This verse describes the fear of foreign nations when Yahweh acts.

At the thunderous noise peoples flee is literally “From the sound/voice of tumult/roaring flee peoples.” The Hebrew word for “tumult” often refers to the noise a large crowd makes (see the comments on 5.13, where it is rendered “multitude”; see also 13.4). The prophet does not identify who makes the noise here, but it is clear from the following parallel line that it is Yahweh. Some languages may need to make this clear by rendering “the sound of tumult” as “the sound of your loud voice.” Good News Translation has “the noise of battle,” but New International Version is better with “the thunder of your voice.” When Yahweh comes, the mighty sound that accompanies him makes his enemies flee. The noun peoples refers to foreign nations.

At the lifting up of thyself nations are scattered is literally “from your rising are scattered nations.” Since this line is parallel with the previous one, this may mean the nations scatter when Yahweh raises his voice (compare Deut 27.14, where the Hebrew word for “voice” is used with the root for “rising”). However, since the Hebrew word for “rising” comes from a root meaning “to be high/exalted/elevated,” the line more likely means the nations scatter when Yahweh displays his great power. New Revised Standard Version has “before your majesty, nations scattered” (similarly New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh), and New American Bible says “when you rise in your majesty, nations are scattered.” There is a small textual problem here since Dead Sea Scrolls uses a different Hebrew word than the one for “rising” in Masoretic Text. The word in Dead Sea Scrolls could mean “silence” or “roaring” (so Revised English Bible). Hebrew Old Testament Text Project rates the readings in Masoretic Text and Dead Sea Scrolls the same here. We accept the recommendation of de~Waard to stay with Masoretic Text.

For nations see the comments on 2.2. Here it is synonymous with peoples, referring to foreign nations. Are scattered is synonymous with flee. This passive verb may be rendered in an active form; see the examples below.

Suggested translation models for this verse are:

• People flee away when they hear your tumult,
nations scatter when you display your great power.

• At the sound of your loud voice people flee;
when you arise in your majestic power, nations scatter.

Quoted with permission from Ogden, Graham S. and Sterk, Jan. A Handbook on Isaiah. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2011. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .