Tafsiran Yesaya 66:16: Rashi, Ibn Ezra & Tze'enah Ure'enah

For with fire of Gehinnom will the Lord contend with His adversaries, and since He is the plaintiff and the judge, the expression of contending is appropriate for Him, for He, too, presents His claim to find their iniquity and their transgression. Comp. (Ezekiel 38:22) “And I will contend with him (וְנִשְׁפַּטְתִּי)”; (Jer. 2:35) “Behold, I contend with you.” It is an expression of debate. Derajjsner in O.F. [And its simple meaning is: For with the fire of the Lord and with His sword, all flesh shall be judged. Similarly, there are many inverted verses in Scriptures.]

נשפט He will plead. It is a figurative expression; meaning he will go with them to judgment;²⁸The Niphal has sometimes the meaning of reciprocity, as נלחם, to fight. or it is used here in an active sense like נשבע he swore (62:8).²⁹נשפט would in that case be the same as שפט, he will judge.

“For by fire will the Lord” [66:16]. The Holy One will come with great fire, storm winds and great anger against the nations of the world, to destroy them.