When the servants of King Hezekiah came to Isaiah: This is a time phrase that sets the scene for Isaiah’s advice to Hezekiah in verses 6-7. The servants refers to the officials and priests mentioned in verse 2. Servants may be rendered “officials” (New International Version) or “messengers” in this context. There may be a slight problem in translation here, since it appears the king’s messengers spoke to Isaiah (verses 3-4) before they actually came to him (verse 5). Good News Translation avoids this problem by rendering this verse as “When Isaiah received King Hezekiah’s message” (see also the comments on Isa 37.3). Another possible rendering that avoids the problem is:

• After King Hezekiah’s messengers came to Isaiah and told him what the king had said….

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 .