Isaiah 56:3

“And let not the son of the foreigner who has joined himself to YHWH say, “YHWH will surely separate me from his people”; and let not the eunuch say, “Look, I am a dry tree.””

Isaiah 56:3 · direct translation from the Hebrew
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With the Hebrew beneath

3

Isaiah 56:3, word by word

the sonבֶּןben

descendant

A descendant or member of a people: "sons of Israel".

Where else “ben” appears
of the foreignerנֵּכָרnechar

foreign

What is foreign; "son of a foreigner" is someone of another people.

Where else “nechar” appears
who has joined himselfנִּלְוָהnilva

join

To join oneself to someone and be bound to him.

Where else “nilva” appears
to 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
sayיֹאמַרyomar

say

To say with the mouth to someone what one thinks or wants, or to answer him.

Where else “yomar” appears
will surelyהַבְדֵּלhavdel

separate

Separate, make a distinction between two things; also set something apart for a purpose.

Where else “havdel” appears
from his peopleעַמּam

Ammi

Israel, YHWH's people: "my people".

Where else “am” appears
the eunuchסָּרִיסsaris

official, eunuch

Court official. The word can also mean eunuch.

Where else “saris” appears
a dryיָבֵשׁyavesh

dry

Dry.

Where else “yavesh” appears
treeעֵץets

tree

A tall plant with trunk and branches, giving fruit, shade or timber.

Where else “ets” appears

Translation note

“Eunuch” translates the word that in 39:7 is translated “officials”; here the sense is that of a man who cannot have children.

The context

2Happy is the mortal who does this, and the son of man who holds fast to it, who keeps the Sabbath so as not to profane it, and keeps his hand from doing any evil.”

3 · This verse (above)

4For thus says YHWH to the eunuchs who keep my Sabbaths, and choose what pleases me, and hold fast to my covenant:

Read all of Isaiah 56

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