The Call of Isaiah

Artwork by Sister Marie Claire , SMMI (1937–2018) from Bengaluru, India.

For more information about images by Sister Marie Claire and ways to purchase them as lithographs, see here .

For other images of Sister Marie Claire paintings in TIPs, see here.

complete verse (Isaiah 6:4)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Isaiah 6:4:

  • Kupsabiny: “When those angels shouted, the doorposts of the House of God were shaking and smoke filled the house.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “Their voices were shaking [lit.: moving] the gates and the foundations. And smoke was filling the temple.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “At their sound, the foundations of the temple shook and the temple was filled with smoke.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “When they spoke, it caused the doorposts of the temple to shake, and the temple was filled with smoke.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Isaiah 6:4

And …: This verse gives a response to the seraphs’ singing. The phrase at the voice of him who called is the key to understanding the connection between this verse and the previous one. Revised Standard Version is correct but unclear here. The Hebrew is literally “at the voice [or, sound] of the one calling.” The verb rendered called is the same one as in verse 3. Although it is singular here, it clearly refers to the seraphs singing to one another. Good News Translation makes this clear by using the plural pronoun “their,” saying “The sound of their voices” (similarly New International Version, New Jerusalem Bible).

The foundations of the thresholds shook: The foundations renders a Hebrew word that normally refers to a measurement (for example, “cubits” in Gen 6.15). The Hebrew phrase rendered the foundations of the thresholds is uncertain, but many scholars suggest it refers to the doorposts of the Temple. These doorposts represent the entire building since they could hardly shake without the rest of the building shuddering as well. Isaiah’s vision of God had a physical effect upon him and on the building as he saw it in his vision; he felt the earth under him move and the whole building shake. In fact, in languages where thresholds and foundations may be difficult to render, this clause may be translated “I felt the building shake.” Good News Translation suggests “made the foundation of the Temple shake.”

And the house was filled with smoke: The smoke represents the divine presence, as it does in so many passages, such as 4.5; 30.27; Exo 18.19. The house is the Temple and the smoke that filled it probably originated from the incense offering.

Alternative translation models for this verse are:

• Then the foundations of the Temple shook at the sound of their singing and the whole building was filled with smoke.

• Then the whole building shook at the sound of their voices. The Temple was filled with smoke.

• The Temple doorposts shuddered at the sound of their shouting; the building filled with smoke.

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 .