The big picture
Isaiah 50 opens in verse 1 with “Thus saith the LORD , Where is the bill of your mother’s divorcement, whom I have put…”, reaches its middle movement near verse 6 with “I gave my back to the smiters, and my cheeks to them that plucked off the hair: I hid…”, and closes in verse 11 with “Behold, all ye that kindle a fire, that compass yourselves about with sparks: walk in…” Repeated or prominent terms include LORD, back, face, fire, hand. Together, those details trace this chapter’s own movement from its opening to its conclusion.
Scripture beside the summary
Isaiah · King James Version · 11Isaiah 50:1-6
1–6: Thus saith the LORD , Where is the bill of your mother’s divorcement…
Isaiah 50:1–6 opens with “Thus saith the LORD , Where is the bill of your mother’s divorcement, whom I have put away? or…” and reaches “I gave my back to the smiters, and my cheeks to them that plucked off the hair: I hid not my…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Isaiah 50 develops its own movement around LORD, back, face, fire, hand, with particular weight carried by LORD, back, learned.
Context that brings the passage to life
This block contains 2 explicit questions. They are more than punctuation: they reveal where a voice is searching, challenging, afraid, or trying to understand.
“Thus saith the LORD , Where is the bill of your mother’s divorcement, whom I have put away? or which of my creditors…” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.
“Wherefore, when I came, was there no man? when I called, was there none to answer? Is my hand shortened at all, that…” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.
Isaiah 50:1-6
King James Version1Thus saith the LORD , Where is the bill of your mother’s divorcement, whom I have put away? or which of my creditors is it to whom I have sold you? Behold, for your iniquities have ye sold yourselves, and for your transgressions is your mother put away.
2Wherefore, when I came, was there no man? when I called, was there none to answer? Is my hand shortened at all, that it cannot redeem? or have I no power to deliver? behold, at my rebuke I dry up the sea, I make the rivers a wilderness: their fish stinketh, because there is no water, and dieth for thirst.
3I clothe the heavens with blackness, and I make sackcloth their covering.
4The Lord GOD hath given me the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak a word in season to him that is weary: he wakeneth morning by morning, he wakeneth mine ear to hear as the learned.
5The Lord GOD hath opened mine ear, and I was not rebellious, neither turned away back.
6I gave my back to the smiters, and my cheeks to them that plucked off the hair: I hid not my face from shame and spitting.
Isaiah 50:7-11
7–11: For the Lord GOD will help me; therefore shall I not be confounded…
Isaiah 50:7–11 opens with “For the Lord GOD will help me; therefore shall I not be confounded: therefore have I set my face…” and reaches “Behold, all ye that kindle a fire, that compass yourselves about with sparks: walk in the light…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Isaiah 50 develops its own movement around LORD, back, face, fire, hand, with particular weight carried by LORD, fire, help.
Context that brings the passage to life
This block contains 3 explicit questions. They are more than punctuation: they reveal where a voice is searching, challenging, afraid, or trying to understand.
“For the Lord GOD will help me; therefore shall I not be confounded: therefore have I set my face like a flint, and I…” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.
Isaiah 50:7-11
King James Version7For the Lord GOD will help me; therefore shall I not be confounded: therefore have I set my face like a flint, and I know that I shall not be ashamed.
8He is near that justifieth me; who will contend with me? let us stand together: who is mine adversary? let him come near to me.
9Behold, the Lord GOD will help me; who is he that shall condemn me? lo, they all shall wax old as a garment; the moth shall eat them up.
10Who is among you that feareth the LORD , that obeyeth the voice of his servant, that walketh in darkness, and hath no light? let him trust in the name of the LORD , and stay upon his God.
11Behold, all ye that kindle a fire, that compass yourselves about with sparks: walk in the light of your fire, and in the sparks that ye have kindled. This shall ye have of mine hand; ye shall lie down in sorrow.
Details worth noticing
The opening image
Isaiah 50:1 begins with “Thus saith the LORD , Where is the bill of your mother’s divorcement, whom I have put away? or which of my creditors is it to whom I have sold you? Behold…”
Where the chapter turns
Isaiah 50:8 forms a natural hinge: “He is near that justifieth me; who will contend with me? let us stand together: who is mine adversary? let him come near to me.”
The final note
Isaiah 50:11 leaves the reader with “Behold, all ye that kindle a fire, that compass yourselves about with sparks: walk in the light of your fire, and in the sparks that ye have kindled. This…”
A word trail through the chapter
The words LORD, back, face, fire, hand, help help reveal the chapter’s repeated concerns.
What makes Joseph's forgiveness concrete?
He refuses retaliation, names the wrong honestly, reassures the brothers and provides for their children.
How does the final coffin lead into Exodus?
Joseph expects divine visitation and departure from Egypt; his burial remains tied to that promised future.
KJV words made clear
- behold
- look, or pay close attention
- hath
- has
- wherefore
- for that reason
Text first
Where readers differ
The chapter summary begins with what the passage says and how its parts fit together. It does not assume one denomination has already settled every question. Where a conclusion depends on a tradition, literary theory, or historical reconstruction, that dependence is named openly.
The KJV text is presented first. Interpretive conclusions are labeled, and differences are introduced only when they help a reader understand why serious communities do not always reach the same answer.
Comparative interpretive notes for this chapter are in preparation. Until reviewed notes are ready, this page separates the KJV text from summary and application without claiming that serious readers agree on every question.