Isaiah Chapter 35

This is a B-Greek reading Group for the LXX Isaiah. This reading group is going through two chapters of the LXX Isaiah per week. Ken Penner, the B-Greek moderator for the "Septuagint and Pseudepigrapha Forum" is writing a commentary on the LXX Isaiah and is sharing his notes with those who wish to read the Isaiah LXX. Dive in, if you dare!
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Ken M. Penner
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Isaiah Chapter 35

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210. Rejoice, deserted land! (35:1-2)
35.1 Εὐφράνθητι, ἔρημος διψῶσα, ἀγαλλιάσθω ἔρημος καὶ ἀνθείτω ὡς κρίνον, 2 καὶ ἐξανθήσει καὶ ἀγαλλιάσεται τὰ ἔρημα τοῦ Ἰορδάνου· καὶ ἡ δόξα τοῦ Λιβάνου ἐδόθη αὐτῇ.

Καὶ ἡ τιμὴ τοῦ καμήλου, καὶ ὁ λαός μου ὄψεται τὴν δόξαν Κυρίου καὶ τὸ ὕψος τοῦ θεοῦ.

211. Our God will repay (35:3-4)
3 Ἰσχύσατε, χεῖρες ἀνειμέναι καὶ γόνατα παραλελυμένα· 4 παρακαλέσατε, οἱ ὀλιγόψυχοι τῇ διανοίᾳ· ἰσχύσατε, μὴ φοβεῖσθε· ἰδοὺ ὁ θεὸς ἡμῶν κρίσιν ἀνταποδίδωσιν καὶ ἀνταποδώσει, αὐτὸς ἥξει καὶ σώσει ἡμᾶς.
212. The redeemed will return with eternal happiness (35:5-10)
5 τότε ἀνοιχθήσονται ὀφθαλμοὶ τυφλῶν, καὶ ὦτα κωφῶν ἀκούσονται. 6 τότε ἁλεῖται ὡς ἔλαφος χωλός, καὶ τρανὴ ἔσται γλῶσσα μογιλάλων, ὅτι ἐρράγη ἐν τῇ ἐρήμῳ ὕδωρ καὶ φάραγξ ἐν γῇ διψώσῃ, 7 καὶ ἡ ἄνυδρος ἔσται εἰς ἕλη, καὶ εἰς τὴν διψῶσαν γῆν πηγὴ ὕδατος ἔσται· ἐκεῖ εὐφροσύνη ὀρνέων, ἔπαυλις ποιμνίων καὶ ἕλη. 8 ἔσται ἐκεῖ ὁδὸς καθαρὰ καὶ ὁδὸς ἁγία κληθήσεται, καὶ οὐ μὴ παρέλθῃ ἐκεῖ ἀκάθαρτος, οὐδὲ ἔσται ἐκεῖ ὁδὸς ἀκάθαρτος· οἱ δὲ διεσπαρμένοι πορεύσονται ἐπʼ αὐτῆς καὶ οὐ μὴ πλανηθῶσιν. 9 καὶ οὐκ ἔσται ἐκεῖ λέων, οὐδὲ τῶν θηρίων τῶν πονηρῶν οὐ μὴ ἀναβῇ ἐπʼ αὐτὴν οὐδὲ μὴ εὑρεθῇ ἐκεῖ, ἀλλὰ πορεύσονται ἐν αὐτῇ λελυτρωμένοι 10 καὶ συνηγμένοι διὰ Κύριον. καὶ ἀποστραφήσονται καὶ ἥξουσιν εἰς Σιὼν μετʼ εὐφροσύνης, καὶ εὐφροσύνη αἰώνιος ὑπὲρ κεφαλῆς αὐτῶν·

