Thus says the LORD …: The LORD continues to speak here, but he refers to himself in the third person. As noted before, the change between first and third person for God is common as the prophets bring his word to the people. In some languages it may be necessary to begin this verse with “This is what I, the LORD, … say.” For the fixed formula Thus says the LORD, which is characteristic of prophetic speech, see the comments on 7.7. As noted in the comments on Isa 44.1, Good News Translation places this quote frame there.
Who made you, who formed you from the womb: These parallel clauses describe the LORD (compare 43.1). He is the one who formed the Israelites into a nation. Formed you from the womb is figurative language that refers to the long-standing relationship between Yahweh and his people. This expression occurs again in 44.24 and 49.5 (compare Jer 1.5). For from the womb, Good News Translation has “from the time you were born,” and New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh says “since birth.” A possible nonfigurative rendering is “from the very beginning.”
And will help you: As their Creator, God assures his people that he will help them. Good News Translation has the perfect tense here, saying “I have helped you.” The form of the Hebrew verb here can refer to past activity that continues to the present, but in this context it is better to use the future tense. God gives a promise of help, which he spells out in verses 3-5.
Fear not: After telling his people to listen, he encourages them not to be afraid. For this significant command in Isaiah, see the comments on 35.4 and 40.9.
O Jacob my servant, Jeshurun whom I have chosen: These parallel phrases are almost identical with those used in the previous verse. The only difference is that the less familiar name Jeshurun replaces “Israel.” This name occurs in only three other places in the Old Testament: Deut 32.15; 33.5, 26. It is probably an affectionate name for the people of Israel, which may mean “the upright one”. Good News Translation omits the names from the last two lines of this verse, but it is better to keep them. If translators use footnotes, they can add one here explaining the name Jeshurun. If not, it may be better to use the name “Israel” instead, as in the Septuagint.
For the translation of this verse consider the following examples:
• This is what I, Yahweh, the one who made you,
who formed you from the womb
and will help you say:
Do not be afraid, Jacob, my servant,
Jeshurun [or, Israel], the one I have chosen.
• Yahweh who made you and formed you before you were born
and who will help you says,
“Jacob, my servant,
Jeshurun, my chosen one,
do not be afraid.
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 .