Yesaya 21:6

21:6 For this is what the sovereign master ¹  has told me:

“Go, post a guard!

He must report what he sees.

Yesaya 26:3

26:3 You keep completely safe the people who maintain their faith,

for they trust in you. ² 

Yesaya 52:8

52:8 Listen, ³  your watchmen shout;

in unison they shout for joy,

for they see with their very own eyes ⁴ 

the Lord’s return to Zion.

[21:6]  ¹ tn The Hebrew term translated “sovereign master” here and in vv. 8, 16 is אֲדֹנָי (’adonay).

[26:3]  ² tn Heb “[one of] firm purpose you will keep [in] peace, peace, for in you he possesses trust.” The Hebrew term יֵצֶר (yetser) refers to what one devises in the mind; סָמוּךְ (samukh) probably functions here like an attributive adjective and carries the nuance “firm.” So the phrase literally means, “a firm purpose,” but as the object of the verb “keep, guard,” it must stand by metonymy for the one(s) who possess a firm purpose. In this context the “righteous nation” (v. 2) is probably in view and the “firm purpose” refers to their unwavering faith in God’s vindication (see 25:9). In this context שָׁלוֹם (shalom, “peace”), which is repeated for emphasis, likely refers to national security, not emotional or psychological composure (see vv. 1-2). The passive participle בָּטוּחַ (batuakh) expresses a state that results from the subject’s action.

[52:8]  ³ tn קוֹל (qol, “voice”) is used at the beginning of the verse as an interjection.

[52:8]  ⁴ tn Heb “eye in eye”; KJV, ASV “eye to eye”; NAB “directly, before their eyes.”