Here the metaphors change from trees and gardens to something that burns easily and a spark to set it on fire. The destructive fire shows the effect God’s judgment will have on those who are considered strong in the community. The fire will reverse their situation. The strong will become weak.

And the strong shall become tow: Most translations omit the Hebrew connector rendered And at the beginning of this verse, which is recommended. However, it may be rendered “As a result” or “What will happen is that.”

The definite construction the strong refers to anyone who is strong. Since this is poetry, the reference to the strong does not mean that only they will suffer, but rather that they in particular will experience God’s punishment. The unusual Hebrew word translated strong carries a broader meaning than just physically powerful people; it includes those who are prosperous and wealthy. A different interpretation of the word is found in New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh, which renders it “Stored wealth.” New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh also has a footnote to explain this unusual choice. Revised English Bible believes it refers to trees (verses 29-30) rather than to people, so it says “The strongest tree.” Most translations favor an interpretation in the sense of “strong people,” which Good News Translation has made explicit (also Contemporary English Version, Bible en français courant). “Whoever is strong” is a good alternative.

What the strong people will become is tow. Tow is the fibers of the flax or hemp plant. These fibers are fine and easily broken, so they are a fitting contrast with something strong. They also burn easily, so they fit the following context well. Translators may need to emphasize that the point of the comparison is “weakness.” A possible translation of the first line is “Whoever is strong will become weak like a cotton thread.” Instead of tow, Good News Translation has “straw,” which is something else that burns easily.

And his work a spark: His work refers to what the strong do or achieve. We may say “all they achieve” or “everything they do.” Good News Translation has “their own evil deeds.” (Besides his work, Hebrew Old Testament Text Project says “his maker” is possible, but this Handbook does not recommend it.) There is no verb in this line; it has to be supplied from the previous line. Shall become serves here as well. Comparing the achievements of strong people to a spark likens them to something that lasts only for a moment. They do not endure, so they have little value. More importantly, even though the spark is small, it causes the fire that burns the tow, as Good News Translation makes very clear in its translation. Translators may need to use a simile here, for example, “what they do will be like a spark.”

And both of them shall burn together means strong people and all they have achieved will be destroyed. The metaphors in this verse are used in a clever way; the work of the strong is likened to a spark that sets the plant fibers on fire, and both burn up. Both the strong and all they do will go up in smoke.

With none to quench them means that nobody can prevent their destruction. Because this is Yahweh’s judgment, there is no way to escape it. The fire cannot be put out. The Hebrew is literally “and there is no quenching,” which may be translated “it [the fire] cannot be put out” or “nobody will put out that fire.”

Some translation examples for this verse are:

• The mighty ones will become weak like a flax [or, cotton] thread,
all they do will be little more than a spark;
both they and their work will be burnt up,
and nobody will extinguish that flame.

• Whoever is strong will become weak like a thread,
whatever he do will be just like a spark,
and both will be consumed.
The flame will not be put out.

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 .