He is near who justifies Me; Who will contend with Me? Let us stand together. Who is My adversary? Let him come near 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.
- KJV 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.
- 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!
- 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 who didn’t spare his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how would he not also with him freely give us all things?
- Rev 12:10I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, “Now the salvation, the power, and the Kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Christ has come; for the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down, who accuses them before our God day and night.
- Isa 41:1“Keep silent before me, islands, and let the peoples renew their strength. Let them come near, then let them speak. Let’s meet together for judgment.
- Isa 41:21Produce your cause,” says Yahweh. “Bring out your strong reasons,” says the King of Jacob.
- Isa 43:26Put me in remembrance. Let us plead together. Declare your case, that you may be justified.
- Deut 19:17then both the men, between whom the controversy is, shall stand before Yahweh, before the priests and the judges who shall be in those days;
- Exod 22:9For every matter of trespass, whether it is for ox, for donkey, for sheep, for clothing, or for any kind of lost thing, about which one says, ‘This is mine,’ the cause of both parties shall come before God. He whom God condemns shall pay double to his neighbor.
- Matt 5:25Agree with your adversary quickly, while you are with him on the way; lest perhaps the prosecutor deliver you to the judge, and the judge deliver you to the officer, and you be cast into prison.
- 1 Tim 3:16Without controversy, the mystery of godliness is great: God was revealed in the flesh, justified in the spirit, seen by angels, preached among the nations, believed on in the world, and received up in glory.
- Zech 3:1–10He showed me Joshua the high priest standing before Yahweh’s angel, and Satan standing at his right hand to be his adversary.
- Job 23:3–7Oh that I knew where I might find him! That I might come even to his seat!
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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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