Good News Translation begins this verse with the quote frame “The LORD says” to indicate there is a change of speaker from the previous verse.

I, I am he that comforts you: Beginning with this emphatic personal statement, Yahweh announces the basic theme of comfort to his people, as in 40.1. For I, I am he, see the comments on 43.25. The pronoun you is plural. New International Version conveys the emphasis in this line well with “I, even I, am he who comforts you.” New Jerusalem Bible has “I, I am your consoler,” and Good News Translation says “I am the one who strengthens you.” In 40.1|prj:GNTD.Isa 40.1 Good News Translation uses the verb “Comfort,” but here it has “strengthens” for the same Hebrew verb because of the context of fear.

Who are you…? begins a long rhetorical question that does not end until the next-to-last line of the next verse. Good News Translation breaks it into three questions, and Revised English Bible has four as follows: “12 … why then fear man who must die, who must perish like grass? 13 Why have you forgotten the LORD your maker, who stretched out the heavens and founded the earth? Why are you in constant fear all the day long? Why dread the fury of the oppressors bent on your destruction?” Other languages may find these models helpful. Languages that do not favor rhetorical questions may use strong statements (see the second example for this verse and the next one).

Who are you that you are afraid of man who dies asks a rhetorical question that implies that God’s people are afraid of others, telling them they should not be afraid. The source of their fear is mentioned in the next verse: “the oppressor” (see the comments there). Who are you may be rendered “What kind of person are you.” New Revised Standard Version translates the interrogative pronoun who as “why,” following some commentators who say it has a similar sense in Amos 7.2 (where Revised Standard Version has “How”). In Hebrew the pronoun you is feminine singular, probably referring to Zion. But translators may choose pronouns that fit the context best. The Hebrew verb for are afraid speaks of deep fear here as well as being in awe, an attitude that makes it impossible for the people to take a firm stand against opposition. This verb is in the imperfect form in Hebrew, which is the form that indicates frequent or ongoing action. The verbs “forgotten” and “fear” in the next verse have the same form. This implies that the people are living in a constant state of forgetfulness and fear. But God instructs them not to fear man who dies, an expression that refers to all human beings, who are mortal. For this whole line New Revised Standard Version has “why then are you afraid of a mere mortal who must die…?” Good News Translation is shorter with “Why should you fear mortals…?”

Of the son of man who is made like grass is parallel to the previous line. The verb are afraid serves this line also. The analogy between humans and grass occurred earlier in 40.6-8. It refers to the short lives of human beings. While we should fear, or be in awe of the eternal Creator, there is no reason for us to be in awe of our fellow human beings, who do not live long. The phrase son of man is parallel to man and refers simply to human beings (compare Psa 8.4). It is used in Ezekiel as a term of address, and Jesus uses it in the Gospels to refer to himself. Who is made like grass is literally “[to] grass he is assigned” (New International Version “who are but grass”). The verb is made expresses Masoretic Text adequately, but several of the ancient versions have a verb meaning “wither.” New Revised Standard Version follows these versions with “fades,” and so does Revised English Bible with “perish.” Hebrew Old Testament Text Project makes no comment on this, so we recommend that translators retain Masoretic Text. Instead of the metaphor “grass” in the Hebrew text, Revised Standard Version uses the simile like grass. Translators may use a metaphor or simile. For this whole line New Jerusalem Bible suggests “of a child of man, whose fate is that of the grass,” and New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh has “Mortals who fare like grass.”

For the translation of this verse consider the following examples:

• I, even I, am the one who brings you comfort.
What are you that you are in fear of mortal human beings,
of humans who are but grass?

• I, yes I, am he who comforts you.
You should not at all be scared of mortal humans,
of people who are merely grass!

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 .