Isaiah Chapter 50

Updated: September 14, 2025

Israel's Sin

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.

The Servant's Obedience

(Matthew 27:27-31; Mark 15:16-20; Luke 22:63-65; John 19:1-15)

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.

King James Bible

Text courtesy of BibleProtector.com.

Israel’s Sin

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

2 Why, when I came, was there no man? when I called, was there none 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.

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

The Servant’s Obedience
(Matthew 27:27–31; Mark 15:16–20; Luke 22:63–65; John 19:1–15)

4 The 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.

5 The Lord Yahweh has opened my ear, and I was not rebellious, neither turned away backward.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Israel’s Sin

1 This is what the LORD says:

“Where is your mother’s certificate of divorce

with which I sent her away?

Or to which of My creditors

did I sell you?

Look, you were sold for your iniquities,

and for your transgressions your mother was sent away.

2 Why was no one there when I arrived?

Why did no one answer when I called?

Is My hand too short to redeem you?

Or do I lack the strength to deliver you?

Behold, My rebuke dries up the sea;

I turn the rivers into a desert;

the fish rot for lack of water

and die of thirst.

3 I clothe the heavens in black

and make sackcloth their covering.”

The Servant’s Obedience
(Matthew 27:27–31; Mark 15:16–20; Luke 22:63–65; John 19:1–15)

4 The Lord GOD has given Me

the tongue of discipleship,

to sustain the weary with a word.

He awakens Me morning by morning;

He awakens My ear to listen as a disciple.

5 The Lord GOD has opened My ears,

and I have not been rebellious,

nor have I turned back.

6 I offered My back to those who struck Me,

and My cheeks to those who tore out My beard.

I did not hide My face from scorn and spittle.

7 Because the Lord GOD helps Me,

I have not been disgraced;

therefore I have set My face like flint,

and I know that I will not be put to shame.

8 The One who vindicates Me is near.

Who will dare to contend with Me?

Let us confront each other!

Who has a case against Me?

Let him approach Me!

9 Surely the Lord GOD helps Me.

Who is there to condemn Me?

See, they will all wear out like a garment;

the moths will devour them.

10 Who among you fears the LORD

and obeys the voice of His Servant?

Who among you walks in darkness

and has no light?

Let him trust in the name of the LORD;

let him lean on his God.

11 Behold, all you who kindle a fire,

who array yourselves with firebrands,

walk in the light of your fire

and of the firebrands you have lit!

This is what you will receive from My hand:

You will lie down in a place of torment.

Israel's Sin

1Thus said Jehovah: 'Where is this -- the bill of your mother's divorce, Whom I sent away? Or to which of My creditors have I sold you? Lo, for your iniquities ye have been sold, And for your transgressions Hath your mother been sent away.

2Wherefore have I come, and there is no one? I called, and there is none answering, Hath My hand been at all short of redemption? And is there not in me power to deliver? Lo, by My rebuke I dry up a sea, I make rivers a wilderness, Their fish stinketh, for there is no water, And dieth with thirst.

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

The Servant's Obedience

(Matthew 27:27-31; Mark 15:16-20; Luke 22:63-65; John 19:1-15)

4The Lord Jehovah hath given to me The tongue of taught ones, To know to aid the weary by a word, He waketh morning by morning, He waketh for me an ear to hear as taught ones.

5The Lord Jehovah opened for me the ear, And I rebelled not -- backward I moved not.

6My back I have given to those smiting, And my cheeks to those plucking out, My face I hid not from shame and spitting.

7And the Lord Jehovah giveth help to me, Therefore I have not been ashamed, Therefore I have set my face as a flint, And I know that I am not ashamed.

8Near is He who is justifying me, Who doth contend with me? We stand together, who is mine opponent? Let him come nigh unto me.

9Lo, the Lord Jehovah giveth help to me, Who is he that declareth me wicked? Lo, all of them as a garment wear out, A moth doth eat them.

10Who is among you, fearing Jehovah, Hearkening to the voice of His servant, That hath walked in dark places, And there is no brightness for him? Let him trust in the name of Jehovah, And lean upon his God.

11Lo, all ye kindling a fire, girding on sparks, Walk ye in the light of your fire, And in the sparks ye have caused to burn, From my hand hath this been to you, In grief ye lie down!

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The F.O.G Commentary

When God’s Servant Gets Real About Suffering

What’s Isaiah 50 about?

Ever wondered what it looks like when someone totally surrenders to God’s call, even when it means facing ridicule, rejection, and physical abuse? Isaiah 50 gives us one of the most raw, honest portraits of faithful obedience in the face of suffering you’ll find anywhere in Scripture.

