Isaiah continues to describe the time when God will save the people of Israel. Although these events will happen in the future ([Isaiah 9:1-2](./01.md)), Isaiah describes them as if they have already happened. This emphasizes that they certainly will happen. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-pastforfuture]])
Isaiah speaks of the Israelites, who are the Assyrians' slaves, as if they were an ox wearing a yoke. This will happen in the future, but he speaks as if it has already happened. AT: "For as on the day of Midian you will set the people of Israel free from being slaves to their oppressors like a person removes a yoke from the shoulders of an animal" (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]] and [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-pastforfuture]])
Isaiah speaks of the people of Israel as if they were one man. AT: "For the yoke of their burden ... their shoulders ... their oppressor" (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]])
Another possible meaning is "staff," a long piece of wood that a person uses to beat the oxen so they will work and a symbol of one person's power to rule other people.
# the rod of his oppressor
Isaiah speaks of the power the oppressor has over the people of Judah as if it were the piece of wood used by a person to beat oxen so they will work. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]])
# as on the day of Midian
The word "day" is an idiom that can refer to an event that takes more than one day to happen. AT: "as when you defeated the Midianites" (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom]])
# every boot treading in the tumult and the garments rolled in blood will be burned
This can be stated in active form. AT: "you will burn the boots of the soldiers and their clothes, which are covered with blood" (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-activepassive]])
This can be made more explicit by translating it as a new sentence. AT: "burned. You will make the boots and the garments fuel for the fire" (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit]])
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