Isaiah 57:15–19

Every witness, in order

1. 8th–6th century BC (by section; debated)

   The oracle as first spoken or written

   – No copy survives

   No original survives. The oldest copies of Isaiah are the Qumran scrolls: the Great Isaiah Scroll (1QIsa-a, about 125 BC, nearly complete), 1QIsa-b (1Q8) and some twenty other fragmentary manuscripts.

2. c. 125 BC (palaeography; reported)

   Great Isaiah Scroll (1QIsa-a), Qumran Cave 1

   ✓ Contains this passageDescends, through lost copies, from The oracle as first spoken or written

   How the site knows this: Described from a published transcription of the manuscript. Described in the site's own words from Martin Abegg's transcription (ETCBC/CACCHT Dead Sea Scrolls dataset v2.0.5); the transcription itself is not reproduced. Photographs and DJD XXXII not yet checked.

   …he dwells in the height and in holiness, and with the crushed and lowly of spirit…

   Hebrew numbering: Isaiah 57:15–19. In v. 15 reads "he dwells (yishkon) in the height and in holiness" (third person), where the Masoretic Text has "I dwell (eshkon) in the high and holy place." In v. 18 it lacks "and I will lead him." In v. 19 it has "peace" once, not "peace, peace." Otherwise the differences are of spelling (fuller use of vowel letters) and small grammatical forms.

3. 1st century BC – 1st century AD (reported)

   1QIsa-b (1Q8), Qumran Cave 1

   ◐ Contains part of itDescends, through lost copies, from The oracle as first spoken or written

   How the site knows this: Described from a published transcription of the manuscript. Described in the site's own words from Martin Abegg's transcription (ETCBC/CACCHT Dead Sea Scrolls dataset v2.0.5); the transcription itself is not reproduced. Photographs and DJD XXXII not yet checked.

   Hebrew numbering: Isaiah 57:15–19. A fragmentary copy: only parts of these verses survive, and in the transcription much of the passage is restored by the editors. Preserves vv. 17–19 with the Masoretic wording, including "and I will lead him" (v. 18) and "peace, peace" (v. 19).

4. 1st century BC – 1st century AD (reported)

   4QIsa-d (4Q58), Qumran Cave 4

   ◐ Contains part of itDescends, through lost copies, from The oracle as first spoken or written

   How the site knows this: Described from a published transcription of the manuscript. Described in the site's own words from Martin Abegg's transcription (ETCBC/CACCHT Dead Sea Scrolls dataset v2.0.5); the transcription itself is not reproduced. Photographs and DJD XXXII not yet checked.

   Hebrew numbering: Isaiah 57:15–19. A fragmentary copy: only parts of these verses survive, and in the transcription much of the passage is restored by the editors. In v. 15 also reads "he dwells" (third person), like 1QIsa-a; elsewhere close to the Masoretic Text, with some words restored.

5. 1st century AD; edition 2010s

   Ephesians 2:17 (Greek New Testament; library: Statistical Restoration text)

   ✓ Contains this passageUncertain relationship to the verse (which wording it followed is the question)

   How the site knows this: Read in the site's library text: the Greek New Testament editions in the library (Textus Receptus, Byzantine Textform, Statistical Restoration).

   καὶ ἐλθὼν, εὐηγγελίσατο, “εἰρήνην ὑμῖν τοῖς μακρὰν, καὶ εἰρήνην τοῖς ἐγγύς”·

   And he came and proclaimed peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near

   Paul (or a Pauline author) applies the verse to Gentiles (far) and Jews (near). Allusion, not a quotation. With wording close to the Greek. KJV: "And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh."

6. Jerome c. AD 400, from Hebrew; edition 1592

   Latin Vulgate (Clementine)

   ✓ Contains this passageTranslated from the Hebrew text Jerome used

   How the site knows this: Read in the site's library text: Clementine Vulgate (1592 edition).

   Quia hæc dicit Excelsus, et Sublimis, habitans æternitatem, et sanctum nomen ejus: in excelso et in sancto habitans, et cum contrito et humili spiritu: ut vivificet spiritum humilium, et vivificet cor contritorum. Non enim in sempiternum litigabo, neque usque ad finem irascar, quia spiritus a facie mea egredietur, et flatus ego faciam. Propter iniquitatem avaritiæ ejus iratus sum, et percussi eum. Abscondi a te faciem meam, et indignatus sum; et abiit vagus in via cordis sui. Vias ejus vidi, et sanavi eum; et reduxi eum, et reddidi consolationes ipsi, et lugentibus ejus. Creavi fructum labiorum pacem; pacem ei qui longe est et qui prope, dixit Dominus, et sanavi eum.

