In this verse Yahweh challenges the gods of the nations to present their case in court.
Set forth your case, says the LORD: Set forth your case is literally “Come near [with] your case/dispute.” The Hebrew noun rendered case comes from a root meaning “to dispute.” It is a term the prophets often use to indicate that God has a dispute with his people. Here he has a dispute with the gods of the nations. For this clause Good News Translation says “present your case,” and Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch has “Stand ready for the proceedings in court!”
Bring your proofs, says the King of Jacob is parallel to the previous line. The Hebrew verb rendered bring (literally “bring near”) is the same word translated “let … approach” in verse 1, the setting for the first court case of this chapter. The Hebrew noun for proofs refers to arguments that a defendant presents in a court case. King of Jacob is an unusual title for Yahweh, although he is called “King” in 6.5 and 43.15, and “King of Israel” in 44.6. He is often called “King” in the Psalms (see, for example, Psa 95.3; 98.6; 99.4). Good News Translation says “king of Israel” here since it favors the better-known name.
Good News Translation and Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch combine says the LORD and says the King of Jacob into one clause and move it to beginning of the verse as a quote frame for Yahweh’s speech in verses 21-29. Good News Translation also adds “You gods of the nations” to clarify the addressee (similarly Bible en français courant, Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch). Good News Translation provides a valid model for this verse. Other translation examples are:
• Present your case, says the LORD;
bring forward your arguments, says the King of Jacob.
• Plead your cause, says the LORD;
present your arguments, says Jacob’s King.
• The LORD, who is the King of Israel,
says to the gods of the nations:
“Present your dispute in court,
let us hear your arguments!
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 .