Yesaya 8:12

8:12 “Do not say, ‘Conspiracy,’ every time these people say the word. ¹ 

Don’t be afraid of what scares them; don’t be terrified.

Yesaya 51:12-13

51:12 “I, I am the one who consoles you. ² 

Why are you afraid of mortal men,

of mere human beings who are as short-lived as grass? ³ 

51:13 Why do you forget ⁴  the Lord, who made you,

who stretched out the sky ⁵ 

and founded the earth?

Why do you constantly tremble all day long ⁶ 

at the anger of the oppressor,

when he makes plans to destroy?

Where is the anger of the oppressor? ⁷ 

[8:12]  ¹ tn Heb “Do not say, ‘Conspiracy,’ with respect to all which these people say, ‘Conspiracy.’” The verb translated “do not say” is second masculine plural, indicating that this exhortation is directed to Isaiah and other followers of the Lord (see v. 16).

[8:12]  sn The background of this command is uncertain. Perhaps the “conspiracy” in view is the alliance between Israel and Syria. Some of the people may even have thought that individuals in Judah were plotting with Israel and Syria to overthrow the king.

[51:12]  ² tc The plural suffix should probably be emended to the second masculine singular (which is used in v. 13). The final mem (ם) is probably dittographic; note the mem at the beginning of the next word.

[51:12]  ³ tn Heb “Who are you that you are afraid of man who dies, and of the son of man who [as] grass is given up?” The feminine singular forms should probably be emended to the masculine singular (see v. 13). They have probably been influenced by the construction אַתְּ־הִיא (’at-hi’) in vv. 9-10.

[51:13]  ⁴ tn Heb “and that you forget.”

[51:13]  ⁵ tn Or “the heavens” (also in v. 16). The Hebrew term שָׁמַיִם (shamayim) may be translated “heavens” or “sky” depending on the context.

[51:13]  ⁶ tn Heb “and that you tremble constantly all the day.”

[51:13]  ⁷ tn The question anticipates the answer, “Ready to disappear!” See v. 14.