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The Lord GOD has opened My ears, and I have not been rebellious, nor have I turned back.
Isaiah 50:5 · Berean Standard Bible
Parallel translations
  • WEB The Lord Yahweh has opened my ear, and I was not rebellious. I have not turned back.
  • KJV The Lord GOD hath opened mine ear, and I was not rebellious, neither turned away back.
  • NKJV The Lord God has opened My ear; And I was not rebellious, Nor did I turn away.
  • NASB The Lord God has opened My ear, And I was not disobedient, Nor did I turn back.
  • NLT The Sovereign Lord has spoken to me, and I have listened. I have not rebelled or turned away.

Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org

Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Quick answer

The Servant obeys God's opened ear without rebellion, not turning back from his calling.

Overview

God opens the Servant's ear to hear, and unlike rebellious Israel, the Servant responds with full obedience and perseverance. His willing submission contrasts with the nation's stubbornness. Christ embodies this perfect obedience, setting His face toward the cross and not turning back from the Father's will (Philippians 2:8; Luke 9:51).

Cross-references & the web

Cross-references · 11

  • John 14:31But I do exactly what the Father has commanded Me, so that the world may know that I love the Father. Get up! Let us go on from here.
  • Heb 5:8Although He was a Son, He learned obedience from what He suffered.
  • Isa 35:5Then the eyes of the blind will be opened and the ears of the deaf unstopped.
  • Phil 2:8And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to death—even death on a cross.
  • John 8:29He who sent Me is with Me. He has not left Me alone, because I always do what pleases Him.”
  • Isa 48:8You have never heard; you have never understood; for a long time your ears have not been open. For I knew how deceitful you are; you have been called a rebel from birth.
  • John 15:10If you keep My commandments, you will remain in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and remain in His love.
  • Matt 26:39Going a little farther, He fell facedown and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me. Yet not as I will, but as You will.”
  • Ps 40:6–8Sacrifice and offering You did not desire, but my ears You have opened. Burnt offerings and sin offerings You did not require.
  • Heb 10:5–9Therefore, when Christ came into the world, He said: “Sacrifice and offering You did not desire, but a body You prepared for Me.
  • Acts 26:19So then, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision.

Resources, by level

Commentaries & study tools

  • VideoBibleProject — Isaiah videosBibleProject · Lay · Free · evangelical

    Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.

  • VideoWatch teaching on Isaiah 50:5YouTube · Lay · Free

    Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.

  • CommentaryEnduring Word — verse-by-verseDavid Guzik · Lay · Free · evangelical

    Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.

  • CommentaryClassic commentaries for this verseBibleHub (20+ works) · Pastoral · Free

    Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.

  • CommentaryMatthew Henry on IsaiahMatthew Henry · Pastoral · Free · evangelical

    The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).

  • ReferenceInterlinear, lexicon & Strong'sBlue Letter Bible · Seminary · Free

    Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.

Christ at the center

Isaiah sees him most clearly: the virgin's son Immanuel, the child on David's throne, the shoot from Jesse, the light to the nations, and above all the Suffering Servant pierced for our transgressions (ch. 53).

How Isaiah 50:5 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.

Original language

Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.