Focused Passage

Isaiah 50:1-3

The Obedient Servant Trusts the LORD While Zion Is Called to Walk in His Light

From the LORD’s legal challenge against claims of abandonment, to proof of his redeeming power, to the Servant’s instructed obedience and suffering, to the Servant’s confidence in divine vindication, to a final summons separating those who trust the LORD from those who walk by their own fire.

Berean Standard Bible, Public Domain - Translation notes - Reference sources

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.”

Study Helps

References and Original Words

Verse 1

Original words

This is what כֹּ֣ה׀ H3541 Adverb the LORD יְהוָ֗ה H3068 Noun - proper - masculine singular says אָמַ֣ר H559 Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular Where אֵ֣י H335 Interrogative . . . זֶ֠ה H2088 Pronoun - masculine singular is your mother’s אִמְּכֶם֙ H517 Noun - feminine singular construct | second person masculine plural certificate סֵ֣פֶר H5612 Noun - masculine singular construct of divorce כְּרִית֤וּת H3748 Noun - feminine singular construct with which אֲשֶׁ֣ר H834 Pronoun - relative I sent her away שִׁלַּחְתִּ֔יהָ H7971 Verb - Piel - Perfect - first person common singular | third person feminine singular Or א֚וֹ H176 Conjunction to which מִ֣י H4310 Interrogative of My creditors מִנּוֹשַׁ֔י H5383 Preposition-m | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural construct | first person common singular - אֲשֶׁר־ H834 Pronoun - relative did I sell you מָכַ֥רְתִּי H4376 Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular - אֶתְכֶ֖ם H853 Direct object marker | second person masculine plural Look הֵ֤ן H2005 Interjection you were sold נִמְכַּרְתֶּ֔ם H4376 Verb - Nifal - Perfect - second person masculine plural for your iniquities בַּעֲוֺנֹֽתֵיכֶם֙ H5771 Preposition-b | Noun - common plural construct | second person masculine plural and for your transgressions וּבְפִשְׁעֵיכֶ֖ם H6588 Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b | Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine plural your mother אִמְּכֶֽם׃ H517 Noun - feminine singular construct | second person masculine plural was sent away שֻׁלְּחָ֥ה H7971 Verb - Pual - Perfect - third person feminine singular
Verse 2

Original words

Why מַדּ֨וּעַ H4069 Interrogative was no וְאֵ֣ין H369 Conjunctive waw | Adverb one there אִ֗ישׁ H376 Noun - masculine singular when I arrived בָּ֜אתִי H935 Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular Why did no one וְאֵ֣ין H369 Conjunctive waw | Adverb answer עוֹנֶה֒ H6030 Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular when I called קָרָֽאתִי֮ H7121 Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular Is My hand יָדִי֙ H3027 Noun - feminine singular construct | first person common singular too short הֲקָצ֨וֹר H7114 Verb - Qal - Infinitive absolute . . . קָצְרָ֤ה H7114 Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person feminine singular to redeem you מִפְּד֔וּת H6304 Preposition-m | Noun - feminine singular Or וְאִם־ H518 Conjunction do I lack אֵֽין־ H369 Adverb the strength כֹ֖חַ H3581 Noun - masculine singular to deliver you לְהַצִּ֑יל H5337 Preposition-l | Verb - Hifil - Infinitive construct Behold הֵ֣ן H2005 Interjection My rebuke בְּגַעֲרָתִ֞י H1606 Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular construct | first person common singular dries up אַחֲרִ֣יב H2717 Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - first person common singular the sea יָ֗ם H3220 Noun - masculine singular I turn the rivers נְהָרוֹת֙ H5104 Noun - masculine plural into אָשִׂ֤ים H7760 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common singular a desert מִדְבָּ֔ר H4057 Noun - masculine singular the fish דְּגָתָם֙ H1710 Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine plural rot תִּבְאַ֤שׁ H887 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person feminine singular for lack מֵאֵ֣ין H369 Preposition-m | Adverb of water מַ֔יִם H4325 Noun - masculine plural and die וְתָמֹ֖ת H4191 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive imperfect Jussive - third person feminine singular of thirst בַּצָּמָֽא׃ H6772 Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singular
Verse 3

Original words

I clothe אַלְבִּ֥ישׁ H3847 Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - first person common singular the heavens שָׁמַ֖יִם H8064 Noun - masculine plural in black קַדְר֑וּת H6940 Noun - feminine singular and make אָשִׂ֥ים H7760 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common singular sackcloth וְשַׂ֖ק H8242 Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular their covering כְּסוּתָֽם׃ס H3682 Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine plural

Berean Standard Bible (BSB): CC0 Public Domain Scripture text. Focused passages are drawn from the same reader contract as the full chapter. Reference sources explains external study-link sources.