---
title: "Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible -  Isaiah 50"
description: "CHAPTER 50   :-. THE JUDGMENTS
ON ISRAEL WERE
PROVOKED BY THEIR
CRIMES, YET THEY
ARE NOT
FINALLY CAST
OFF BY GOD. 1. Where . . . mothers
divorcement—Zion"
image: "/images/missing.jpg"
url: "https://realbiblebelievers.com/commentaries/commentary-critical-and-explanatory-on-the-whole-bible/isaiah/50"
---

CHAPTER 50

. THE JUDGMENTS
ON ISRAEL WERE
PROVOKED BY THEIR
CRIMES, YET THEY
ARE NOT
FINALLY CAST
OFF BY GOD.

**1. Where . . . mothers
divorcement**—Zion is "the mother"; the Jews are the
children; and God the Husband and Father ([Isaiah 54:5](../../../kjv/isaiah/54/5);
[Isaiah 62:5](../../../kjv/isaiah/62/5); [Jeremiah 3:14](../../../kjv/jeremiah/3/14)).
GESENIUS thinks that God
means by the question to *deny* that He had given "a bill
of divorcement" to her, as was often done on slight pretexts by
a husband ([Deuteronomy 24:1](../../../kjv/deuteronomy/24/1)), or that He
had "sold" His and her "children," as a poor
parent sometimes did ([Exodus 21:7](../../../kjv/exodus/21/7);
[2 Kings 4:1](../../../kjv/2-kings/4/1); [Nehemiah 5:5](../../../kjv/nehemiah/5/5))
under pressure of his "creditors"; that it was they who
sold themselves through their own sins. MAURER
explains, "*Show* the bill of your mother's divorcement,
whom . . . ; produce the creditors to whom ye have been sold; so it
will be seen that it was not from any caprice of Mine, but through
your own fault, your mother has been put away, and you sold"
([Isaiah 52:3](../../../kjv/isaiah/52/3)). HORSLEY
best explains (as the antithesis between "I" and
"yourselves" shows, though LOWTH
translates, "Ye *are sold*") *I* have never given
your mother a regular bill of divorcement; I have merely "put
her away" for a time, and can, therefore, by right as her
husband still take her back on her submission; I have not made you,
the children, over to any "creditor" to satisfy a debt; I
therefore still have the right of a father over you, and can take you
back on repentance, though as rebellious children *you* have
sold yourselves to sin and its penalty ([Isaiah 52:3](../../../kjv/isaiah/52/3)).
**bill . . . whom**—rather,
"the bill *with which* I have put *her* away"
[MAURER].

**2. I**—Messiah.
**no man**—willing to
believe in and obey Me ([Isaiah 52:1](../../../kjv/isaiah/52/1);
[Isaiah 52:3](../../../kjv/isaiah/52/3)). The same Divine Person
had "come" by His prophets in the Old Testament (appealing
to them, but in vain, [Jeremiah 7:25](../../../kjv/jeremiah/7/25);
[Jeremiah 7:26](../../../kjv/jeremiah/7/26)), who was about to come
under the New Testament.
**hand shortened**—the
Oriental emblem of weakness, as the long *stretched-out hand* is
of power ([Isaiah 59:1](../../../kjv/isaiah/59/1)).
Notwithstanding your sins, I can still "redeem" you from
your bondage and dispersion.
**dry up . . . sea**— ([Isaiah 59:1](../../../kjv/isaiah/59/1)). The second exodus shall exceed, while it resembles in
wonders, the first ([Isaiah 11:11](../../../kjv/isaiah/11/11);
[Isaiah 11:15](../../../kjv/isaiah/11/15); [Isaiah 51:15](../../../kjv/isaiah/51/15)).
**make . . . rivers . . .
wilderness**—turn the prosperity of Israel's foes into adversity.
**fish stinketh**—the very
judgment inflicted on their Egyptian enemies at the first exodus
([Exodus 7:18](../../../kjv/exodus/7/18); [Exodus 7:21](../../../kjv/exodus/7/21)).

**3. heavens . . . blackness**—another
of the judgments on Egypt to be repeated hereafter on the last enemy
of God's people ([Exodus 10:21](../../../kjv/exodus/10/21)).
**sackcloth**— ([Exodus 10:21](../../../kjv/exodus/10/21)).

