This verse begins to describe a holy war. The LORD, through his prophet, calls on some people to send a signal to a certain group of warriors, so that this second group may attack a third party (them). The text does not say who any of the groups are until verses 17 and 19: the Medes attacking the Babylonians. It is likely that the same warring nations are referred to here. The author could be delaying the identification of the participants to heighten tension in the text. The nobles (Good News Translation “the proud city”) can be identified as Babylon (see verse 1) in a footnote. In the text itself translators should retain general expressions and not identify the participants. Contemporary English Version seems alone in mentioning “Babylon” here as the city under attack.

The imperatives in this verse are plural since many people are being addressed.

On a bare hill raise a signal: Although the meaning is clear here, the location of the hill is unknown. A bare hill is literally “a hill swept clean.” It could mean a smooth or barren hill (so Good News Translation and most versions), or it could refer to a hill that stands out above the plain (so the Septuagint). The latter sense seems reasonable since a signal needs to be placed on some high point in order for people to see it. The Hebrew verb rendered raise is from the same root as the noun “oracle.” It describes the lifting up of something for people to see it. For signal see the comments at 5.26 and 11.10, 12 (where it is rendered “ensign”). For this line Revised English Bible sounds poetical with “On a wind-swept height hoist the standard.”

Cry aloud to them: This is another way the unknown people are to summon the Medes to attack. Cry aloud means “call out” or “shout.” Contemporary English Version omits the pronoun them, but Good News Translation says “the soldiers” and Bible en français courant has “the warriors.” The Medes should not be mentioned here.

Wave the hand is a third form of signaling to rally the attackers. In different cultures this kind of body language can mean different things. Translators need to use a phrase that makes it clear that wave the hand here is a gesture to summon people; it is not a greeting or a farewell.

For them to enter the gates of the nobles is literally “and let them come into gates of noble ones.” The previous three verb clauses are largely synonymous; they all lead to this purpose clause. The three signals call for those summoned to attack the city of Babylon. Good News Translation makes this explicit by saying “for them to attack the gates of the proud city.” For gates see 3.26. The gates of the nobles may refer to special entrances into the city, reserved for people of high rank, so Revised English Bible and New Jerusalem Bible say “the Nobles’ Gate.” (Note that Masoretic Text has “gates,” not “gate.”) Ancient cities such as Jerusalem had various entrances, each with its own name. Others have suggested that this means “the noble gates” in the sense of “the majestic gates.” Good News Translation with “the gates of the proud city” and maybe Contemporary English Version with “the gates of Babylon’s proud rulers” appear to represent this view. Bible en français courant and Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch speak of “the gates of the volunteers,” but the origin of this reading is not given. For the whole line New English Bible has “draw your swords, you nobles,” which is based on an emendation of the Hebrew text and follows the Septuagint. Hebrew Old Testament Text Project firmly recommends Masoretic Text.

Translation examples for this verse are:

• On a bare hilltop raise the flag, call out to them, wave your hand and have them enter the majestic [or, magnificent] gates.

• On a barren hilltop raise the signal, shout to them, and beckon to them to come in through the gates of the nobles.

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 .