And I heard the voice of the Lord saying: For the Lord, see the comments on Isa 6.1. The Lord asks a question here, so the verb saying may be rendered “ask.” Whether the question is addressed to Isaiah, to the seraphs, or to both cannot be determined. However, Isaiah feels it concerns him directly, so he is the one who responds.

Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?: The double form of this question emphasizes its importance. It may be rendered as two questions, as Good News Translation has done. The verb send is used again in 42.19, describing Yahweh’s messenger as one who is sent. So we can see the significance of the verb in the present context—it is a call to become the LORD’s messenger. Individuals cannot decide on their own to become prophets; the LORD must send them. In languages where send needs an indirect object for naturalness, translators may add “to the people [of Israel].”

Who will go for us? is related in meaning to Whom shall I send. It calls for a person to respond to a challenge. It also stresses the fact that the messenger’s mission will be to represent the one who is sending him. The phrase for us indicates that the messenger is going on behalf of Yahweh. The use of us in this question is a reference to the presence of the heavenly beings who form the council with Yahweh. They are being consulted, but Yahweh is the one who decides. Some Christian commentators see the pronoun us as a reference to the Trinity, but this would certainly not have been the prophet’s understanding. Rendering the pronoun us may require a decision about exclusive or inclusive forms of the pronoun. Since we do not know who the LORD is addressing (see the discussion above), both may be valid. But it is more likely that Yahweh is speaking directly to the heavenly beings and that Isaiah is merely observing what is happening. So an exclusive form is better, assuming that the party excluded is Isaiah. Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch translates the second question as “Who is prepared to be our messenger?” Bible en français courant has “Who will be our spokesperson?” because the main task of the person who is sent will be to speak on behalf of Yahweh. Another possible model is “Who will [go and] speak for us?”

Then I said, “Here am I! Send me”: The prophet (over)hears Yahweh’s question and responds eagerly, saying he is willing to go. This response is in clear contrast to that of other prophets who were called in a similar way (see, for, example Jer 1.6). Here am I, which is literally “Look I am here,” draws Yahweh’s attention to the prophet. This response strongly implies the prophet’s willingness and we may express it more directly by saying “I am willing,” “I will,” or “I am ready to go.” Contemporary English Version has “I’ll go.” Send me completes the expression of willingness.

Translation examples for this verse are:

• I heard my Lord ask, “Who will I send? Who will go on our behalf?”
So I said, “I am ready to go. Send me.”

• The Lord asked, “Who will I send to represent us?”
Then I said, “Send me. I will go.”

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 .