Isaiah 50:2

Authorized King James Version

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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.

Original Language Analysis

מַדּ֨וּעַ H4069
מַדּ֨וּעַ
Strong's: H4069
Word #: 1 of 29
what (is) known?; i.e., (by implication) (adverbially) why?
בָּ֜אתִי Wherefore when I came H935
בָּ֜אתִי Wherefore when I came
Strong's: H935
Word #: 2 of 29
to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)
וְאֵ֣ין H369
וְאֵ֣ין
Strong's: H369
Word #: 3 of 29
a nonentity; generally used as a negative particle
אִ֗ישׁ was there no man H376
אִ֗ישׁ was there no man
Strong's: H376
Word #: 4 of 29
a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term (and in such cases frequently not expressed in translation)
קָרָֽאתִי֮ when I called H7121
קָרָֽאתִי֮ when I called
Strong's: H7121
Word #: 5 of 29
to call out to (i.e., properly, address by name, but used in a wide variety of applications)
וְאֵ֣ין H369
וְאֵ֣ין
Strong's: H369
Word #: 6 of 29
a nonentity; generally used as a negative particle
עוֹנֶה֒ was there none to answer H6030
עוֹנֶה֒ was there none to answer
Strong's: H6030
Word #: 7 of 29
properly, to eye or (generally) to heed, i.e., pay attention; by implication, to respond; by extension to begin to speak; specifically to sing, shout,
קָצְרָ֤ה at all H7114
קָצְרָ֤ה at all
Strong's: H7114
Word #: 8 of 29
to dock off, i.e., curtail (transitive or intransitive, literal or figurative); especially to harvest (grass or grain)
קָצְרָ֤ה at all H7114
קָצְרָ֤ה at all
Strong's: H7114
Word #: 9 of 29
to dock off, i.e., curtail (transitive or intransitive, literal or figurative); especially to harvest (grass or grain)
יָדִי֙ Is my hand H3027
יָדִי֙ Is my hand
Strong's: H3027
Word #: 10 of 29
a hand (the open one [indicating power, means, direction, etc.], in distinction from h3709, the closed one); used (as noun, adverb, etc.) in a great v
מִפְּד֔וּת that it cannot redeem H6304
מִפְּד֔וּת that it cannot redeem
Strong's: H6304
Word #: 11 of 29
distinction; also deliverance
וְאִם H518
וְאִם
Strong's: H518
Word #: 12 of 29
used very widely as demonstrative, lo!; interrogative, whether?; or conditional, if, although; also oh that!, when; hence, as a negative, not
אֵֽין H369
אֵֽין
Strong's: H369
Word #: 13 of 29
a nonentity; generally used as a negative particle
בִּ֥י H0
בִּ֥י
Strong's: H0
Word #: 14 of 29
כֹ֖חַ or have I no power H3581
כֹ֖חַ or have I no power
Strong's: H3581
Word #: 15 of 29
vigor, literally (force, in a good or a bad sense) or figuratively (capacity, means, produce)
לְהַצִּ֑יל to deliver H5337
לְהַצִּ֑יל to deliver
Strong's: H5337
Word #: 16 of 29
to snatch away, whether in a good or a bad sense
הֵ֣ן H2005
הֵ֣ן
Strong's: H2005
Word #: 17 of 29
lo!; also (as expressing surprise) if
בְּגַעֲרָתִ֞י behold at my rebuke H1606
בְּגַעֲרָתִ֞י behold at my rebuke
Strong's: H1606
Word #: 18 of 29
a chiding
אַחֲרִ֣יב I dry up H2717
אַחֲרִ֣יב I dry up
Strong's: H2717
Word #: 19 of 29
to parch (through drought) i.e., (by analogy,) to desolate, destroy, kill
יָ֗ם the sea H3220
יָ֗ם the sea
Strong's: H3220
Word #: 20 of 29
a sea (as breaking in noisy surf) or large body of water; specifically (with the article), the mediterranean sea; sometimes a large river, or an artif
אָשִׂ֤ים I make H7760
אָשִׂ֤ים I make
Strong's: H7760
Word #: 21 of 29
to put (used in a great variety of applications, literal, figurative, inferentially, and elliptically)
נְהָרוֹת֙ the rivers H5104
נְהָרוֹת֙ the rivers
Strong's: H5104
Word #: 22 of 29
a stream (including the sea; expectation the nile, euphrates, etc.); figuratively, prosperity
מִדְבָּ֔ר a wilderness H4057
מִדְבָּ֔ר a wilderness
Strong's: H4057
Word #: 23 of 29
a pasture (i.e., open field, whither cattle are driven); by implication, a desert
תִּבְאַ֤שׁ stinketh H887
תִּבְאַ֤שׁ stinketh
Strong's: H887
Word #: 24 of 29
to smell bad; figuratively, to be offensive morally
דְּגָתָם֙ their fish H1710
דְּגָתָם֙ their fish
Strong's: H1710
Word #: 25 of 29
fish
מֵאֵ֣ין H369
מֵאֵ֣ין
Strong's: H369
Word #: 26 of 29
a nonentity; generally used as a negative particle
מַ֔יִם because there is no water H4325
מַ֔יִם because there is no water
Strong's: H4325
Word #: 27 of 29
water; figuratively, juice; by euphemism, urine, semen
וְתָמֹ֖ת and dieth H4191
וְתָמֹ֖ת and dieth
Strong's: H4191
Word #: 28 of 29
to die (literally or figuratively); causatively, to kill
בַּצָּמָֽא׃ for thirst H6772
בַּצָּמָֽא׃ for thirst
Strong's: H6772
Word #: 29 of 29
thirst (literally or figuratively)

Cross References

Isaiah 59:1Behold, the LORD'S hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear:Numbers 11:23And the LORD said unto Moses, Is the LORD'S hand waxed short? thou shalt see now whether my word shall come to pass unto thee or not.Isaiah 66:4I also will choose their delusions, and will bring their fears upon them; because when I called, none did answer; when I spake, they did not hear: but they did evil before mine eyes, and chose that in which I delighted not.Joshua 3:16That the waters which came down from above stood and rose up upon an heap very far from the city Adam, that is beside Zaretan: and those that came down toward the sea of the plain, even the salt sea, failed, and were cut off: and the people passed over right against Jericho.Genesis 18:14Is any thing too hard for the LORD? At the time appointed I will return unto thee, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son.Proverbs 1:24Because I have called, and ye refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no man regarded;Hosea 11:7And my people are bent to backsliding from me: though they called them to the most High, none at all would exalt him.Isaiah 42:15I will make waste mountains and hills, and dry up all their herbs; and I will make the rivers islands, and I will dry up the pools.Isaiah 65:12Therefore will I number you to the sword, and ye shall all bow down to the slaughter: because when I called, ye did not answer; when I spake, ye did not hear; but did evil before mine eyes, and did choose that wherein I delighted not.Isaiah 43:16Thus saith the LORD, which maketh a way in the sea, and a path in the mighty waters;

Analysis & Commentary

The question 'Wherefore, when I came, was there no man? when I called, was there none to answer?' expresses God's surprise at finding no responsive faith. The assurance 'Is my hand shortened at all, that it cannot redeem?' defends divine omnipotence against doubts. The catalog of past deliverances (drying sea, making rivers wilderness) proves God's ability - the problem isn't His power but their unbelief.

Historical Context

This addresses post-exilic questioning of God's willingness or ability to restore Israel to former glory. The Exodus imagery reminds them that the same God who split the Red Sea can certainly defeat Babylon.

Questions for Reflection

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