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The Sovereign Lord has spoken to me, and I have listened. I have not rebelled or turned away.
Isaiah 50:5 · New Living Translation
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.
  • BSB The Lord GOD has opened My ears, and I have not been rebellious, nor have I turned 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.

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 that the world may know that I love the Father, and as the Father commanded me, even so I do. Arise, let us go from here.
  • Heb 5:8though he was a Son, yet learned obedience by the things which he suffered.
  • Isa 35:5Then the eyes of the blind will be opened, and the ears of the deaf will be unstopped.
  • Phil 2:8And being found in human form, he humbled himself, becoming obedient to death, yes, the death of the cross.
  • John 8:29He who sent me is with me. The Father hasn’t left me alone, for I always do the things that are pleasing to him.”
  • Isa 48:8Yes, you didn’t hear; yes, you didn’t know; yes, from of old your ear was not opened: for I knew that you dealt very treacherously, and were called a transgressor from the womb.
  • John 15:10If you keep my commandments, you will remain in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and remain in his love.
  • Matt 26:39He went forward a little, fell on his face, and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass away from me; nevertheless, not what I desire, but what you desire.”
  • Ps 40:6–8Sacrifice and offering you didn’t desire. You have opened my ears. You have not required burnt offering and sin offering.
  • Heb 10:5–9Therefore when he comes into the world, he says, “Sacrifice and offering you didn’t desire, but you prepared a body for me.
  • Acts 26:19“Therefore, 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.