The Full Context

Picture this: it’s around 540 BCE, and the Jewish exiles in Babylon are wrestling with some hard questions. Has God abandoned them? Are they too far gone for rescue? Into this crisis of faith, the prophet Isaiah (or his disciple carrying on his legacy) delivers this powerful message about a mysterious “Servant of the Lord” who will accomplish what Israel couldn’t.

This chapter sits right in the heart of what scholars call “Second Isaiah” (chapters 40-55), a collection of prophecies focused on comfort and restoration for the exiles. But here’s what makes Isaiah 50 so fascinating – it’s the third of four “Servant Songs” that paint an increasingly detailed picture of someone who will suffer on behalf of others. While the first two Servant Songs were somewhat abstract, this one gets personal. We hear the Servant’s own voice describing his mission, his struggles, and his unshakeable trust in God’s vindication.

What the Ancient Words Tell Us

The Hebrew word ’ebed (servant) appears throughout this chapter, but don’t think “household help.” In ancient Near Eastern culture, to be someone’s servant meant you were their authorized representative – you carried their authority and acted on their behalf. When Isaiah talks about God’s Servant, he’s describing someone with divine backing and mission.

But here’s where it gets really interesting. In Isaiah 50:4, the Servant says God has given him “the tongue of those who are taught” – literally lashon limudim in Hebrew. This isn’t just about being educated; it’s about having a tongue that’s been disciplined, trained, refined. Think of a master craftsman’s hands or a virtuoso’s fingers – that’s what God has done with this Servant’s words.

Grammar Geeks

The verb structure in Isaiah 50:5 is absolutely fascinating. When the Servant says “I was not rebellious,” the Hebrew uses a perfect tense that emphasizes completed, decisive action. This isn’t “I tried not to rebel” – it’s “I made a choice and stuck with it, period.”

What Would the Original Audience Have Heard?

When the Jewish exiles heard these words, they would have immediately recognized the legal language peppered throughout the chapter. Verses 8-9 sound like a courtroom scene – “He who vindicates me is near… who will contend with me?” This isn’t poetic flourish; it’s the technical vocabulary of ancient Near Eastern legal proceedings.

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But here’s what would have blown their minds: the Servant describes facing the kind of public humiliation reserved for the worst criminals and social outcasts. In ancient Middle Eastern culture, plucking someone’s beard (Isaiah 50:6) wasn’t just assault – it was the ultimate insult, designed to strip away a man’s honor and dignity. For the exiles, who felt utterly shamed by their defeat and deportation, hearing about someone who willingly endured such treatment for God’s purposes would have been both shocking and comforting.

Did You Know?

Archaeological discoveries have revealed that in ancient Mesopotamian culture, pulling someone’s beard was considered such a serious offense that it carried legal penalties. The Code of Hammurabi actually prescribes specific punishments for this act of humiliation.

Wrestling with the Text

Here’s something that’s always puzzled me about this chapter: why does the Servant seem so confident about vindication when he’s clearly describing ongoing suffering? Look at Isaiah 50:7-9 – in the same breath, he talks about setting his face “like flint” to endure hardship and declares that his vindicator is “near.”

The Hebrew grammar gives us a clue. The verbs shift back and forth between perfect and imperfect tenses, creating this tension between present suffering and future vindication. It’s like the Servant is living in two time zones simultaneously – experiencing the pain now but seeing the resolution so clearly that he can speak about it as if it’s already happened.

This raises a profound question: what does it mean to trust God’s timing when that timing doesn’t align with our immediate relief? The Servant models something radical here – faith that doesn’t require immediate vindication to remain confident in ultimate vindication.

How This Changes Everything

The most revolutionary aspect of Isaiah 50 isn’t the suffering itself – plenty of people suffer. It’s the voluntary nature of this suffering combined with unwavering trust in God’s purposes. The Servant could have turned back, could have closed his ears to God’s morning-by-morning instruction (verse 4), but he chose differently.

Wait, That’s Strange…

Notice how the chapter opens with God asking, “Where is your mother’s certificate of divorce?” This seems random until you realize it’s God’s way of saying, “Show me the legal paperwork proving I’ve abandoned you.” In ancient law, divorce required documentation. No paperwork = no abandonment. Mind-blowing legal argument!

This completely reframes how we think about difficult seasons in our own lives. The Servant’s experience suggests that sometimes God’s greatest work happens not despite our suffering, but through it. Not because suffering is good in itself, but because willing surrender to God’s purposes – even painful ones – can accomplish things that comfort and ease never could.

“The Servant’s confidence isn’t built on avoiding hardship, but on knowing who holds the outcome.”

Key Takeaway

True spiritual maturity isn’t measured by how little we suffer, but by how we respond to suffering when it comes. Isaiah 50 shows us that willing obedience to God’s purposes, even when it costs us everything, is the pathway to vindication that no human court can provide.

Isaiah Chapter 50

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