Yesaya 37:7

37:7 Look, I will take control of his mind; ¹  he will receive a report and return to his own land. I will cut him down ²  with a sword in his own land.”’”

Yesaya 59:16

The Lord Intervenes

59:16 He sees there is no advocate; ³ 

he is shocked ⁴  that no one intervenes.

So he takes matters into his own hands; ⁵ 

his desire for justice drives him on. ⁶ 

[37:7]  ¹ tn Heb “I will put in him a spirit.” The precise sense of רוּחַ (ruakh, “spirit”) is uncertain in this context. It may refer to a spiritual being who will take control of his mind (see 1 Kgs 22:19), or it could refer to a disposition of concern and fear. In either case the Lord’s sovereignty over the king is apparent.

[37:7]  ² tn Heb “cause him to fall” (so KJV, ASV, NAB), that is, “kill him.”

[59:16]  ³ tn Heb “man” (so KJV, ASV); TEV “no one to help.”

[59:16]  ⁴ tn Or “appalled” (NAB, NIV, NRSV), or “disgusted.”

[59:16]  ⁵ tn Heb “and his arm delivers for him.”

[59:16]  ⁶ tn Heb “and his justice [or “righteousness”] supports him.”