Of a truth translates a Hebrew adverb that may be rendered “It is true” (Contemporary English Version, New International Version, Revised English Bible, New Jerusalem Bible), “Truly” (New Revised Standard Version, New American Bible), or “Indeed.” It emphasizes what follows.

O LORD, the kings of Assyria have laid waste all the nations and their lands: The Hebrew verb rendered laid waste can mean “to dry up,” as in verse 25, but here it means “to destroy” or “to make desolate.” It implies a battle in which the Assyrian army has defeated its enemy. Good News Translation and New Jerusalem Bible say “destroyed,” and New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh has “annihilated.” Saying that the Assyrian kings destroyed all the nations and their lands is a deliberate exaggeration, as in verse 11. They only conquered the nations in their region. The parallel text in 2 Kgs 19.17 omits the word all.The nations and their lands is literally “the lands and their land.” 2~Kgs 19.17 is more correct with “the nations and their land.” Hebrew Old Testament Text Project and de~Waard recommend keeping “the lands,” but deleting “and their land,” on textual grounds. Revised English Bible does this by rendering this verse as “LORD, it is true that the kings of Assyria have laid waste every country.” We recommend that translators follow the advice of Hebrew Old Testament Text Project and de~Waard here.

Several translation examples for this verse are:

• O Yahweh, it is true that the kings of Assyria have destroyed every country.

• It is certainly true, O Yahweh, that the Assyrian kings have devastated every nation.

• LORD, it is true that Assyrian rulers have brought desolation to every country.

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 .