**4.** Messiah, as "the servant
of Jehovah" ([Isaiah 42:1](../../../kjv/isaiah/42/1)),
declares that the office has been assigned to Him of encouraging the
"weary" exiles of Israel by "words in season"
suited to their case; and that, whatever suffering it is to cost
Himself, He does not shrink from it ([Isaiah 50:5](../../../kjv/isaiah/50/5);
[Isaiah 50:6](../../../kjv/isaiah/50/6)), for that He knows His
cause will triumph at last ([Isaiah 50:7](../../../kjv/isaiah/50/7);
[Isaiah 50:8](../../../kjv/isaiah/50/8)).
**learned**—not in mere
human learning, but in divinely taught modes of instruction and
eloquence ([Isaiah 49:2](../../../kjv/isaiah/49/2); [Exodus 4:11](../../../kjv/exodus/4/11);
[Matthew 7:28](../../../kjv/matthew/7/28); [Matthew 7:29](../../../kjv/matthew/7/29);
[Matthew 13:54](../../../kjv/matthew/13/54)).
**speak a word in season**—
([Proverbs 15:23](../../../kjv/proverbs/15/23); [Proverbs 25:11](../../../kjv/proverbs/25/11)).
Literally, "to succor by words," namely, in their season of
need, the "weary" dispersed ones of Israel ([Proverbs 25:11](../../../kjv/proverbs/25/11)). Also, the spiritual "weary" ([Isaiah 42:3](../../../kjv/isaiah/42/3);
[Matthew 11:28](../../../kjv/matthew/11/28)).
**wakeneth morning by morning,**
c.—Compare "daily rising up early" ([Jeremiah 7:25](../../../kjv/jeremiah/7/25)
[Mark 1:35](../../../kjv/mark/1/35)). The image is drawn
from a master *wakening* his pupils early for instruction.
**wakeneth . . . ear**—prepares
me for receiving His divine instructions.
**as the learned**—as one
taught by Him. He "learned obedience," experimentally, "by
the things which He suffered"; thus gaining that practical
learning which *adapted* Him for "speaking a word in
season" to suffering men ([Mark 1:35](../../../kjv/mark/1/35)).

**5. opened . . . ear**—(See on
[Isaiah 50:4](../../../kjv/isaiah/50/4); [Isaiah 50:4](../../../kjv/isaiah/50/4)); that is, hath made me *obediently attentive* (but
MAURER, "hath
*informed me of my duty*"), as a *servant* to his
master (compare [Psalms 40:6-8](../../../kjv/psalms/40/6-8);
[Philippians 2:7](../../../kjv/philippians/2/7); [Isaiah 42:1](../../../kjv/isaiah/42/1);
[Isaiah 49:3](../../../kjv/isaiah/49/3); [Isaiah 49:6](../../../kjv/isaiah/49/6);
[Isaiah 52:13](../../../kjv/isaiah/52/13); [Isaiah 53:11](../../../kjv/isaiah/53/11);
[Matthew 20:28](../../../kjv/matthew/20/28); [Luke 22:27](../../../kjv/luke/22/27)).
**not rebellious**—but, on
the contrary, most willing to do the Father's will in proclaiming and
procuring salvation for man, at the cost of His own sufferings ([Luke 22:27](../../../kjv/luke/22/27)).

**6. smiters**—with scourges and
with the open hand ([Isaiah 52:14](../../../kjv/isaiah/52/14);
[Mark 14:65](../../../kjv/mark/14/65)). Literally fulfilled
([Matthew 27:26](../../../kjv/matthew/27/26); [Matthew 26:27](../../../kjv/matthew/26/27);
[Luke 18:33](../../../kjv/luke/18/33)). To "pluck the
hair" is the highest insult that can be offered an Oriental
([2 Samuel 10:4](../../../kjv/2-samuel/10/4); [Lamentations 3:30](../../../kjv/lamentations/3/30)).
"I gave" implies the voluntary nature of His sufferings;
His example corresponds to His precept ([Lamentations 3:30](../../../kjv/lamentations/3/30)).
**spitting**—To spit in
another's presence is an insult in the East, much more on one; most
of all in the face ([Job 30:10](../../../kjv/job/30/10);
[Matthew 27:30](../../../kjv/matthew/27/30); [Luke 18:32](../../../kjv/luke/18/32)).

**7.** Sample of His not being
"discouraged" ([Isaiah 42:4](../../../kjv/isaiah/42/4);
[Isaiah 49:5](../../../kjv/isaiah/49/5)).
**set . . . face like . . .
flint**—set Myself resolutely, not to be daunted from My work of
love by shame or suffering ([Ezekiel 3:8](../../../kjv/ezekiel/3/8);
[Ezekiel 3:9](../../../kjv/ezekiel/3/9)).

