By the way that he came, by the same he shall return: This first half of the verse repeats the idea at the end of verse 29, namely, the Assyrian king will return home by the same road he took to enter Judah (see the comments there). Some languages may prefer to reverse the order of these two clauses, as in Good News Translation, which says “He will go back by the same road he came.”

And he shall not come into this city: This repeats the beginning of the LORD’s promise in the previous verse.

Says the LORD: This clause often closes divine speeches, emphasizing that Yahweh is speaking (compare 3.15). However, in verse 35 he continues to speak, so Good News Translation says “I, the LORD, have spoken.” This is a helpful model. Translators may place this quote frame outside Yahweh’s speech by placing single quote marks before and after it (see the first example below), or they may continue with indirect speech for Yahweh (see the second example below).

For the translation of this verse consider the following examples:

• He will go back by the same road on which he came. He will not enter this city,’ promises Yahweh.

• He will return home along the same road on which he came, and he will not come into this city. This is Yahweh’s promise.

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 .