Each line of this verse begins with the common Hebrew connector (literally “and”) to give it cohesion. Revised Standard Version expresses the last three with and, then, and and.

He saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no one to intervene: The phrase there was no occurs two more times here to point out what else the LORD saw lacking. He also saw that there was no one willing to help those who were suffering injustice. In these two parallel lines the second one adds to or completes the thought of the first one. The verb saw may be rendered “realized.” Its parallel verb wondered adds that God was shocked that there was no one willing to help. The Hebrew verb rendered wondered can mean “to feel surprise.” Good News Translation expresses this sense by saying “is astonished.” However, this verb can also refer to a very disheartened reaction to something (see the comments on 52.14, where it is rendered “were astonished”). New Revised Standard Version and New International Version express this sense with “was appalled,” and so does Revised English Bible with “was outraged.” Translators may follow either sense here. In English the verb wondered can have the meaning of “to ask why” or “to be curious about,” so we do not recommend using a verb that carries such a sense. The Hebrew noun for man is a generic term for any human being, whether male or female. The parallel expression one to intervene adds that it refers to someone coming to the aid of another person. The LORD was appalled that there was no such person. Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch combines these two lines, saying “He is surprised that there is no one who intervenes against it [the injustice].” Good News Translation is similar with “He is astonished to see that there is no one to help the oppressed.”

Then his own arm brought him victory means the LORD’s power gave him victory by rescuing his innocent people. As is often true in poetry, arm is a metaphor for power (see, for example, 40.10; 48.14; 51.9). Here it refers to the might God used to achieve victory. Both the pronouns his and him probably refer to the LORD, which most versions make clear through the natural syntax of this verse. However, for Good News Translation the pronoun him refers to those in the previous line who were denied justice, namely the innocent people, so it renders this line as “So he will use his own power to rescue them.” The Hebrew verb rendered brought … victory can also mean “rescue/save.” Both interpretations are valid, but we slightly favor that of Revised Standard Version and most versions, which see the pronouns his and him as both referring to the LORD. If it is not clear that these pronouns refer to the LORD, translators may begin this line with “The LORD’s own arm….”

And his righteousness upheld him is parallel to the previous line. In this context the Hebrew word for righteousness refers to that aspect of God’s nature that insists on acting with justice and right (see the comments on 1.27). Good News Translation renders it “victory,” but New Jerusalem Bible is better with “saving justice.” The Hebrew verb for upheld speaks of support, of something that can be relied upon and trusted. New International Version uses the verb “sustained,” which catches the sense well.

For the translation of this verse consider the following examples:

• The LORD saw that there was nobody,
he was amazed that there was nobody to intercede.
So the LORD’s strong arm gave him the victory,
his righteousness sustained him.

• He saw that there was no one,
he was appalled that there was no one to help.
Then the LORD’s own might led to his victory,
his righteousness supported him.

Quoted with permission from Ogden, Graham S. and Sterk, Jan. A Handbook on Isaiah. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2011. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .