Isaiah — Chapter 50

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1Thus saith the LORD, Where is the bill of your mother’s divorcement, whom I have put away? or which of my creditors is it to whom I have sold you? Behold, for your iniquities have ye sold yourselves, and for your transgressions is your mother put away.

2Wherefore, when I came, was there no man? when I called, was there none to answer? Is my hand shortened at all, that it cannot redeem? or have I no power to deliver? behold, at my rebuke I dry up the sea, I make the rivers a wilderness: their fish stinketh, because there is no water, and dieth for thirst.

3I clothe the heavens with blackness, and I make sackcloth their covering.

4The Lord GOD hath given me the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak a word in season to him that is weary: he wakeneth morning by morning, he wakeneth mine ear to hear as the learned.

5The Lord GOD hath opened mine ear, and I was not rebellious, neither turned away back.

6I gave my back to the smiters, and my cheeks to them that plucked off the hair: I hid not my face from shame and spitting.

7For the Lord GOD will help me; therefore shall I not be confounded: therefore have I set my face like a flint, and I know that I shall not be ashamed.

8He is near that justifieth me; who will contend with me? let us stand together: who is mine adversary? let him come near to me.

9Behold, the Lord GOD will help me; who is he that shall condemn me? lo, they all shall wax old as a garment; the moth shall eat them up.

10Who is among you that feareth the LORD, that obeyeth the voice of his servant, that walketh in darkness, and hath no light? let him trust in the name of the LORD, and stay upon his God.

11Behold, all ye that kindle a fire, that compass yourselves about with sparks: walk in the light of your fire, and in the sparks that ye have kindled. This shall ye have of mine hand; ye shall lie down in sorrow.

1Thus saith Jehovah, Where is the bill of your mother`s divorcement, wherewith I have put her away? or which of my creditors is it to whom I have sold you? Behold, for your iniquities were ye sold, and for your transgressions was your mother put away.

2Wherefore, when I came, was there no man? when I called, was there none to answer? Is my hand shortened at all, that it cannot redeem? or have I no power to deliver? Behold, at my rebuke I dry up the sea, I make the rivers a wilderness: their fish stink, because there is no water, and die for thirst.

3I clothe the heavens with blackness, and I make sackcloth their covering.

4The Lord Jehovah hath given me the tongue of them that are taught, that I may know how to sustain with words him that is weary: he wakeneth morning by morning, he wakeneth mine ear to hear as they that are taught.

5The Lord Jehovah hath opened mine ear, and I was not rebellious, neither turned away backward.

6I gave my back to the smiters, and my cheeks to them that plucked off the hair; I hid not my face from shame and spitting.

7For the Lord Jehovah will help me; therefore have I not been confounded: therefore have I set my face like a flint, and I know that I shall not be put to shame.

8He is near that justifieth me; who will content with me? let us stand up together: who is mine adversary? let him come near to me.

9Behold, the Lord Jehovah will help me; who is he that shall condemn me? behold, all they shall wax old as a garment, the moth shall eat them up.

10Who is among you that feareth Jehovah, that obeyeth the voice of his servant? he that walketh in darkness, and hath no light, let him trust in the name of Jehovah, and rely upon his God.

11Behold, all ye that kindle a fire, that gird yourselves about with firebrands; walk ye in the flame of your fire, and among the brands that ye have kindled. This shall ye have of my hand; ye shall lie down in sorrow.

1This is what the Lord says: “Where is your mother’s divorce certificate by which I divorced her? Or to which of my creditors did I sell you? Look, you were sold because of your sins; because of your rebellious acts I divorced your mother.

2Why does no one challenge me when I come? Why does no one respond when I call? Is my hand too weak to deliver you? Do I lack the power to rescue you? Look, with a mere shout I can dry up the sea; I can turn streams into a desert, so the fish rot away and die from lack of water.

3I can clothe the sky in darkness; I can cover it with sackcloth.”

4The Sovereign Lord has given me the capacity to be his spokesman, so that I know how to help the weary. He wakes me up every morning; he makes me alert so I can listen attentively as disciples do.

5The Sovereign Lord has spoken to me clearly; I have not rebelled, I have not turned back.

6I offered my back to those who attacked, my jaws to those who tore out my beard; I did not hide my face from insults and spitting.

7But the Sovereign Lord helps me, so I am not humiliated. For that reason I am steadfastly resolved; I know I will not be put to shame.

8The one who vindicates me is close by. Who dares to argue with me? Let us confront each other! Who is my accuser? Let him challenge me!

9Look, the Sovereign Lord helps me. Who dares to condemn me? Look, all of them will wear out like clothes; a moth will eat away at them.

10Who among you fears the Lord? Who obeys his servant? Whoever walks in deep darkness, without light, should trust in the name of the Lord and rely on his God.

11Look, all of you who start a fire and who equip yourselves with flaming arrows, walk in the light of the fire you started and among the flaming arrows you ignited! This is what you will receive from me: You will lie down in a place of pain.

1Yahweh says, “Where is the bill of your mother’s divorce, with which I have put her away? or to which of my creditors have I sold you? Behold, you were sold for your iniquities, and your mother was put away for your transgressions.

2Why, when I came, was there no one? when I called, why was there no one to answer? Is my hand shortened at all, that it can’t redeem? or have I no power to deliver? Behold, at my rebuke I dry up the sea. I make the rivers a wilderness: their fish stink, because there is no water, and die for thirst.

3I clothe the heavens with blackness, and I make sackcloth their covering.”

4The Lord Yahweh has given me the tongue of those who are taught, that I may know how to sustain with words him who is weary. He wakens morning by morning, he wakens my ear to hear as those who are taught.

5The Lord Yahweh has opened my ear, and I was not rebellious. I have not turned back.

6I gave my back to those who beat me, and my cheeks to those who plucked off the hair. I didn’t hide my face from shame and spitting.

7For the Lord Yahweh will help me. Therefore I have not been confounded. Therefore I have set my face like a flint, and I know that I shall not be disappointed.

8He who justifies me is near. Who will bring charges against me? Let us stand up together. Who is my adversary? Let him come near to me.

9Behold, the Lord Yahweh will help me! Who is he who will condemn me? Behold, they will all grow old like a garment. The moths will eat them up.

10Who among you fears Yahweh, and obeys the voice of his servant? He who walks in darkness, and has no light, let him trust in Yahweh’s name, and rely on his God.

11Behold, all you who kindle a fire, who adorn yourselves with torches around yourselves; walk in the flame of your fire, and among the torches that you have kindled. You will have this from my hand: You will lie down in sorrow.

Summary
Authorship & Background
Map & Geography
Commentary
Videos
Reflection

Summary

The third Servant Song — the Servant has "the tongue of the learned" to sustain the weary, offers His back to smiters and His cheeks to beard-pluckers, sets His face like flint toward Jerusalem, and trusts God to vindicate Him. Those who walk in darkness should trust; those who kindle their own fire will lie down in sorrow.

Authorship & Background

Author: Isaiah son of Amoz (see Chapter 1 notes for full details).
Classification: Prophetic Oracle — Third Servant Song (vv.4-9) Key Themes: God didn't divorce Israel, the Servant's obedient ear, suffering willingly endured, face set like flint, trust in God amid opposition, the danger of self-made light
Historical Context: The third Servant Song (50:4-9) reveals the Servant's OBEDIENCE amid suffering. Unlike the first song (commission) and second (discouragement overcome), this song shows the Servant voluntarily submitting to physical abuse. He offers His back, His cheeks, His face — actively presenting Himself to suffering. "I gave my back to the smiters" — not "they took it" but "I GAVE it." Luke 9:51: "He steadfastly set his face to go to Jerusalem" directly echoes v.7. The chapter frames the song with God's defense of Israel (vv.1-3) and a choice for the listener: trust God in darkness (v.10) or make your own light and suffer (v.11).
Structure:
  • God Didn't Divorce Israel (vv.1-3)
  • Third Servant Song: Obedient Suffering (vv.4-9)
  • Trust in Darkness vs. Self-Made Fire (vv.10-11)

Map & Geography

  • No specific geographic locations are referenced in this chapter.

Commentary

  • Enduring Word (David Guzik): enduringword.com
  • Charles Spurgeon: "'I gave my back to the smiters.' He GAVE it. They didn't take what He wouldn't give. Every stripe on Jesus' back was a voluntary gift. Every thorn, every nail, every insult — He could have stopped it with a word. He chose not to. That's love."

Reflection

  • 1. "I gave my back" (v.6). Jesus GAVE. Every blow was voluntary. He could have called 10,000 angels (Matt 26:53). He chose to stay. His suffering was not victimhood but LOVE choosing pain for your freedom.
  • 2. "Set my face like a flint" (v.7). Following God requires RESOLVE — flint-hard determination that doesn't flinch at pain or turn aside at opposition. What is God calling you toward that requires this kind of flint-face?
  • 3. Walk in darkness and TRUST (v.10). Sometimes God-fearing people are in darkness — not because of sin but because of season. The instruction: TRUST. Don't demand explanations; trust the God you knew in the light.
  • 4. Don't kindle your own fire (v.11). When God seems silent and the darkness presses in, the temptation is to manufacture your own solutions, guidance, and light. But self-made light leads to sorrow. WAIT for God's dawn rather than lighting your own candle.
  • 5. "A word in season to him that is weary" (v.4). The Servant's gift: knowing what weary people need to hear. Ask God for this gift — the ability to speak the right word at the right time to exhausted people.