**8.** (). The believer, by virtue of his oneness with Christ, uses
the same language ([Psalms 138:8](../../../kjv/psalms/138/8);
[Romans 8:32-34](../../../kjv/romans/8/32-34)). But "justify"
in *His* case, is God's judicial acceptance and vindication of
Him on the ground of *His own* righteousness ([Luke 23:44-47](../../../kjv/luke/23/44-47);
[Romans 1:4](../../../kjv/romans/1/4); [1 Timothy 3:16](../../../kjv/1-timothy/3/16),
with which compare [1 Peter 3:18](../../../kjv/1-peter/3/18));
in *their* case, on the ground of His righteousness and
meritorious death *imputed* to them ([1 Peter 3:18](../../../kjv/1-peter/3/18)).
**stand together**—in
judgment, to try the issue.
**adversary**—literally,
"master of my cause," that is, who has real ground of
accusation against me, so that he can demand judgment to be given in
his favor (compare [Zechariah 3:1](../../../kjv/zechariah/3/1);
[Revelation 12:10](../../../kjv/revelation/12/10)).

**9.** (Compare "deal," or
"proper," [Isaiah 52:13](../../../kjv/isaiah/52/13),
*Margin;* [Isaiah 53:10](../../../kjv/isaiah/53/10); [Psalms 118:6](../../../kjv/psalms/118/6);
[Jeremiah 23:5](../../../kjv/jeremiah/23/5)).
**as a garment**— ([Isaiah 51:6](../../../kjv/isaiah/51/6);
[Isaiah 51:8](../../../kjv/isaiah/51/8); [Psalms 102:26](../../../kjv/psalms/102/26)).
A leading constituent of wealth in the East is change of raiment,
which is always liable to the inroads of the moth; hence the
frequency of the image in Scripture.

**10.** Messiah exhorts the godly
after His example ([Isaiah 49:4](../../../kjv/isaiah/49/4);
[Isaiah 49:5](../../../kjv/isaiah/49/5); [Isaiah 42:4](../../../kjv/isaiah/42/4))
when in circumstances of trial ("darkness," [Isaiah 42:4](../../../kjv/isaiah/42/4)), to trust in the arm of Jehovah alone.
**Who is,** c.—that is,
Whosoever ([Judges 7:3](../../../kjv/judges/7/3)).
**obeyeth . . . servant**—namely,
Messiah. The godly "honor the Son, even as they honor the
Father" ([John 5:23](../../../kjv/john/5/23)).
**darkness**— ([Micah 7:8](../../../kjv/micah/7/8)
[Micah 7:9](../../../kjv/micah/7/9)). God never had a son who
was not sometimes in the dark. For even Christ, His only Son, cried
out, "My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me?"
**light**—rather,
"splendor"; bright sunshine; for the servant of God is
never wholly without "light" [VITRINGA].
A godly man's way may be dark, but his end shall be peace and light.
A wicked man's way may be bright, but his end shall be utter darkness
([Psalms 112:4](../../../kjv/psalms/112/4); [Psalms 97:11](../../../kjv/psalms/97/11);
[Psalms 37:24](../../../kjv/psalms/37/24)).
**let him trust in the name of
the Lord**—as Messiah did ([Isaiah 50:8](../../../kjv/isaiah/50/8);
[Isaiah 50:9](../../../kjv/isaiah/50/9)).

**11.** In contrast to the godly
([Isaiah 50:10](../../../kjv/isaiah/50/10)), the wicked, in
times of darkness, instead of trusting in God, trust in themselves
(*kindle a light* for themselves to walk by) ([Isaiah 50:10](../../../kjv/isaiah/50/10)). The image is continued from [Isaiah 50:10](../../../kjv/isaiah/50/10), "darkness"; human devices for salvation ([Proverbs 19:21](../../../kjv/proverbs/19/21);
[Proverbs 16:9](../../../kjv/proverbs/16/9); [Proverbs 16:25](../../../kjv/proverbs/16/25))
are like the spark that goes out in an instant in darkness (compare
[Job 18:6](../../../kjv/job/18/6); [Job 21:17](../../../kjv/job/21/17);
[Psalms 18:28](../../../kjv/psalms/18/28)).
**sparks**—not a steady
light, but blazing sparks extinguished in a moment.
**walk**—not a command, but
implying that *as surely as they would do so,* they should lie
down in sorrow ([Jeremiah 3:25](../../../kjv/jeremiah/3/25)). In
exact proportion to mystic Babylon's previous "glorifying"
of herself shall be her sorrow ([Matthew 25:30](../../../kjv/matthew/25/30);
[Matthew 8:12](../../../kjv/matthew/8/12); [Revelation 18:7](../../../kjv/revelation/18/7)).

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