Yesaya 41:8

The Lord Encourages His People

41:8 “You, my servant Israel,

Jacob whom I have chosen,

offspring of Abraham my friend, ¹ 

Yesaya 41:21

The Lord Challenges the Pagan Gods

41:21 “Present your argument,” says the Lord.

“Produce your evidence,” ²  says Jacob’s king. ³ 

¹ tn Or perhaps, “covenantal partner” (see 1 Kgs 5:15 HT [5:1 ET]; 2 Chr 20:7).

² tn Heb “strong [words],” see HALOT 870 s.v. *עֲצֻמוֹת.

³ sn Apparently this challenge is addressed to the pagan idol gods, see vv. 23-24.