Isaiah 50:2
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.
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.”
4 The Lord GOD has given Me the tongue of discipleship, to sustain the weary with a word. He awakens Me morning by morning; He awakens My ear to listen as a disciple.
This was said to Israel at a particular time, so it is wise to read it together with the surrounding text. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.
Compare
- BSB
- 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.
- KJV
- Wherefore, 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.
- WEB
- Why, when I came, was there no one? When I called, why was there no one to answer? Is my hand shortened at all, that it can’t 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 stink because there is no water, and die of thirst.
- ASV
- Wherefore, 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 stink, because there is no water, and die for thirst.
- DARBY
- Wherefore did I come, and there was no man? I called, and there was none to answer? Is my hand at all shortened that I cannot redeem, or have I no power to deliver? behold, at my rebuke I dry up the sea, I make rivers a wilderness; their fish stink because there is no water, and die for thirst.
- BLB
- Why, did I come, and [there was] no man? [Why] did I call, and there was no one answering? [Is] My hand too short to redeem? Or is there not in Me power to deliver? Behold, by My rebuke I dry up the sea; I make the rivers a desert—their fish stink for lack of water and die of thirst.
- ÅB
- Hvorfor var det ingen til stede da jeg kom? Hvorfor var det ingen som svarte da jeg ropte? Er min hånd for kort til å forløse, eller er det ingen kraft hos meg til å frelse? Se, ved min trusel tørker jeg ut havet, gjør jeg elver til en ørk, så fiskene i dem stinker, fordi der intet vann er, og dør av tørst;
- OTB
- Hvorfor var det ingen der når jeg kom? Når jeg kalte, hvorfor svarte ingen? Er min arm for kort til å forløse? Mangler jeg kraft til å redde? Ved min irettesettelse tørker jeg opp havet, gjør elver til en ørken; deres fisk råtner av mangel på vann og dør av tørst.
- B1930
- Hvorfor var det ingen til stede da jeg kom? Hvorfor var det ingen som svarte da jeg ropte? Er min hånd for kort til å forløse, eller er det ingen kraft hos mig til å frelse? Se, ved min trusel tørker jeg ut havet, gjør jeg elver til en ørk, så fiskene i dem stinker, fordi der intet vann er, og dør av tørst;
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
Isaiah 59:1
Surely the arm of the LORD is not too short to save, nor His ear too dull to hear.
Read in contextIsaiah 66:4
So I will choose their punishment and I will bring terror upon them, because I called and no one answered, I spoke and no one listened. But they did evil in My sight and chose that in which I did not delight.”
Read in contextNumbers 11:23
The LORD answered Moses, “Is the LORD’s arm too short? Now you will see whether or not My word will come to pass.”
Read in contextJoshua 3:16
the flowing water stood still. It backed up as far upstream as Adam, a city in the area of Zarethan, while the water flowing toward the Sea of the Arabah (the Salt Sea ) was completely cut off. So the people crossed over opposite Jericho.
Read in contextGenesis 18:14
Is anything too difficult for the LORD? At the appointed time I will return to you—in about a year—and Sarah will have a son.”
Read in contextProverbs 1:24
Because you refused my call, and no one took my outstretched hand,
Read in contextExodus 14:21
Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and all that night the LORD drove back the sea with a strong east wind that turned it into dry land. So the waters were divided,
Read in contextIsaiah 43:16
Thus says the LORD, who makes a way in the sea and a path through the surging waters,
Read in context