And the remainder of the archers of the mighty men of the sons of Kedar will be few: Remainder refers to those remaining after the downfall of Kedar (see the comments on 10.19-20, where the Hebrew word here is rendered “remnant”). Archers are the soldiers who shoot arrows, while mighty men is another term for soldiers (see 3.2). The sons of Kedar are the people of Kedar. Will be few means “will be reduced to a small number.” This whole clause with its long noun phrase may be simplified by saying “There will be few of the archers of Kedar’s army left” or “Kedar’s army will have very few archers left.” Good News Translation says “The archers are the bravest warriors of Kedar, but few of them will be left.” Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch is better with “Of its famous archers there will hardly be any left.”

For the LORD, the God of Israel, has spoken: See the comments on 17.6. This clause not only serves as the conclusion to the oracle, but it also emphasizes that Yahweh will cause the defeat of Kedar’s army. The Hebrew particle ki rendered for could be a logical connector here or an emphatic marker. We prefer the latter understanding since the same particle was probably used at the beginning of verse 16 to introduce a reason. Here it emphasizes that Yahweh has spoken, so it may be rendered “Indeed.” Translators may view this clause as part of the LORD’s speech (so Revised Standard Version, Good News Translation) or outside his speech (so New International Version, Revised English Bible, Bible en français courant). Good News Translation provides a more natural model in English than Revised Standard Version for the first alternative by saying “I, the LORD God of Israel, have spoken.”

Translation examples for this verse are:

• What is left of the archers of Kedar’s mighty army will be few.” This is what the LORD, the God of Israel says.

• There will only be a few archers left in the mighty army of Kedar. Indeed, I, the LORD God of Israel, say this.”

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 .