Isa 49:8 | NET2full | STEP | This is what the Lord says : “At the time I decide to show my favor , I will respond to you; in the day of deliverance I will help you; I will protect you and make you a covenant mediator for people , to rebuild the land and to reassign the desolate property .

‏ Isaiah 49:8

8 This is what the Lord says:

“At the time I decide to show my favor, I will respond to you;
in the day of deliverance I will help you;
I will protect you ^{▼▼tn The translation assumes the verb is derived from the root נָצָר (natsar, “protect”). Some prefer to derive it from the root יָצָר (yatsar, “form”).} and make you a covenant mediator for people, ^{▼▼tn Heb “a covenant of people.” A person cannot literally be a covenant; בְּרִית (berit) is probably metonymic here, indicating a covenant mediator. Here עָם (ʿam, “people”) appears to refer to Israel. See the note at 42:6.}
to rebuild ^{▼▼tn The Hiphil of קוּם (qum, “arise”) is probably used here in the sense of “rebuild.”} the land ^{▼▼tn The “land” probably stands by metonymy for the ruins within it.}
and to reassign the desolate property.