Isaiah 50:4

Isaiah 50:4

The LORD God hath given me the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak a word in season to him that is weary: he wakeneth morning by morning, he wakeneth mine ear to hear as the learned.

a. NLT: The Sovereign LORD has given me his words of wisdom, so that I know how to comfort the weary. Morning by morning he wakens me and opens my understanding to his will. [Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.]

b. NIV: The Sovereign LORD has given me a well-instructed tongue, to know the word that sustains the weary. He wakens me morning by morning, wakens my ear to listen like one being instructed. [THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by Permission of Biblica, Inc.® All rights reserved worldwide.]

c. YLT: The Lord Jehovah hath given to me The tongue of taught ones, To know to aid the weary by a word, He waketh morning by morning, He waketh for me an ear to hear as taught ones. [The Young's Literal Translation was translated by Robert Young, who believed in a strictly literal translation of God's word. This version of the Bible is in the public domain.]

d. Amplified Bible:  [The Servant of God says] The Lord God has given Me the tongue of a disciple and of one who is taught, that I should know how to speak a word in season to him who is weary. He wakens Me morning by morning, He wakens My ear to hear as a disciple [as one who is taught]. [Amplified Bible, Classic Edition (AMPC) Copyright © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation]

e. Septuagint: The Lord [even] God gives me the tongue of instruction, to know when it is fit to speak a word: he has appointed for me early, he has given me an ear to hear:

f. Stone Edition Torah/Writings/Prophets: My Lord HASHEM/ELOHIM, has granted me a tongue for teaching, to understand the need of the times in conveying matters to those who thirst [for knowledge]; He arouses [me] morning after morning; He arouses [my] ear for me to understand as disciples are taught. [The Artscroll Series/Stone Edition, THE TANACH--STUDENT SIZE EDITION Copyright 1996, 1998 by Mesorah Publications, Ltd.]

1. “The LORD God hath given me the tongue of the learned…”

a. The LORD [Strong: 136 'Adonay ad-o-noy' am emphatic form of 113; the Lord (used as a proper name of God only):--(my) Lord.]

b. GOD [Strong: Yᵉhôvih, yeh-ho-vee'; a variation of H3068 [used after H136, and pronounced by Jews as H430, in order to prevent the repetition of the same sound, since they elsewhere pronounce H3068 as H136]:—God.]

c. [hath] given [Strong: 5414 nathan naw-than' a primitive root; to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.):--add, apply, appoint, ascribe, assign, X avenge, X be ((healed)), bestow, bring (forth, hither), cast, cause, charge, come, commit, consider, count, + cry, deliver (up), direct, distribute, do, X doubtless, X without fail, fasten, frame, X get, give (forth, over, up), grant, hang (up), X have, X indeed, lay (unto charge, up), (give) leave, lend, let (out), + lie, lift up, make, + O that, occupy, offer, ordain, pay, perform, place, pour, print, X pull , put (forth), recompense, render, requite, restore, send (out), set (forth), shew, shoot forth (up), + sing, + slander, strike, (sub-)mit, suffer, X surely, X take, thrust, trade, turn, utter, + weep, + willingly, + withdraw, + would (to) God, yield.

1). Albert Barnes Commentary: It will be assumed that the reference is to the Messiah; and we shall find that it is a most beautiful description of his character, and of some of the principal events of his life. This verse is designed to state how he was suited for the special work to which he was called. The whole endowment is traced to Yahweh. It was he who had called him; he who had given him the tongue of the learned, and he who had carefully and attentively qualified him for his work.

d. me [Strong: 589 ʼănîy, an-ee'; contracted from H595; I:—I, (as for) me, mine, myself, we, × which, × who.]

e. [the] tongue [Strong: 3956 lâshôwn, law-shone'; or לָשֹׁן lâshôn; also (in plural) feminine לְשֹׁנָה lᵉshônâh; from H3960; the tongue (of man or animals), used literally (as the instrument of licking, eating, or speech), and figuratively (speech, an ingot, a fork of flame, a cove of water):— babbler, bay, evil speaker, language, talker, tongue, wedge.]

e. [of the] learned [Strong: 3928 limmûwd, lim-mood'; or לִמֻּד limmud; from H3925; instructed:—accustomed, disciple, learned, taught, used.]