Ἐπὶ γὰρ κεφαλῆς αὐτῶν αἴνεσις καὶ ἀγαλλίαμα, καὶ εὐφροσύνη καταλήμψεται αὐτούς, ἀπέδρα ὀδύνη καὶ λύπη καὶ στεναγμός.
Ken M. Penner
Professor and Chair of Religious Studies, St. Francis Xavier University
Co-Editor, Digital Biblical Studies
General Editor, Lexham English Septuagint
Co-Editor, Online Critical Pseudepigrapha pseudepigrapha.org
Ken M. Penner
Posts: 881
Joined: May 12th, 2011, 7:50 am
Location: Antigonish, NS, Canada
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Notes on Isaiah 35:1-2

Post by Ken M. Penner »

210. Rejoice, deserted land! (35:1-2)
35.1 Εὐφράνθητι, ἔρημος διψῶσα, ἀγαλλιάσθω ἔρημος καὶ ἀνθείτω ὡς κρίνον, 2 καὶ ἐξανθήσει καὶ ἀγαλλιάσεται τὰ ἔρημα τοῦ Ἰορδάνου· καὶ ἡ δόξα τοῦ Λιβάνου ἐδόθη αὐτῇ.

Καὶ ἡ τιμὴ τοῦ καμήλου, καὶ ὁ λαός μου ὄψεται τὴν δόξαν Κυρίου καὶ τὸ ὕψος τοῦ θεοῦ.
2
καὶ ἡ δόξα] B has only ἡ δόξα
καμήλου] changed (apparently by c.a) to Καρμήλου, with A, B (Rahlfs, Ziegler). Ziegler makes no note of this change; the word spans a page break.

Reception
Justin (Dial. 69) quotes 35:1-7 as a prophecy that Gentiles would renounce idols and hope in Christ, as follows:
Εὐφράνθητι ἔρημοςδιψῶσα, ἀγαλλιάσθω ἔρημος, καὶ ἐξανθείτω ὡς κρίνον. Καὶ ἐξανθήσει καὶ ἀγαλλιάσεται τὰ ἔρημα τοῦ Ἰορδάνου, καὶ ἡ δόξα τοῦ Λιβάνου ἐδόθη αὐτῇ, καὶ ἡ τιμὴ τοῦ Καρμήλου. Καὶ ὁ λαός μου ὄψεται τὸ ὕψος κυρίου, καὶ τὴν δόξαν τοῦ Θεοῦ. Ἰσχύσατε χεῖρες ἀνειμέναι, καὶ γόνατα παραλελυμένα. Παρακαλεῖσθε οἱ ὀλιγόψυχοι τῇ καρδίᾳ, ἰσχύσατε, μὴ φοβεῖσθε. Ἰδοὺ ὁ Θεὸς ἡμῶν κρίσιν ἀνταποδίδωσι καὶ ἀνταποδώσει• αὐτὸς ἥξει καὶ σώσει ἡμᾶς. Τότε ἀνοιχθήσονται ὀφθαλμοὶ τυφλῶν, καὶ ὦτα κωφῶν ἀκούσονται• τότε ἁλεῖται ὡς ἔλαφοςχωλὸς, καὶ τρανὴ ἔσται γλῶσσα μογιλάλων• ὅτι ἐῤῥάγη ἐν ἐρήμῳ ὕδωρ καὶ φάραγξ ἐν τῇ διψώσῃ, καὶ ἡ ἄνυδρος ἔσται εἰς ἕλη, καὶ εἰς διψῶσαν γῆν πηγὴ ὕδατος ἔσται
Tertullian (Marc. 4.8) saw in 35:1 a prophecy that Jesus’ temptation would be in the desert.
Tertullian (Marc. 4.10) saw in 35:2 a prophecy of Jesus healing the palsy.
See also John Chrysostom (Hom. 32 on Rom 16:24) and Gregory of Nyssa (On the Baptism of Christ).
Ken M. Penner
Professor and Chair of Religious Studies, St. Francis Xavier University
Co-Editor, Digital Biblical Studies
General Editor, Lexham English Septuagint
Co-Editor, Online Critical Pseudepigrapha pseudepigrapha.org
Ken M. Penner
Posts: 881
Joined: May 12th, 2011, 7:50 am
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Notes on Isaiah 35:3-4

