Yesaya 14:17

14:17 Is this the one who made the world like a desert,

who ruined its ¹  cities,

and refused to free his prisoners so they could return home?”’ ² 

Yesaya 27:11

27:11 When its branches get brittle, ³  they break;

women come and use them for kindling. ⁴ 

For these people lack understanding, ⁵ 

therefore the one who made them has no compassion on them;

the one who formed them has no mercy on them.

[14:17]  ¹ tc The pronominal suffix is masculine, even though its antecedent appears to be the grammatically feminine noun “world.” Some have suggested that the form עָרָיו (’arayv, plural noun with third masculine singular suffix) should be emended to עָרֶיהָ (’areha, plural noun with third feminine singular suffix). This emendation may be unnecessary in light of other examples of lack of agreement a suffix and its antecedent noun.

[14:17]  ² tn Heb “and his prisoners did not let loose to [their] homes.” This really means, “he did not let loose his prisoners and send them back to their homes.’ On the elliptical style, see GKC 366 §117.o.

[27:11]  ³ tn Heb “are dry” (so NASB, NIV, NRSV).

[27:11]  ⁴ tn Heb “women come [and] light it.” The city is likened to a dead tree with dried up branches that is only good for firewood.

[27:11]  ⁵ tn Heb “for not a people of understanding [is] he.”