Isaiah 12:2

With the Hebrew beneath

Isaiah 12:2, word by word

Elאֵלel

El, God, god

"El", an ancient Hebrew word for "God". Alone or with another title it is a name of the God of Israel: El Elyon (God Most High), El Shaddai (God Almighty). Neighboring peoples used the same word for their gods; then this translation writes "god" in lower case. It also means "mighty".

Where else “el” appears

is my salvationיְשׁוּעָתִyeshuati

salvation

Salvation: the help with which God delivers from danger; also victory. The name "Jesus" (Yeshua) comes from the same root.

Where else “yeshuati” appears

I will trustאֶבְטַחevtach

trust

To rely on someone, YHWH or man.

Where else “evtach” appears

be in dreadאֶפְחָדefchad

dread

To tremble with fear before something that threatens.

Where else “efchad” appears

my strengthעָזִּazi

strength

Power to act or to withstand, attributed above all to God.

Where else “azi” appears

and my songזִמְרָתzimrat

song

Song of praise, melody.

Where else “zimrat” appears

is Yahיָהּyah

Yah

Yah: the short form of the name YHWH. It is the form found in "Hallelujah" ("praise Yah").

Where else “yah” appears

YHWHיְהוָהyehva

YHWH

The personal name of the God of Israel, written in Hebrew with four letters, Y-H-W-H, without vowels. Out of reverence Jews stopped pronouncing it and read "Adonai" (Lord), so many Bibles put "the LORD" or "Jehovah". This translation keeps the four letters. The name is related to the verb "to be" (Exodus 3:14-15). He is not a god other than Elohim: "YHWH Elohim" is the same Creator God, called by his name.

Where else “yehva” appears

and he has becomeיְהִיyehi

become

To turn into something new, or fall upon someone.

Where else “yehi” appears

Translation note

The same words are in Exodus 15:2 and Psalm 118:14 (“My strength and my song is Yah”); here the Hebrew says both names, “Yah YHWH.”

The context