1.5 KiB
General Information:
Yahweh appears to be the speaker in verses 9-13.
As for you ... Zion
Here "you" is singular, and continues to refer to the city of Jerusalem, also called "Zion."
the pit where there is no water
This dry pit represents the exile in Babylon. (See: rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor)
Return to the stronghold
Jerusalem is spoken of as a place of safety. AT: "Come back to your nation where you will be safe" (See: rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor)
prisoners of hope
This expression refers to the Israelites in exile who were still trusting in God to rescue them. AT: "prisoners who still hope in Yahweh"
return double to you
"return to you twice as much as was taken from you"
I have bent Judah as my bow
The people of Judah are referred to as if they were a bow carried by God into battle. Here "Judah" refers to the people of that nation. AT: "I will cause the people of Judah to be like my bow" (See: rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor and rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymy)
filled my quiver with Ephraim
Yahweh speaks of the people of Israel, the northern kingdom, as if they were arrows that he would shoot at his enemies. A quiver is a bag that holds a soldier's arrows. (See: rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor)
I have roused your sons, Zion, against your sons, Greece
God is speaking to the people of two different nations at the same time. (See: rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymy)