The language in this verse is poetic and figurative. It is highly anthropomorphic since the prophet describes Yahweh as putting on the armor of a soldier. As we noted in the introductory comments on this section [59.15b-21], this warrior imagery for Yahweh occurs throughout the Old Testament (see, for example, 40.10; 42.13; 51.9; Exo 15.3-4). It is usually connected with divine judgment, especially against Israel’s enemies. Some of the figurative language here also occurs in Eph 6.13-17, where the armor of a soldier is recommended for use to conduct spiritual warfare successfully.

Four items of clothing are mentioned in this verse: breastplate, helmet, garments, and mantle. The first two are required for protection in battle. The latter two are images for vengeance and fury, which refer to the attitude with which a soldier goes to battle.

He put on righteousness as a breastplate: A breastplate was a piece of armor covering the chest (and sometimes the back) to protect a soldier’s upper body against blows and arrows. In Old Testament times it was usually made of metal or thick leather reinforced with metal. It was held on by straps around the back. The breastplate Yahweh wore as protection was his own righteousness (see the comments on this term in the previous verse). If breastplate does not exist in the receptor language as a technical, military term, translators should still try to retain the figurative language of military clothing here. A possible model for this line that does this is “The LORD was like a soldier, wearing protective armor. He put on righteousness as a shield/cover to protect his chest.”

And a helmet of salvation upon his head: A helmet was protective armor covering the soldier’s head. Among the Israelites it was usually made of leather but sometimes of a metal such as bronze. Yahweh’s helmet was salvation, which refers to the rescue that he alone can give (see the comments on this term at verse 11). In this context the Hebrew word for salvation could also mean “victory,” so New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh has “triumph.” However, all other versions consulted use an expression with the root “save”; for example, Good News Translation and Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch use “saving power.” For some languages it may be better to use the idea of “victory” here to avoid the possible misunderstanding that God needs to be saved. If helmet does not exist in the receptor language as a technical, military term, an alternative model for this line that continues the one for the previous line is “and he put on salvation as a strong/hard hat to protect his head.”

He put on garments of vengeance for clothing: This line repeats the verb put on used in the first line. The Hebrew word for garments is the same one rendered “clothing” in verse 6. There his people’s injustice was compared to making clothes from a spider’s web. Here Yahweh’s clothing consists of garments of vengeance. God’s justice stirred him to act against injustice, to come to the aid of those who were living justly. For the idea of God’s vengeance, see the comments on 34.8; 35.4; and 47.3. Most translations use the term vengeance, but New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh is better with “retribution.”

And wrapped himself in fury as a mantle means God responded with righteous anger when he saw the injustice and oppression. Fury in English refers to extreme anger. Most versions translate the Hebrew term for fury as “zeal” (see the comments on 9.7 and 26.11, where it is so rendered). However, “zeal” is not a common term, so it may not be widely understood. New Jerusalem Bible uses “jealousy,” but this word has a sense in modern English that is different from the Hebrew term so rendered. Vengeance and fury are synonymous here and speak of God’s angry response to evil and his defense of what is good and just (compare the comments on “fury” at 42.13). “Righteous anger” conveys the sense well. A mantle is an outer garment worn over an inner tunic. Translators may use the same expression for it as in 3.6-7 and 22 even though different Hebrew words are used there. New International Version renders it “cloak.”

Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch combines the last two lines of this verse, saying “As a mantle he wears the firm determination and the burning desire to punish all injustice” (similarly Good News Translation).

Translation examples for this verse are:

• The LORD put on righteousness like a breastplate,
and he wore salvation on his head like a helmet.
He put on vengeance like a tunic,
and he wore great zeal like a cloak.

• He wore righteousness as his chest protector,
and salvation was the strong hat on his head.
Vengeance was his inner clothing,
and righteous anger was his cloak/mantle.

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 .