There is a sudden change in perspective here. The prophet now speaks of punishment instead of blessings. Verses 15-16 explain how God will punish his enemies. The metaphor of fire dominates these verses, but the images of chariots and a sword are also present. Such a mixture of metaphors is common in Hebrew poetry. Much of the imagery here reminds the reader of ancient warfare, but the overall picture is one of a terrible thunderstorm with Yahweh as the storm-God.

For behold, the LORD will come in fire introduces the main way in which God will express his anger against his enemies. For behold renders two particles in Hebrew (see 65.17). The first one (ki in Hebrew) may be a logical connector or an emphatic marker. If it is an emphatic marker, then the word behold reinforces it. New Jerusalem Bible renders For behold as “For see,” while New International Version and Revised English Bible say simply “See.” Fire often accompanies God’s appearance in the Old Testament (see, for example, Exo 19.18). Within Isaiah there are many references to God using fire as an agent of punishment (see, for example, 9.19; 10.16; 26.11; 29.6). For this line New International Version has “See, the LORD is coming with fire” (similarly Good News Translation).

And his chariots like the stormwind uses the metaphor of chariots (see 2.7) and the simile of a stormwind. In Psa 104.3 there is a reference to the clouds as Yahweh’s chariot, while in Psa 83.13-15 there is an example of Yahweh described in terms of a storm. Translators should keep these images if at all possible since they are used often in the Old Testament. However, they may clarify that his chariots are clouds (see the examples below). Good News Translation uses an English idiom that may not be possible in other languages: “He will ride on the wings of a storm.” However, translators may have their own expressions to render the vivid language of the Hebrew text.

To render his anger in fury, and his rebuke with flames of fire states the purpose of the LORD’s coming. He will come to punish his enemies. The Hebrew verb translated render usually means “return,” but here it has the sense of “repay.” Yahweh will repay the disobedience of his enemies with his anger in fury, which is not an ordinary anger but one that is furious or extreme. The verb render applies to the second line as well, so Yahweh will repay with flames of fire as he punishes (his rebuke) them. Flames of fire is a metaphor for severe judgment (compare 29.6; 30.30). Good News Translation summarizes these two lines by saying “to punish those he is angry with.” Bible en français courant stays closer to the form of the Hebrew with “Filled with indignation, he comes to implement his anger and to realize his threat in a burst of flames.”

Translation examples for this verse are:

• Now see, the LORD will come with fire;
the clouds are his chariots,
they will come like a windstorm.
He will repay with furious anger,
and chastise with flames of fire….

• Now look and see, Yahweh will come in fire,
his chariots, the clouds, will come like a tempest.
He will repay/punish [his enemies] with terrible anger,
and chasten [them] with flames of fire.

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 .