Post by Ken M. Penner »

211. Our God will repay (35:3-4)
3 Ἰσχύσατε, χεῖρες ἀνειμέναι καὶ γόνατα παραλελυμένα· 4 παρακαλέσατε, οἱ ὀλιγόψυχοι τῇ διανοίᾳ· ἰσχύσατε, μὴ φοβεῖσθε· ἰδοὺ ὁ θεὸς ἡμῶν κρίσιν ἀνταποδίδωσιν καὶ ἀνταποδώσει, αὐτὸς ἥξει καὶ σώσει ἡμᾶς.
Reception
Ignatius (Magn. 9) saw 35:4 “he will come and save us” as a prophecy of Jesus.
Irenaeus (Adv. Haer. 3.20) uses the same expression to prove that we cannot save ourselves.
The Constitutions of the Holy Apostles (2.40) uses 35:3 to encourage bishops to comfort those who sin.
See also Augustin (John 24.7); Athanasius (Inc. 38); Cyril (Catech. Lect. 12); Ambrose (Ep. 63).
Ken M. Penner
Professor and Chair of Religious Studies, St. Francis Xavier University
Co-Editor, Digital Biblical Studies
General Editor, Lexham English Septuagint
Co-Editor, Online Critical Pseudepigrapha pseudepigrapha.org
Ken M. Penner
Posts: 881
Joined: May 12th, 2011, 7:50 am
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Notes on Isaiah 35:5-10

Post by Ken M. Penner »

212. The redeemed will return with eternal happiness (35:5-10)
5 τότε ἀνοιχθήσονται ὀφθαλμοὶ τυφλῶν, καὶ ὦτα κωφῶν ἀκούσονται. 6 τότε ἁλεῖται ὡς ἔλαφος χωλός, καὶ τρανὴ ἔσται γλῶσσα μογιλάλων, ὅτι ἐρράγη ἐν τῇ ἐρήμῳ ὕδωρ καὶ φάραγξ ἐν γῇ διψώσῃ, 7 καὶ ἡ ἄνυδρος ἔσται εἰς ἕλη, καὶ εἰς τὴν διψῶσαν γῆν πηγὴ ὕδατος ἔσται· ἐκεῖ εὐφροσύνη ὀρνέων, ἔπαυλις ποιμνίων καὶ ἕλη. 8 ἔσται ἐκεῖ ὁδὸς καθαρὰ καὶ ὁδὸς ἁγία κληθήσεται, καὶ οὐ μὴ παρέλθῃ ἐκεῖ ἀκάθαρτος, οὐδὲ ἔσται ἐκεῖ ὁδὸς ἀκάθαρτος· οἱ δὲ διεσπαρμένοι πορεύσονται ἐπʼ αὐτῆς καὶ οὐ μὴ πλανηθῶσιν. 9 καὶ οὐκ ἔσται ἐκεῖ λέων, οὐδὲ τῶν θηρίων τῶν πονηρῶν οὐ μὴ ἀναβῇ ἐπʼ αὐτὴν οὐδὲ μὴ εὑρεθῇ ἐκεῖ, ἀλλὰ πορεύσονται ἐν αὐτῇ λελυτρωμένοι 10 καὶ συνηγμένοι διὰ Κύριον. καὶ ἀποστραφήσονται καὶ ἥξουσιν εἰς Σιὼν μετʼ εὐφροσύνης, καὶ εὐφροσύνη αἰώνιος ὑπὲρ κεφαλῆς αὐτῶν.

