Yahweh’s speech announced in verse 1 begins at this point, indicated by opening quote marks in Revised Standard Version and by the addition of the words “The LORD says to Israel” in Good News Translation. The speech ends before the final statement in verse 16.

The former things I declared of old: For The former things, see the comments on 41.22 and 42.9. This context suggests that it refers to the exile of the people of Judah. In warnings and threats God had foretold their present exile. On the other hand, this line could also be a general claim that God regularly announced beforehand what he would do. God is in control: he predicts what he will do and then carries it out. This would explain why an idol should not be given credit for certain events (verse 5). It is unlikely, in fact, that idol worshipers would have their idol claim credit for sending people into exile. But idols might claim credit for being in control generally. The expression rendered The former things stands in an emphatic position at the beginning of the verse in Hebrew. The verb declared and the phrase of old are key expressions in verses 3-8 (see the introductory comments on this subsection [48.3-8]).

They went forth from my mouth is parallel and almost synonymous in meaning to the previous line. The pronoun they refers to The former things. Translators do not need to render from my mouth literally. A nonfigurative model for this line is “I spoke about them.”

And I made them known is parallel to the previous two lines, providing additional emphasis.

Bible en français courant (1997) keeps three clauses in the first half of verse 3: “For a long time I have announced past events; I promised them to you, I informed you about them.” But Good News Translation opts for one summary statement: “Long ago I predicted what would take place.” Translators should reflect the emphasis that the Hebrew text conveys through parallelism and repetition.

Then suddenly I did them: There is emphasis on the Hebrew adverb for suddenly since it occurs at the beginning of this line. It suggests that Yahweh finally lost patience with his people and did what he had threatened to do. If the previous statements were general, the thrust of this adverb would be to state that when God acted, he did so deliberately and at his own time. There is also a sense that God acted unexpectedly, despite the fact that he had announced his intentions beforehand. The pronoun them refers to The former things. I did them may be rendered simply “I acted.”

And they came to pass: The Hebrew verb rendered came to pass (also in verse 5) is literally “came/went.” Here it has the sense of “happened,” implying that the former events happened as announced. This line and the previous one may be rendered “Then suddenly I acted and they happened [or, took place].” Good News Translation combines them by saying “then suddenly I made it happen.”

For the translation of this verse consider the following examples:

• “Former events I announced long ago,
I spoke of them and made them known;
then suddenly I acted and they happened, ….

• “Former things were what I announced ages ago,
I uttered words concerning them and made them known;
then when least expected I acted
and brought them into being.

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 .