My people … my people …: The Hebrew text of this verse consists of two lines, both of which begin with the words “My people.” This repetition puts focus on the people of Jerusalem and Judah. It is likely that the prophet continues to speak here, but he may be quoting the LORD (so Bible en français courant). The prophet laments for his people in view of their gloomy fate. He starts speaking in the first two lines “about” his people, using third person pronouns, and then in the next two lines he speaks “to” his people, using second person pronouns. This change of pronouns often happens in Hebrew poetry, but it may be confusing if translated literally. Translators may choose to put the whole verse in the third person, speaking “about” the people, or they may put the whole verse in the second person and have the prophet speak directly “to” the people, using “you.” For my people, see the comments at 1.3.

Children are their oppressors: Normally children would not have power in society, but there is such a lack of leadership that young children are able to demand and get anything they want from the community. In verses 4-5 the prophet looked ahead to a time when immature boys would be ruling. The Hebrew word for children is unusual. It occurs nowhere else in the Old Testament, though it comes from the same root as the word for “infants” in 13.16. The special form used here is similar in sound to the word for “deeds” in verses 8 and 10. The author does this deliberately to achieve a sound effect for the listener. For oppressors see the comments on “oppress” at Isa 3.5. See also the discussion on “oppression” at 1.17 even though the Hebrew word there is different.

And women rule over them: This clause is parallel to the previous one. It brings together children and women as oppressors and rulers. In the biblical culture they were not usually associated with power, and it would normally be shameful for men to lose their positions of power to women. Instead of the Masoretic Text reading women, Hebrew Old Testament Text Project tentatively recommends “usurers” (people who lend money at exorbitant rates). Revised English Bible renders the term this way following the Septuagint (similarly Good News Translation, Bible en français courant). The Hebrew phrase rendered rule over them is the same as in verse 4. Since this subsection seems to explain verses 1-7 and in those verses we find references to children and ruling, there is probably no compelling reason to change Masoretic Text. Therefore we cautiously support Revised Standard Version and other major translations with the rendering women. However, the alternative view should be indicated in a footnote. Women probably refers to the wives of the rulers. In Amos 4.1 a situation in Samaria is described where the wives of the leaders are the forces behind the oppression.

O my people, your leaders mislead you: For emphasis this line begins by repeating my people, but now the prophet addresses his people. Your leaders renders an unusual word in Hebrew. It comes from a root normally linked with being happy. Its other possible meaning is “to lead,” which is the sense required here. Mislead is what leaders should not do. The basic sense of the Hebrew verb here is “to cause to stray.” Your leaders could be the children and women mentioned earlier in the verse—they are too inexperienced to rule properly and so they mislead. They could also be those who are greedy moneylenders. But the last half of this verse is a general comment about the failure of rulers to provide proper leadership.

And confuse the course of your paths is literally “and the way of your paths they devour.” This clause probably expresses the result of the previous one: because the leaders mislead, the people go the wrong way. Good News Translation translates it this way by beginning with “so that.” The word paths was used in the call of 2.3. The context indicates that the paths are the “right” paths, the ways in which the people should walk. The phrase the course of your paths brings together two synonyms, so it is an emphatic expression. The primary meaning of the Hebrew verb rendered confuse is “to devour” or “to engulf.” For this line New International Version suggests “turn you from the path,” while Revised English Bible has “and putting you on the path to ruin.” These two versions probably translated this way because devouring is not usually associated with a path. Good News Translation says “so that you do not know which way to turn,” which is even further from the original form, but may be closer to the general sense. Translators will need to find a contextually appropriate rendering. The traditional rendering of Revised Standard Version with the verb confuse is acceptable also. It provides a good parallel with the previous verb mislead. For the last two lines of this verse Bible en français courant translates “My people, those who govern you only make you get lost, they guide you in the wrong direction.”

Alternative translation models for this verse are:

• My people—they will be oppressed by young children
and ruled by women.
O my people, your leaders mislead you
and confuse the ways you should go.

• My people will be oppressed by children
and ruled by women.
O my people, those who should lead you fail to do so;
they misdirect you in the way you should walk.

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 .