For he says …: The Assyrian king’s boasting is now quoted. The first half of this verse gives a general boast, while the second half together with verse 14 lists the emperor’s achievements in detail. Since this is a boast, a better rendering for says is “boasts,” as in Good News Translation. Good News Translation also explicitly identifies the emperor of Assyria as the person who is speaking. This avoids the possible misunderstanding that the pronoun he refers to Yahweh. It may also be necessary or at least more natural in some languages to turn the direct quote in verses 13-14 into indirect speech; for example, a translator may begin with “For the emperor boasts that he has done it….”

By the strength of my hand I have done it: The Assyrian ruler claims that it is his strength that has enabled him to achieve his goal. It, the object of the verb have done, is absent in the Hebrew text. Some languages may need to supply it as Revised Standard Version has done. The king is either referring back to his boasts listed in verses 8-11, or else the words look forward to the listing in verses 13b-14. Instead of it, a noun such as “conquests” is acceptable. Good News Translation places the emphasis in the king’s boast on his own person, but the stress is probably more on the power and the wisdom that allowed him to achieve his victories. He claims to be no ordinary king but a particularly powerful one. By the strength of my hand occurs before the verb in Hebrew, so there is a special focus on it.

And by my wisdom, for I have understanding. The king claims not only power but wisdom as well. Many translations interpret for I have understanding as an explanation for his strength and wisdom. However, it is also possible that the word for (ki in Hebrew) is an emphatic marker meaning “indeed.” It strengthens his claim to be strong and wise. We may say “truly I am a person with understanding” or “indeed I am enlightened.” New Jerusalem Bible comes close to this view by making this an independent clause: “how intelligent I have been!”

I have removed the boundaries of peoples: Many national and tribal boundaries were marked by obvious and visible markers such as stone landmarks (see Deut 19.14). If enemies or intruders removed a marker, it indicated that they were making a claim on the land. The implication of the Assyrian king’s statement is that he invaded and occupied the territory of various nations. Like other nations, the Assyrians also took the people from one conquered nation and scattered them among other conquered peoples. It is possible that this is behind the present reference also. The interpretation that he simply removed boundaries or barriers between nations to make travel from one nation to the other easier is less likely.

And have plundered their treasures: After the Assyrian king occupied other nations, he raided their national treasuries and plundered their wealth. The Hebrew noun translated treasures refers to items prepared and stored, which may be food and other supplies. Good News Translation renders their treasures in a general sense, saying “the supplies they had stored.” However, verse 14 gives the impression that these were valuable treasures that were taken. We suggest it be so translated.

Like a bull I have brought down those who sat on thrones: This proud claim is unusual for two reasons. First, it seems strange for a king to compare himself to a bull, and second, the Hebrew text is much shorter than Revised Standard Version suggests. It is literally “and I cause to bring down like a bull those who sit [or, dwell].” The reference to “those who sit [or, dwell]” seems a more satisfactory rendering in the present context than those who sat on thrones. It probably refers back to the peoples earlier in the verse. A possible rendering for the whole line is “Like a wild bull charging, I brought those inhabitants/people down.” Although the comparison with a bull may seem unusual in some cultures, there is no reason to doubt it in view of the widespread references to the bull to denote strength (see Pro 14.4). It was also a symbol of the divine within Semitic cultures (see Jer 46.15). However, some commentators have suggested that we understand the Hebrew noun here to refer to a “mighty person” or “hero” (so New International Version, New Jerusalem Bible, New American Bible) rather than a bull. This is possible since the metaphor of a bull was used to symbolize strength (Psa 22.12). We recommend the image of a bull here, but it is important to indicate that this implies an attacking or ferocious bull rather than a mere male bovine. The verb brought down could mean humbling the people or knocking them over.

For the translation of this verse we suggest the following examples:

• For he says, “I have achieved this in my own strength and in my own wisdom. Indeed I am so clever! I have occupied the territory of nations, raided their treasury, and like an attacking bull brought low their inhabitants.

• Because the king of Assyria boasts, “By my own power have I achieved these things and by my wisdom since I am so clever. I have claimed the territory of nations, and stolen their stores; like a ferocious bull I have humbled their inhabitants.

If indirect speech is required, we may say:

• For he boasts that by his own power and wisdom he accomplished these things. Indeed he is so clever! He claimed the land of other countries. He also plundered their treasures and like a bull overthrew the inhabitants.

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 .