He is near that justifieth me; who will contend with me? let us stand together: who is mine adversary? let him come near to me.
Parallel translations
- WEB He who justifies me is near. Who will bring charges against me? Let us stand up together. Who is my adversary? Let him come near to me.
- BSB The One who vindicates Me is near. Who will dare to contend with Me? Let us confront each other! Who has a case against Me? Let him approach Me!
- NKJV He is near who justifies Me; Who will contend with Me? Let us stand together. Who is My adversary? Let him come near Me.
- NASB He who vindicates Me is near; Who will contend with Me? Let us stand up to each other. Who has a case against Me? Let him approach Me.
- NLT He who gives me justice is near. Who will dare to bring charges against me now? Where are my accusers? Let them appear!
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 declares that the God who justifies him is near, boldly challenging any accuser to confront him.
Overview
The Servant stands in a courtroom posture, certain of acquittal because God vindicates him; he dares his adversaries to bring their charges. His confidence flows from God's nearness and approval. Paul takes up this language for all believers: it is God who justifies, so no charge can stand against His elect (Romans 8:33-34), grounded in Christ's vindication.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 11
- Rom 8:32–34He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?
- Rev 12:10And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.
- Isa 41:1Keep silence before me, O islands; and let the people renew their strength: let them come near; then let them speak: let us come near together to judgment.
- Isa 41:21Produce your cause, saith the LORD; bring forth your strong reasons, saith the King of Jacob.
- Isa 43:26Put me in remembrance: let us plead together: declare thou, that thou mayest be justified.
- Deut 19:17Then both the men, between whom the controversy is, shall stand before the LORD, before the priests and the judges, which shall be in those days;
- Exod 22:9For all manner of trespass, whether it be for ox, for ass, for sheep, for raiment, or for any manner of lost thing, which another challengeth to be his, the cause of both parties shall come before the judges; and whom the judges shall condemn, he shall pay double unto his neighbour.
- Matt 5:25Agree with thine adversary quickly, whiles thou art in the way with him; lest at any time the adversary deliver thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and thou be cast into prison.
- 1 Tim 3:16And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.
- Zech 3:1–10And he shewed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the LORD, and Satan standing at his right hand to resist him.
- Job 23:3–7Oh that I knew where I might find him! that I might come even to his seat!
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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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 50:8 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
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