Isaiah 45:23

[philman]

New American Standard Bible (©1995)
"I have sworn by Myself, The word has gone forth from My mouth in righteousness And will not turn back, That to Me every knee will bow, every tongue will swear allegiance.

were do these translators get the word "allegiance" from???

any other commentary for this passage is helpful.

[Suzana]

I also use the NASB (c1999).

The word allegiance in this verse is in italics, which (according to the explanation in the preface) indicates "words which are not found in the original Hebrew, Aramaic, or Greek but implied by it."

[Paidion]

were do these translators get the word "allegiance" from???

Interpretation. Without the word, it might mean "Every tongue will cuss."

Of course, it probably means, "Every tongue will take an oath". The Hebrew word means to swear in the sense of taking an oath.

However, the Septuagint renders it (probably translating from the more ancient Hebrew) as "Every tongue will confess to God" or "Every tongue will agree with God". This is the way Paul quotes it (from the Septuagint of course) in Romans 14:11, and the way he refers to it in Philippians 2:11.

[darinhouston]

NET says:

I solemnly make this oath 1 – what I say is true and reliable: 2 ‘Surely every knee will bow to me, every tongue will solemnly affirm; 3

[Suzana]

any other commentary for this passage is helpful.

Did you have any particular questions in mind?

My thought is that on a first reading of the verse it would be a great supporting scripture for universal reconciliation, except when I look at the context, it seems to be addressed to Israel. eg. (in the same chapter, two verses down) v. 25 says "In the LORD all the offspring of Israel Will be justified and will glory."

I think the context where Paul references this in Romans is also interesting, and where he puts the emphasis -

Romans 14:10-12 (KJV)10 But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. 11 For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God. 12 So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.

[darinhouston]

I thought the NET was pretty literal, but it seems it is not (in this passage at least)...

English (KJV) Strong's Root Form (Hebrew)
I have sworn h7650 שבע shaba`
by myself, the word h1697 דבר dabar
is gone out h3318 יצא yatsa'
of my mouth h6310 פה peh
[in] righteousness, h6666 צדקה tsĕdaqah
and shall not return, h7725 שוב shuwb
That unto me every knee h1290 ברך berek
shall bow, h3766 כרע kara`
every tongue h3956 לשון lashown
shall swear. h7650 שבע shaba`

[Paidion]

Darin, isn't "solemnly affirm" pretty much equivalent to "swear" (in the sense of taking an oath)?
In legal matters, those who cannot conscientiously take an oath because of Jesus' words, "I tell you, do not swear at all...", are given the option to "solemnly affirm" instead. Is this merely a matter of semantics? Or is "solemnly affirming" an essentially different activity from "swearing"?

[darinhouston]

Darin, isn't "solemnly affirm" pretty much equivalent to "swear" (in the sense of taking an oath)?
In legal matters, those who cannot conscientiously take an oath because of Jesus' words, "I tell you, do not swear at all...", are given the option to "solemnly affirm" instead. Is this merely a matter of semantics? Or is "solemnly affirming" an essentially different activity from "swearing"?

It seems the same to me in this context, but folks who have a problem "swearing" do seem to be ok with "affirming" so the law provides that attestation. Technically, in both cases you are making a "Declaration" upon an acknowledgement that there is a penalty of perjury -- whether you also swear on the bible or to God is irrelevant to the courts. There may be a different here that would suggest "affirm" is lesser than what one would understand "swear" to mean since in this passage you're swearing "by yourself" instead of "by God." That does suggest some affirmation lesser than "swear," but it does seem like a nit to pick.

[Jill]

.

[philman]

Thank you all for the reply.

The reactions and commentary is exactly what i was looking for...

just about every angle has been covered here.

Its debatable if nothing else and I think that the word allegiance is a stretch even if i hold to the UR view

I find some UR individuals use the word "allegiance" when making reference to this verse. I can only find two translation that use that word. I don't think its a good translation. One can MAKE an argument that it implies such a meaning. but that is not faithful to literal translation which isn't a debate that i want to get into here.