Isaiah Chapter 50 — The Servant's Obedience
The LORD questions the reason for Israel's distance before describing a faithful servant who endures suffering with divine help.
1The LORD says, “Where is the bill of your mother’s divorce, with which I have put her away?
2Why, when I came, was there no one?
3I clothe the heavens with blackness.
4The Lord GOD has given me the tongue of those who are taught,
5The Lord GOD has opened my ear.
6I gave my back to those who beat me,
7For the Lord GOD will help me.
8He who justifies me is near.
9Behold, the Lord GOD will help me!
10Who among you fears the LORD
11Behold, all you who kindle a fire,
WEB Translation
Notable Verses
Isaiah 50:4
“The Lord GOD has given me the tongue of those who are taught, that I may know how to sustain with words him who is weary.”
This verse highlights the servant's purpose of providing comfort and encouragement through divinely inspired wisdom.
Isaiah 50:6
“I 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.”
This describes the servant's voluntary submission to suffering and humiliation while remaining faithful to God.
Isaiah 50:10
“Who among you fears the LORD... Let him trust in the name of the LORD, and rely on his God.”
It provides an exhortation for those in darkness to rely on God's character rather than their own understanding.
Chapter Summary
Isaiah 50 begins with the LORD addressing Israel, questioning why they felt abandoned and why no one responded when He called. He asserts His power over creation, from drying up the sea to clothing the heavens in blackness. The focus then shifts to a first-person account of a servant who has been given a 'tongue of those who are taught' to sustain the weary. This servant describes a life of deep obedience and submission, even in the face of physical abuse and mockery. Despite being beaten and shamed, the servant remains resolute, trusting that the Lord GOD will help and justify him. The chapter concludes by contrasting those who fear the LORD and trust in His light with those who try to guide themselves by their own sparks, warning that the latter will end in sorrow.
Frequently Asked Questions
The LORD uses the metaphor of a divorce decree to show that Israel's separation from Him was not due to His desire to abandon them, but rather because of their own transgressions and iniquities.
The text describes a servant who is perfectly obedient to God, learning from Him daily and enduring physical suffering and mockery without turning back or rebelling.
The servant remains confident and steadfast, believing that because the Lord GOD helps him, he will not be confounded or put to shame by his accusers.
Study Note
Isaiah 50 is considered the third of the four 'Servant Songs' in the book of Isaiah, focusing on the servant's education and persistence through trial.
Related Chapters
Isaiah 53
This chapter provides a more detailed description of the suffering servant mentioned in chapter 50.
Matthew 26
The physical trials described in Isaiah 50:6 are often compared to the events of the Passion of Jesus.
Psalm 22
Another passage where a righteous individual expresses trust in God while facing mockery and physical distress.
Continue in the App
Get the full experience — immersive audio, instant explanations, highlights, notes, and reading plans.