Isa 50:4-11 | 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 50:4-11

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.”}
5 The sovereign Lord has spoken to me clearly; ^{▼▼ Or perhaps, “makes me obedient.” The text reads literally, “has opened for me an ear.”}
I have not rebelled,
I have not turned back.
6 I offered my back to those who attacked, ^{▼▼ Or perhaps, “who beat [me].”}
my jaws to those who tore out my beard;
I did not hide my face
from insults and spitting.
7 But the sovereign Lord helps me,
so I am not humiliated.
For that reason I am steadfastly resolved; ^{▼▼ Heb “Therefore I set my face like flint.”}
I know I will not be put to shame.
8 The one who vindicates me is close by.
Who dares to argue with me? Let us confront each other! ^{▼▼ Heb “Let us stand together!”}
Who is my accuser? ^{▼▼ Heb “Who is the master of my judgment?”} Let him challenge me! ^{▼▼ Heb “let him approach me”; NAB, NIV “Let him confront me.”}
9 Look, the sovereign Lord helps me.
Who dares to condemn me?
Look, all of them will wear out like clothes;
a moth will eat away at them.
10 Who among you fears the Lord?
Who obeys ^{▼▼ Heb “[who] listens to the voice of his servant?” The interrogative is understood by ellipsis (note the preceding line).} his servant?
Whoever walks in deep darkness, ^{▼▼ The plural indicates degree. Darkness may refer to exile and/or moral evil.}
without light,
should trust in the name of the Lord
and rely on his God.
11 Look, all of you who start a fire
and who equip yourselves with ^{▼▼ Several more recent commentators have proposed an emendation of מְאַזְּרֵי (m^e’azz^ere, “who put on”) to מְאִירִי (m^e’iri, “who light”). However, both Qumran scrolls of Isaiah and the Vulgate support the MT reading (cf. NIV, ESV).} flaming arrows, ^{▼▼ On the meaning of זִיקוֹת (ziqot, “flaming arrows”), see HALOT 268 s.v. זִיקוֹת.}
walk ^{▼▼ The imperative is probably rhetorical and has a predictive force.} in the light ^{▼▼ Or perhaps, “flame” (so ASV).} of the fire you started
and among the flaming arrows you ignited! ^{▼▼ Perhaps the servant here speaks to his enemies and warns them that they will self-destruct.}
This is what you will receive from me: ^{▼▼ Heb “from my hand” (so NAB, NASB, NIV, NRSV).}
you will lie down in a place of pain. ^{▼▼ The imagery may be that of a person who becomes ill and is forced to lie down in pain on a sickbed. Some see this as an allusion to a fiery place of damnation because of the imagery employed earlier in the verse.}