Ἐπὶ γὰρ κεφαλῆς αὐτῶν αἴνεσις καὶ ἀγαλλίαμα, καὶ εὐφροσύνη καταλήμψεται αὐτούς, ἀπέδρα ὀδύνη καὶ λύπη καὶ στεναγμός.
6
καὶ τρανὴ] B has τρανὴ δὲ
7
ἡ ἄνυδρος ἔσται] B has ἔσται ἡ ἄνυδρος
ἔπαυλις ποιμνίων] changed by cb3 to to ἐπαύλεις ποιμνίων; A, B have ἐπαύλεις καλάμου; Rahlfs, Ziegler have ἔπαυλις καλάμου.
8
ἔσται ἐκεῖ] with B; A (Rahlfs, Ziegler) has ἐκεῖ ἔσται
αὐτῆς καὶ] B has only αὐτῆς
9
τῶν θηρίων τῶν πονηρῶν] B has τῶν πονηρῶν θηρίων
ἐπʼ] B has εἰς
10
καὶ ἀποστραφήσον] with B; changed by cb2 to ἀποστραφήσον, with A (Rahlfs, Ziegler)
Ἐπὶ γὰρ κεφαλῆς αὐτῶν] lacking in B

Reception
Justin (Dial. 69; 12; 1Apol. 48; Res. 4) saw 35:1-7 as a prophecy of Jesus’ appearing and healing by his word. So did Irenaeus (Adv. Haer. 4.33.11), Tertullian (Answer to Jews, 9; Marc. 4.10, 12, 24; Resurrection of the Flesh 20), Cyprian (Test. 2.7), Novatian (Trin.9; 12), Lactantius (Divine Institutes 4.15).
Origen (Comm. Matt. 11.18) interpreted the healings in both physical and spiritual ways.
Tertullian (Marc. 4.24) saw 35:8 as the way of faith to reach God. In Res. 58, he says the “everlasting joy” comes after the resurrection.
See also John Chrysostom (Theod. Laps. 1.11; Homily 31 on Matthew 9:18; Homily 19 on Acts 8:26-27; Homily 6 on Hebrews 3:9), Cyril (Lecture 12; 14), John Cassian (Collat. 1.1.13), and Leo the Great (Sermon 54.4).
Ken M. Penner
Professor and Chair of Religious Studies, St. Francis Xavier University
Co-Editor, Digital Biblical Studies
General Editor, Lexham English Septuagint
Co-Editor, Online Critical Pseudepigrapha pseudepigrapha.org
Ken M. Penner
Posts: 881
Joined: May 12th, 2011, 7:50 am
Location: Antigonish, NS, Canada
Contact:

Isaiah Chapter 35 translation

Post by Ken M. Penner »

210. Rejoice, deserted land! (35:1-2)
35.1 Rejoice, thirsty deserted land! Let a deserted land rejoice; and let it blossom like a lily. 2 And the desolate places of the Jordan will blossom and rejoice, and the glory of Lebanon has been given to it.

And the honour of the camel and my people will see the glory of Lord and the exaltation of God.

211. Our God will repay (35:3-4)
3 Be strong, hands at ease and feeble knees! 4 Give comfort, faint-hearted in mind! Be strong; do not be frightened! Look, our God is repaying judgment, and he will repay! He himself will come and save us!
212. The redeemed will return with eternal happiness (35:5-10)
5 Then the eyes of the blind will be opened and the ears of the deaf will hear. 6 Then the lame person will leap like a deer and a mute person’s tongue will be clear, because water has broken forth in the desert, and a ravine in a thirsting land. 7 And the waterless place will turn into marshes, and there will be a spring of water in the thirsty land; there it will be the pleasure of birds, a dwelling of shepherds, and marshes. 8 A pure path will be there, and it will be called a holy path, and certainly no impure person will go by there, nor will there be any impure path there, but those scattered abroad will walk on it and certainly they will not be misguided. 9 And there will be no lion there, and certainly none of the evil beasts will come up on it or be found there, but rather those who walk on it will be redeemed people 10 and those gathered because of Lord. And they will return, and will come into Sion with happiness; and eternal happiness will be over their head.
For praise and rejoicing will be upon their head, and happiness will overtake them; pangs and sorrow and groaning fled away.
Ken M. Penner
Professor and Chair of Religious Studies, St. Francis Xavier University
Co-Editor, Digital Biblical Studies
General Editor, Lexham English Septuagint
Co-Editor, Online Critical Pseudepigrapha pseudepigrapha.org
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