Chapter Overview
Summary
Isaiah 50 contains the THIRD SERVANT-SONG (vv. 4–9). Verse 6 — 'I gave my back to those who strike, and my cheeks to those who pull out the beard; I hid not my face from disgrace and spitting' — Christologically-anticipates Jesus' passion (Matt 26:67, 27:30). The Servant's-set-face-like-flint (v. 7) parallels Luke 9:51 ('he set his face to go to Jerusalem').
Notable Variants
50:4–9 THIRD SERVANT-SONG; 50:6 'gave my back to those who strike' → Matt 26:67 / 27:30 Christ's-passion; 50:7 'set my face like flint' → Luke 9:51 Christ's-Jerusalem-determination; 50:8 'he who vindicates me is near' → Romans 8:33–34 echo.
Structural Notes
MT Isaiah 50 = LXX Isaiah 50. 11 verses. THIRD SERVANT-SONG.
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 have I sold you? Behold, for your iniquities you were sold, and for your transgressions your mother was sent away.'
'Thus says the LORD: Where is your mother's certificate of divorce, with which I sent her away? Or which of my creditors is it to whom I have sold you? Behold, for your iniquities you were sold, and for your transgressions your mother was sent away' tracks MT.
Why, when I came, was there no one? When I called, was there none to answer? Is my hand too short to ransom? Have I no power to deliver? Behold, by my rebuke I dry up the sea; I make rivers a desert. Their fish stink for lack of water and die of thirst.
'Why, when I came, was there no man; why, when I called, was there no one to answer? Is my hand shortened, that it cannot redeem? Or have I no power to deliver? Behold, by my rebuke I dry up the sea, I make the rivers a desert; their fish stink for lack of water and die of thirst' tracks MT. HAND-NOT-SHORTENED. Numbers 11:23 ('is the LORD's hand shortened?') parallel.
I clothe the heavens with blackness and make sackcloth their covering.
'I clothe the heavens with blackness and make sackcloth their covering' tracks MT. Matt 27:45 (crucifixion-darkness) extends.
The Lord GOD has given me the tongue of those who are taught, that I may know how to sustain the weary with a word. Morning by morning He awakens — He awakens my ear to hear as those who are taught.
'The Lord GOD has given me the tongue of those who are taught, that I may know how to sustain with a word him who is weary. Morning by morning he awakens; he awakens my ear to hear as those who are taught' tracks MT. TONGUE-OF-THE-TAUGHT. Servant-Song-3 begins. Morning-by-morning awakening — the disciplined-divine-discipleship pattern.
The Lord GOD has opened my ear, and I was not rebellious; I did not turn backward.
'The Lord GOD has opened my ear, and I was not rebellious; I turned not backward' tracks MT. NOT-REBELLIOUS / NOT-TURN-BACK. Christologically Christ's-obedience-to-the-Father (Phil 2:8 'obedient to the point of death').
I gave my back to those who strike, and my cheeks to those who pull out the beard. I did not hide my face from disgrace and spitting.
Masoretic (WLC)
גֵּוִי נָתַתִּי לְמַכִּים וּלְחָיַי לְמֹרְטִים פָּנַי לֹא הִסְתַּרְתִּי מִכְּלִמּוֹת וָרֹק
I gave my back to those who strike, and my cheeks to those who pull out the beard; I hid not my face from disgrace and spitting
Septuagint (LXX)
τὸν νῶτόν μου δέδωκα εἰς μάστιγας τὰς δὲ σιαγόνας μου εἰς ῥαπίσματα τὸ δὲ πρόσωπόν μου οὐκ ἀπέστρεψα ἀπὸ αἰσχύνης ἐμπτυσμάτων
I gave my back to scourges, and my cheeks to blows; and I did not turn away my face from the shame of spitting
MAJOR CHRISTOLOGICAL PROPHECY OF JESUS' PASSION. Three-fold-passion-detail: (1) STRIKING-OF-BACK — Matthew 27:26's flogging, John 19:1's scourging; (2) STRIKING-OF-CHEEKS — Matthew 26:67 ('they spit in his face and struck him; some slapped him'); (3) SPITTING — Matt 26:67, 27:30, Mark 14:65, 15:19. Each-detail of-Christ's-passion is-prophetically-described-here. The Servant-Christology directly fulfilled-in-Christ's-arrest-and-trial.
But the Lord GOD helps me; therefore I have not been disgraced. Therefore I have set my face like flint, and I know that I shall not be put to shame.
'But the Lord GOD helps me; therefore I have not been disgraced; therefore I have set my face like a flint, and I know that I shall not be put to shame' tracks MT. SET-MY-FACE-LIKE-FLINT. Luke 9:51 ('he set his face to go to Jerusalem') Christologically-extends. Christ's-determination-toward-the-cross.
He who vindicates me is near. Who will contend with me? Let us stand up together. Who is my accuser? Let him come near to me.
'He who vindicates me is near. Who will contend with me? Let us stand up together. Who is my adversary? Let him come near to me' tracks MT. WHO-WILL-CONTEND-WITH-ME. Romans 8:33–34 ('Who shall bring any charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn?') Christologically-extends — directly-echoing-this-courtroom-language.
Behold, the Lord GOD helps me; who will declare me guilty? Behold, they will all wear out like a garment; the moth will consume them.
'Behold, the Lord GOD helps me; who will declare me guilty? Behold, all of them will wear out like a garment; the moth will eat them up' tracks MT. WEAR-OUT-LIKE-GARMENT. Matt 6:19's moth-and-rust echoes.
Who among you fears the LORD and obeys the voice of His servant? Let him who walks in darkness and has no light trust in the name of the LORD and rely upon his God.
'Who among you fears the LORD and obeys the voice of his servant? Let him who walks in darkness and has no light trust in the name of the LORD and rely on his God' tracks MT.
Behold, all you who kindle a fire, who arm yourselves with firebrands — walk by the light of your fire and among the sparks you have kindled! This you shall have from my hand: you shall lie down in torment.
'Behold, all you who kindle a fire, who equip yourselves with burning torches! Walk by the light of your fire, and by the torches that you have kindled! This you have from my hand: you shall lie down in torment' tracks MT. SELF-MADE-LIGHT failure. Matt 25:8 ('our lamps are going out') extends.