Isaiah 50:1
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, for your iniquities have ye sold yourselves, and for your transgressions is your mother put away.
Original Language Analysis
כֹּ֣ה׀
H3541
כֹּ֣ה׀
Strong's:
H3541
Word #:
1 of 23
properly, like this, i.e., by implication, (of manner) thus (or so); also (of place) here (or hither); or (of time) now
יְהוָ֗ה
the LORD
H3068
יְהוָ֗ה
the LORD
Strong's:
H3068
Word #:
3 of 23
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
סֵ֣פֶר
Where is the bill
H5612
סֵ֣פֶר
Where is the bill
Strong's:
H5612
Word #:
6 of 23
properly, writing (the art or a document); by implication, a book
כְּרִית֤וּת
divorcement
H3748
כְּרִית֤וּת
divorcement
Strong's:
H3748
Word #:
7 of 23
a cutting (of the matrimonial bond), i.e., divorce
אִמְּכֶֽם׃
is your mother
H517
אִמְּכֶֽם׃
is your mother
Strong's:
H517
Word #:
8 of 23
a mother (as the bond of the family); in a wide sense (both literally and figuratively [like father])
אֲשֶׁ֣ר
H834
אֲשֶׁ֣ר
Strong's:
H834
Word #:
9 of 23
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
שֻׁלְּחָ֥ה
put away
H7971
שֻׁלְּחָ֥ה
put away
Strong's:
H7971
Word #:
10 of 23
to send away, for, or out (in a great variety of applications)
א֚וֹ
H176
א֚וֹ
Strong's:
H176
Word #:
11 of 23
desire (and so probably in proverbs 31:4); hence (by way of alternative) or, also if
מִ֣י
H4310
מִ֣י
Strong's:
H4310
Word #:
12 of 23
who? (occasionally, by a peculiar idiom, of things); also (indefinitely) whoever; often used in oblique construction with prefix or suffix
מִנּוֹשַׁ֔י
or which of my creditors
H5383
מִנּוֹשַׁ֔י
or which of my creditors
Strong's:
H5383
Word #:
13 of 23
to lend or (by reciprocity) borrow on security or interest
אֲשֶׁר
H834
אֲשֶׁר
Strong's:
H834
Word #:
14 of 23
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
נִמְכַּרְתֶּ֔ם
have ye sold
H4376
נִמְכַּרְתֶּ֔ם
have ye sold
Strong's:
H4376
Word #:
15 of 23
to sell, literally (as merchandise, a daughter in marriage, into slavery), or figuratively (to surrender)
אֶתְכֶ֖ם
H853
אֶתְכֶ֖ם
Strong's:
H853
Word #:
16 of 23
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
בַּעֲוֹנֹֽתֵיכֶם֙
you Behold for your iniquities
H5771
בַּעֲוֹנֹֽתֵיכֶם֙
you Behold for your iniquities
Strong's:
H5771
Word #:
19 of 23
perversity, i.e., (moral) evil
נִמְכַּרְתֶּ֔ם
have ye sold
H4376
נִמְכַּרְתֶּ֔ם
have ye sold
Strong's:
H4376
Word #:
20 of 23
to sell, literally (as merchandise, a daughter in marriage, into slavery), or figuratively (to surrender)
וּבְפִשְׁעֵיכֶ֖ם
yourselves and for your transgressions
H6588
וּבְפִשְׁעֵיכֶ֖ם
yourselves and for your transgressions
Strong's:
H6588
Word #:
21 of 23
a revolt (national, moral or religious)
Cross References
Deuteronomy 32:30How should one chase a thousand, and two put ten thousand to flight, except their Rock had sold them, and the LORD had shut them up?Jeremiah 3:8And I saw, when for all the causes whereby backsliding Israel committed adultery I had put her away, and given her a bill of divorce; yet her treacherous sister Judah feared not, but went and played the harlot also.Nehemiah 5:5Yet now our flesh is as the flesh of our brethren, our children as their children: and, lo, we bring into bondage our sons and our daughters to be servants, and some of our daughters are brought unto bondage already: neither is it in our power to redeem them; for other men have our lands and vineyards.Matthew 18:25But forasmuch as he had not to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife, and children, and all that he had, and payment to be made.2 Kings 4:1Now there cried a certain woman of the wives of the sons of the prophets unto Elisha, saying, Thy servant my husband is dead; and thou knowest that thy servant did fear the LORD: and the creditor is come to take unto him my two sons to be bondmen.Isaiah 52:3For thus saith the LORD, Ye have sold yourselves for nought; and ye shall be redeemed without money.Psalms 44:12Thou sellest thy people for nought, and dost not increase thy wealth by their price.Jeremiah 4:18Thy way and thy doings have procured these things unto thee; this is thy wickedness, because it is bitter, because it reacheth unto thine heart.Jeremiah 3:1They say, If a man put away his wife, and she go from him, and become another man's, shall he return unto her again? shall not that land be greatly polluted? but thou hast played the harlot with many lovers; yet return again to me, saith the LORD.2 Kings 17:17And they caused their sons and their daughters to pass through the fire, and used divination and enchantments, and sold themselves to do evil in the sight of the LORD, to provoke him to anger.
Historical Context
Exilic despair questioned whether God divorced Israel permanently. Isaiah clarifies that exile was temporary discipline for sin, not covenant dissolution. This grounds hope for restoration and anticipates Hosea's remarriage imagery (Hosea 2:19-20).
Questions for Reflection
- How does knowing God never 'divorced' His people despite their sin assure you of eternal security in Christ?
- In what ways have you 'sold yourself' to sin while blaming God for consequences?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
God's rhetorical question 'Where is the bill of your mother's divorcement, whom I have put away?' asserts that He never broke covenant despite Israel's exile. The 'bill of divorcement' (Deuteronomy 24:1) was required for legal separation, but God produced none - the relationship suspension was discipline, not abandonment. The accusation 'for your iniquities have ye sold yourselves' shifts blame to Israel's sin, not God's unfaithfulness.