Isa 50:4 | NETfull | STEP | The 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.

Isaiah 50:4

The Servant Perseveres

4 The sovereign Lord has given me the capacity to be his spokesman, ^{▼▼ Heb “has given to me a tongue of disciples.”} ^{▼▼ Verses 4–11 contain the third of the so-called servant songs, which depict the career of the Lord’s special servant, envisioned as an ideal Israel (49:3) who rescues the exiles and fulfills God’s purposes for the world. Here the servant alludes to opposition (something hinted at in 49:4), but also expresses his determination to persevere with the Lord’s help.}
so that I know how to help the weary. ^{▼▼ Heb “to know [?] the weary with a word.” Comparing it with Arabic and Aramaic cognates yields the meaning of “help, sustain.” Nevertheless, the meaning of עוּת (’ut) is uncertain. The word occurs only here in the OT (see BDB 736 s.v.). Various scholars have suggested an emendation to עָנוֹת (’anot) from עָנָה (’anah, “answer”): “so that I know how to respond kindly to the weary.” Since the Qumran scroll 1QIsa^a and the Vulgate support the MT reading, that reading is retained.}
He wakes me up every morning;
he makes me alert so I can listen attentively as disciples do. ^{▼▼ Heb “he arouses for me an ear, to hear like disciples.”}