   Latin numbering: Isaiah 57:15–19. Jerome translated Isaiah from Hebrew (c. AD 400). Jerome's participle "habitans" ("dwelling") has no person.

7. AD 1008

   Masoretic Text (Leningrad Codex)

   ✓ Contains this passageDescends, through lost copies, from The oracle as first spoken or written

   How the site knows this: Read in the site's library text: Westminster Leningrad Codex, a digital transcription of the Leningrad Codex.

   כִּי֩ כֹ֨ה אָמַ֜ר רָ֣ם וְנִשָּׂ֗א שֹׁכֵ֥ן עַד֙ וְקָד֣וֹשׁ שְׁמ֔וֹ מָר֥וֹם וְקָד֖וֹשׁ אֶשְׁכּ֑וֹן וְאֶת־דַּכָּא֙ וּשְׁפַל־ר֔וּחַ לְהַחֲיוֹת֙ ר֣וּחַ שְׁפָלִ֔ים וּֽלְהַחֲי֖וֹת לֵ֥ב נִדְכָּאִֽים׃ כִּ֣י לֹ֤א לְעוֹלָם֙ אָרִ֔יב וְלֹ֥א לָנֶ֖צַח אֶקְּצ֑וֹף כִּי־ר֙וּחַ֙ מִלְּפָנַ֣י יַֽעֲט֔וֹף וּנְשָׁמ֖וֹת אֲנִ֥י עָשִֽׂיתִי׃ בַּעֲוֺ֥ן בִּצְע֛וֹ קָצַ֥פְתִּי וְאַכֵּ֖הוּ הַסְתֵּ֣ר וְאֶקְצֹ֑ף וַיֵּ֥לֶךְ שׁוֹבָ֖ב בְּדֶ֥רֶךְ לִבּֽוֹ׃ דְּרָכָ֥יו רָאִ֖יתִי וְאֶרְפָּאֵ֑הוּ וְאַנְחֵ֕הוּ וַאֲשַׁלֵּ֧ם נִֽחֻמִ֛ים ל֖וֹ וְלַאֲבֵלָֽיו׃ בּוֹרֵ֖א נוב נִ֣יב שְׂפָתָ֑יִם שָׁל֨וֹם ׀ שָׁל֜וֹם לָרָח֧וֹק וְלַקָּר֛וֹב אָמַ֥ר יְהוָ֖ה וּרְפָאתִֽיו׃

   For thus says the High and Exalted One who dwells forever, whose name is Holy: I dwell on high and in holiness, and with the crushed and lowly of spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly (v. 15)

   Hebrew numbering: Isaiah 57:15–19.

8. 1611

   King James Bible

   ✓ Contains this passageTranslated from printed Masoretic Hebrew

   How the site knows this: Read in the site's library text: King James Version (1769 text).

   For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones. For I will not contend for ever, neither will I be always wroth: for the spirit should fail before me, and the souls which I have made. For the iniquity of his covetousness was I wroth, and smote him: I hid me, and was wroth, and he went on frowardly in the way of his heart. I have seen his ways, and will heal him: I will lead him also, and restore comforts unto him and to his mourners. I create the fruit of the lips; Peace, peace to him that is far off, and to him that is near, saith the Lord; and I will heal him.

9. Greek translation c. 2nd century BC; French 1872

   Greek Isaiah (library: Giguet's French)

   ✓ Contains this passageTranslated from the Old Greek Isaiah

   How the site knows this: Known here only through a translation.

   Voici ce que dit le Très-Haut, qui réside éternellement au plus haut des cieux, le Saint des saints; son nom est le Très-Haut, reposant parmi les saints; c’est lui qui donne aux faibles la patience, et aux cœurs contrits la vie: Je ne vous punirai pas éternellement; je ne serai pas toujours irrité contre vous; car tout esprit est sorti de moi, et c’est moi qui ai créé toute vie. À cause de son péché, j’ai affligé quelque temps mon peuple; je l’ai frappé et j’ai détourné de lui mon visage; et il en à éprouvé de la douleur, et triste il a marché dans ses voies. J’ai vu ces voies, et je l’ai guéri, et je l’ai consolé, et je lui ai donné une consolation véritable. La paix, et encore la paix, à ceux qui sont au loin, et à ceux qui sont près. Et le Seigneur à dit: Je les guérirai.

   Greek (digital file) numbering: Isaiah 57:15–19. Giguet's 1872 French of a printed Greek text (D check only); a C check needs Ziegler's Göttingen Isaiah or Rahlfs–Hanhart.