God’s brief message here concludes the first section of chapter 56. The verb gather occurs three times, so it is a keyword.
Thus says the Lord GOD (literally “Declaration of my Lord Yahweh”) is a little unusual here, since it appears at the beginning of a speech rather than its close, its normal location (see the comments on 43.10 and 49.18). This quote frame forms an inclusio with a similar one at the beginning of verse 1 (see the introductory comments on the section [56.1-8]).
Who gathers the outcasts of Israel means God brings the Israelite exiles back home, no matter where they have been scattered (see 43.4-7). For the outcasts of Israel, see the comments on 11.12. Bible en français courant renders this line as “The one who has reassembled the scattered people of Israel,” Good News Translation has “who has brought his people Israel home from exile,” New International Version says “he who gathers the exiles of Israel,” and Revised English Bible translates “who gathers those driven out of Israel.” All are valid models for translation.
I will gather yet others to him besides those already gathered means God will bring others to join the Israelites he has brought back from exile. It is not clear whether yet others refers to other Israelites still in exile or foreigners, but the preceding verses imply that foreigners are included. In Hebrew the pronoun him could point to Mount Zion, but many versions use the plural pronoun “them” (New International Version, New Revised Standard Version, Good News Translation), referring to the exiles that are already back home. For these two lines Bible en français courant has “I already assembled many of them, I will assemble even more,” Good News Translation says “he will bring still other people to join them,” and Revised English Bible translates “I shall add to those who have already been gathered.”
Translation examples for this verse are:
• Thus says my Lord Yahweh,
who brings back the Israelites who are in exile,
“I will bring back even more to add to those
that I have already brought back.”
• This is what the Lord Yahweh, who gathers Israel’s exiles, says:
“I will gather even more to them than I have already gathered.”
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 .