King James Version

What Does Isaiah 50:2 Mean?

Isaiah 50:2 in the King James Version says “Wherefore, when I came, was there no man? when I called, was there none to answer? Is my hand shortened at all, that it ... — study this verse from Isaiah chapter 50 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

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.

Isaiah 50:2 · KJV


Context

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.

2

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.

3

I clothe the heavens with blackness, and I make sackcloth their covering.

4

The 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.


Commentary

KJV Study 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.

KJV Study — Public Domain

Historical & Cultural 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.

Reflection Questions

  1. When God comes to you, do you respond with faith or find excuses for unbelief?
  2. How does rehearsing God's past mighty acts strengthen faith that His 'hand is not shortened' for present needs?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 29 words
מַדּ֨וּעַ1 of 29
H4069

what (is) known?; i.e., (by implication) (adverbially) why?

בָּ֜אתִי2 of 29

Wherefore when I came

H935

to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)

וְאֵ֣ין3 of 29
H369

a nonentity; generally used as a negative particle

אִ֗ישׁ4 of 29

was there no man

H376

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)

קָרָֽאתִי֮5 of 29

when I called

H7121

to call out to (i.e., properly, address by name, but used in a wide variety of applications)

וְאֵ֣ין6 of 29
H369

a nonentity; generally used as a negative particle

עוֹנֶה֒7 of 29

was there none to answer

H6030

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,

קָצְרָ֤ה8 of 29

at all

H7114

to dock off, i.e., curtail (transitive or intransitive, literal or figurative); especially to harvest (grass or grain)

קָצְרָ֤ה9 of 29

at all

H7114

to dock off, i.e., curtail (transitive or intransitive, literal or figurative); especially to harvest (grass or grain)

יָדִי֙10 of 29

Is my hand

H3027

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

מִפְּד֔וּת11 of 29

that it cannot redeem

H6304

distinction; also deliverance

וְאִם12 of 29
H518

used very widely as demonstrative, lo!; interrogative, whether?; or conditional, if, although; also oh that!, when; hence, as a negative, not

אֵֽין13 of 29
H369

a nonentity; generally used as a negative particle

בִּ֥י14 of 29
H0
כֹ֖חַ15 of 29

or have I no power

H3581

vigor, literally (force, in a good or a bad sense) or figuratively (capacity, means, produce)

לְהַצִּ֑יל16 of 29

to deliver

H5337

to snatch away, whether in a good or a bad sense

הֵ֣ן17 of 29
H2005

lo!; also (as expressing surprise) if

בְּגַעֲרָתִ֞י18 of 29

behold at my rebuke

H1606

a chiding

אַחֲרִ֣יב19 of 29

I dry up

H2717

to parch (through drought) i.e., (by analogy,) to desolate, destroy, kill

יָ֗ם20 of 29

the sea

H3220

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

אָשִׂ֤ים21 of 29

I make

H7760

to put (used in a great variety of applications, literal, figurative, inferentially, and elliptically)

נְהָרוֹת֙22 of 29

the rivers

H5104

a stream (including the sea; expectation the nile, euphrates, etc.); figuratively, prosperity

מִדְבָּ֔ר23 of 29

a wilderness

H4057

a pasture (i.e., open field, whither cattle are driven); by implication, a desert

תִּבְאַ֤שׁ24 of 29

stinketh

H887

to smell bad; figuratively, to be offensive morally

דְּגָתָם֙25 of 29

their fish

H1710

fish

מֵאֵ֣ין26 of 29
H369

a nonentity; generally used as a negative particle

מַ֔יִם27 of 29

because there is no water

H4325

water; figuratively, juice; by euphemism, urine, semen

וְתָמֹ֖ת28 of 29

and dieth

H4191

to die (literally or figuratively); causatively, to kill

בַּצָּמָֽא׃29 of 29

for thirst

H6772

thirst (literally or figuratively)


Study Guide

Historical Context

This verse is found in the book of Isaiah. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.

Theological Significance

Isaiah 50:2 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.

Cross-References

Verses related to Isaiah 50:2 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

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