Pentecost Season · Twenty-fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time · Year B
Isaiah 50:5-9a
Israel’s Sin and the Servant’s Obedience
September 12, 2027
Overview & Insights
“I gave my back to those who strike, and my cheeks to those who pull out the beard.” (Isaiah 50:6)
In 50:4 the subject suddenly changes again—in two senses. The grammatical subject is once again a human “I” rather than a divine “I,” and the thematic subject is the pressure upon this human “I.” In both respects the passage parallels 49:1–6, and it will emerge that 50:4–52:12 forms a sequence parallel to 49:1–50:4, analogous to double sequences we have noted earlier in chapters 40–55. The arrangement of sections is not as tightly parallel as in earlier instances, but the parallelism again means that the second sequence develops issues raised in the first. Here, as there, that involves discussion of the role of Yahweh’s servant (50:4–11 as 49:1–6), but here the destiny of Zion and the way the destiny of the Babylonian community relates to it (51:1–52:12 as 49:7–50:3) receive more attention.
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Commentary
Commentary on Isaiah 50:4-9a Working Preacher
Luther Seminary exegesis of the third Servant Song and the servant who sets his face like flint.
Isaiah 50:4-9 Commentary Center for Excellence in Preaching
Reformed, sermon shaped commentary on the servant's steadfast obedience under suffering and his trust in God's vindication.
Isaiah 50: The Obedient Servant Enduring Word · David Guzik
David Guzik's verse by verse evangelical commentary on the chapter.
Isaiah 50 Commentary Precept Austin
A deep gathering of word studies and cross references verse by verse.
Isaiah 50:5 Commentaries BibleHub
Aggregates classic commentaries on the passage in one place.
Isaiah 50, Expository Notes StudyLight
Thomas Constable's expository notes on the servant's obedience and vindication.
Twenty-Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year B) Agape Bible Study
A Catholic study of the day's readings, tying the Servant Song to the suffering Messiah of the Gospel.
Background & Word Study
Isaiah 50 in Hebrew Sefaria
The Hebrew text with English alongside and traditional Jewish commentary links.
Isaiah 50:5 Hebrew Interlinear BibleHub
Hebrew word by word with parsing and Strong's numbers for close study.
Enter the Bible: Isaiah Enter the Bible
Luther Seminary background on Isaiah and its Servant Songs.
Isaiah 40-66 Overview BibleProject
An animated overview of the latter part of Isaiah where the Servant Songs appear.
The Church Fathers
Questions preachers ask
How does the Servant respond to suffering?
Given the tongue of a teacher, the obedient Servant does not turn back but sets his face like flint, trusting the God who helps him, an image of Christ in his Passion.
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