimate relationship with them. For called by thy name, see the comments on 43.1 and 7. For this line Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch has “and as if we were not the people that you declared to be your property.” Good News Translation renders its nonfiguratively, saying “as though we had never been your people” (see also the third example below).

In this verse Good News Translation suggests that the people are blaming God for treating them in this way, while Contemporary English Version places the cause on the people themselves: “We act as though you had never ruled us or called us your people.” However, it is more likely that the text simply describes the way the people feel, without trying to blame either themselves or God. The destruction of the Temple and their cities has made them feel completely abandoned.

Translation examples for this verse are:

• We are like people you have never ruled over,
like people who do not bear your name.

• We feel as though you have never been our ruler,
as though we do not carry your name.

• We are like people never ruled by you,
like people who have never been part of your family.

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 .