Surely, thus says the LORD: The response from Yahweh is introduced by the regular divine quote frame (see the comments on 7.7). It is preceded by the Hebrew particle ki, which is translated Surely. In the present context it serves to emphasize and to affirm the words that follow. Bible en français courant (1997) renders it “Yes.” Though many translations omit it, New Revised Standard Version, New International Version, and Contemporary English Version use the contrastive conjunction “But,” which is also valid.

Even the captives of the mighty shall be taken, and the prey of the tyrant be rescued: Although normally those captured by the strong are not taken back or rescued, the LORD will make sure the Israelite captives of the tyrant Babylonia will be released. God’s response here uses the same words as the question, but reverses the way they are grouped: “prey” – “mighty,” “captives” – “tyrant” (verse 24) > < captives – mighty, prey – tyrant (verse 25). This is a variant on the usual chiastic pattern and a clever literary device that translators may be able to match. The other special feature here is that the LORD’s words begin with another emphatic Hebrew particle, which is rendered Even. It draws extra attention to Yahweh’s power to save, no matter what the circumstances. If the passive verbs be taken and be rescued require an active form in some languages, translators may specify the LORD as the agent. Bible en français courant does this by rendering these two lines as “I will take away from the war maker the one he has made a prisoner, I will take away from the brute the plunder that he has acquired!”

For I will contend with those who contend with you, and I will save your children: In Hebrew these two parallel lines are emphatic since the pronoun I in each line occurs both independently and as a verbal affix in the Hebrew text, which is literally “and your opponent, I [myself], I will oppose, and your children, I [myself], I will rescue.” This feature may not be easily reproduced in translation, except in those languages that make a similar use of pronoun forms. For renders the common Hebrew conjunction (literally “and”). Here it is a logical connector, so it may be rendered “because.”

I will contend with those who contend with you pictures God as a warrior fighting against those who fight against Zion. In this context the Hebrew verb for contend implies more than simply striving against or disputing with someone. Good News Translation, Contemporary English Version, and New Jerusalem Bible use the verb “fight.” Another possible verb is “oppose.” There is no suggestion of victory here yet, but rather of God siding with his people against any who oppose them (compare Psa 35.1). In the following line God announces his victory over their enemies.

And I will save your children means the LORD will rescue Zion’s children, who were first mentioned in verse 20 as those born during the time of the exile.

Translation examples for this verse are:

• Truly, Yahweh says,
“Even those captured by the powerful will be taken away,
those who are prey to tyrants will be rescued,
because I, I will fight against those who fight against you,
and I, I will rescue your children.

• But this is what Yahweh says:
“I will deliver the captives from the powerful ones,
and rescue those who are prey to tyrants,
because it is I who will strive against those who attack you,
it is I who will rescue your children.

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 .