Yahweh begins to address the people of Israel here. Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch indicates this by using the quote frame “says the LORD” in the middle of the verse. Some languages may find it helpful to begin with “The LORD says.” His speech closes at the end of the chapter.

Verses 3-4 picture the nation of Israel as a human being, whom God cares for from infancy to old age. This metaphor may be difficult to render in some languages, but translators should keep it if possible.

Hearken to me, O house of Jacob, all the remnant of the house of Israel: The LORD is calling on his people to listen to what he has to say. Hearken is an archaic verb that is better rendered “Listen” (Good News Translation). The phrases house of Jacob and house of Israel both refer to the people of Israel (see the comments on 2.5 and 5.7). For remnant see the comments on 10.20. Here it refers to the remaining people of Israel who are in exile.

Who have been borne by me from your birth: God reminds his people of the long-term commitment he made to them. From your birth means from the birth of the nation at the time of the Exodus (for the Hebrew expression here see the comments on 44.2, where it is rendered “from the womb”). The Hebrew verb rendered borne is the same one translated “loaded” in verse 1. Yahweh has carried the people like a load, which is a figurative way of saying he has led and sustained them despite the difficulty they caused him. Revised English Bible renders this line as “a load on me from your birth” to show the contrast with verse 1. It may also be translated “whom I supported from your very beginning.”

Carried from the womb is parallel to the previous line. The Hebrew verb rendered carried occurred earlier in verse 1. It is used here to show the contrast between the Babylonian idols that have to be carried and Yahweh who carries his people. There is probably a wordplay with this Hebrew verb since its noun form can be rendered “burden” (see verse 2). The people of Israel were often a burden to him because of their sin, but he still helped them. From the womb refers to the time even before birth. This whole line may be rendered “whom I carried/sustained even before you came into the world.”

Since support in the womb comes logically before support after birth, some languages may prefer to reverse the last two lines; for example, New International Version has “you whom I have upheld since you were conceived, and have carried since your birth” (see also the second example below). Good News Translation combines both lines, saying “I have cared for you from the time you were born.”

For the translation of this verse consider the following examples:

• The LORD says,
“Listen to what I have to say, descendants of Jacob,
all you who remain of Israel,
whom I have supported since your birth,
whom I have carried since before you were born.

• “Listen to me, you descendants of Jacob,
all of you that are left of the tribe of Israel.
I have carried you from before you were born,
I have supported you since birth.

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 .