Isa 49:8 | NETfull | 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 ^{▼▼ 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, ^{▼▼ Heb “a covenant of people.” A person cannot literally be a covenant; בְּרִית (b^erit) is probably metonymic here, indicating a covenant mediator. Here עָם (’am, “people”) appears to refer to Israel. See the note at 42:6.}
to rebuild ^{▼▼ The Hiphil of קוּם (qum, “arise”) is probably used here in the sense of “rebuild.”} the land ^{▼▼ The “land” probably stands by metonymy for the ruins within it.}
and to reassign the desolate property.