50:1 divorce document of your mother’s divorce The rhetorical question indicates the absence of a certificate of divorce; therefore, Yahweh had not divorced Israel. Yahweh is reassuring the exiles that He has not permanently abandoned them.

to whom of my creditors did I sell you? Israelites could sell themselves or their children into slavery to pay off debt. In the absence of other property to secure a debt, the pledge of debt slavery could be used for security.

50:2 no one who answered Yahweh calls out for His people, but encounters silence. Israel was blind and deaf to the seriousness of their sins in Isa 42:18–23. They felt abandoned by God, and doubted His ability to save them (49:14).

by my rebuke I dry up the sea Yahweh alludes to His power demonstrated against Egypt in the exodus when He made a dry path through the Red Sea (see Exod 14:21–22).

their fish stink because there is no water The first plague in the exodus turned the water of the Nile River into blood. The water was unusable, and the fish all died (see Exod 7:20–21).

50:3 I clothe the heavens with darkness An allusion to the plague of darkness in Exod 10:21–22. Allusions here to the first plague and the ninth plague (second to last but for death of the firstborn) likely function to remind Israel of Yahweh’s full demonstration of His power against Egypt through the plagues.

50:4 me The first-person speaker changes from Yahweh to the Servant. The shift in speaker is marked by the reference to Yahweh now in the third person.

the tongue of a pupil The Servant claims He is a disciple of God Himself and credits God for His knowledgeable speech. A disciple’s role was to learn from his master and accurately transmit the traditions learned from him. The Servant learns from God—as Israel should have—and is capable of passing on God’s word (again, as Israel should have).

help the weary with a word The power in the Servant’s word is comparable to the promised renewal coming to those who waited on Yahweh in Isa 40:31. The Servant both perfectly fulfills the role God had assigned to Israel, and is the one they have been waiting for to inaugurate His salvation.

50:6 my back to those who struck The account of the rejection and abuse of the Servant intensifies (see 49:7), and will climax in the final Servant Song (52:13–53:12). God’s messengers frequently met with opposition to their message because the true word of God against the nation was judgment and the need for repentance. The Servant is beaten and insulted, yet remains faithful to Yahweh. His attitude contrasts with the nation that complains of being forsaken by Yahweh after being taken captive and likely mistreated.

50:7 I have set my face like flint The Servant’s faith in Yahweh will not be shaken, and is just as strong as Israel’s stubborn unwillingness to repent (48:4).

50:8 he who obtains rights for me is near The Servant’s sufferings are the result of the guilt of others. He will be vindicated once the truth is known. The Servant’s call for a legal hearing where His innocence will be proven is reminiscent of Job’s yearning for vindication (see Job 13:18–28; 31:35).

50:9 All of them will be worn out Contrasts the eternal with the temporal. Earthly accusers and critics will pass away in time, but the help of God alone supports the Servant (compare Job 13:28).

50:10 Who among you is in fear of Yahweh, obeys the voice of his servant? True wisdom is found in fearing Yahweh (Prov 1:7). Since the Servant has been taught the proper way to live to please God (Isa 50:4), His words should be obeyed. The prophet issues the call to obey the Servant in response to the Servant Song in vv. 4–9.

Fearing God in the Old Testament

the voice of his servant See v. 4. The Servant acts as God’s agent, and is sent to restore Israel’s relationship. Obeying the Servant is a sign of trusting and fearing Yahweh.

walks in darkness Those in darkness should wait for the light of the Messiah. Human attempts to conquer the darkness are condemned in v. 11. Compare 9:2. Yahweh will provide the guidance through the darkness (see 42:16).