2. “…that I should know how to speak a word in season to him that is weary…”

a. [that I should] know [Strong: 3045 yâdaʻ, yaw-dah'; a primitive root; to know (properly, to ascertain by seeing); used in a great variety of senses, figuratively, literally, euphemistically and inferentially (including observation, care, recognition; and causatively, instruction, designation, punishment, etc.):—acknowledge, acquaintance(-ted with), advise, answer, appoint, assuredly, be aware, (un-) awares, can(-not), certainly, comprehend, consider, × could they, cunning, declare, be diligent, (can, cause to) discern, discover, endued with, familiar friend, famous, feel, can have, be (ig-) norant, instruct, kinsfolk, kinsman, (cause to let, make) know, (come to give, have, take) knowledge, have (knowledge), (be, make, make to be, make self) known, be learned, lie by man, mark, perceive, privy to, × prognosticator, regard, have respect, skilful, shew, can (man of) skill, be sure, of a surety, teach, (can) tell, understand, have (understanding), × will be, wist, wit, wot.]

b. how to speak [Strong: 5790 ʻûwth, ooth; for H5789; to hasten, i.e. succor:—speak in season.] [Gensenius: to hasten to, help, succor, meaning dubious.]

c. [a] word [Strong: 1697 dâbâr, daw-baw'; from H1696; a word; by implication, a matter (as spoken of) or thing; adverbially, a cause:—act, advice, affair, answer, × any such (thing), because of, book, business, care, case, cause, certain rate, chronicles, commandment, × commune(-ication), concern(-ing), confer, counsel, dearth, decree, deed, × disease, due, duty, effect, eloquent, errand, (evil favoured-) ness, glory, harm, hurt, iniquity, judgment, language, lying, manner, matter, message, (no) thing, oracle, × ought, × parts, pertaining, please, portion, power, promise, provision, purpose, question, rate, reason, report, request, × (as hast) said, sake, saying, sentence, sign, so, some (uncleanness), somewhat to say, song, speech, × spoken, talk, task, that, × there done, thing (concerning), thought, thus, tidings, what(-soever), wherewith, which, word, work.]

d. [in season to him that is] weary [3287 yâʻêph, yaw-afe'; from H3286; fatigued; figuratively, exhausted:—faint, weary.]

1). Jesus only spoke what his Father told him to speak.

a). John 7:16  Jesus answered them, and said, My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me

b). John 8:28 Then said Jesus unto them, When ye have lifted up the Son of man, then shall ye know that I am he, and that I do nothing of myself; but as my Father hath taught me, I speak these things.

c). John 12:49, 50 For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak.

12:50 And I know that his commandment is life everlasting: whatsoever I speak therefore, even as the Father said unto me, so I speak.

2). This was accomplished through the Holy Ghost.

a). Psalm 119:97-102  O how love I thy law! it is my meditation all the day.

119:98 Thou through thy commandments hast made me wiser than mine enemies: for they are ever with me.

119:99 I have more understanding than all my teachers: for thy testimonies are my meditation.

119:100 I understand more than the ancients, because I keep thy precepts.

119:101 I have refrained my feet from every evil way, that I might keep thy word.

119:102 I have not departed from thy judgments: for thou hast taught me.

b). Proverbs 6:20-23 My son, keep thy father's commandment, and forsake not the law of thy mother:

6:21 Bind them continually upon thine heart, and tie them about thy neck.

6:22 When thou goest, it shall lead thee; when thou sleepest, it shall keep thee; and when thou awakest, it shall talk with thee.

6:23 For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light; and reproofs of instruction are the way of life:

3. “…he wakeneth morning by morning, he wakeneth mine ear to hear as the learned.”

a. [he] wakeneth [Strong: 5782 ʻûwr, oor; a primitive root (rather identical with through the idea of opening the eyes); to wake (literally or figuratively):—(a-) wake(-n, up), lift up (self), × master, raise (up), stir up (self).]

b. morning [Strong: 1242 bôqer, bo'-ker; from H1239; properly, dawn (as the break of day); generally, morning:—(+) day, early, morning, morrow.]

c. [by] morning [Strong: 1242 bôqer, bo'-ker; from H1239; properly, dawn (as the break of day); generally, morning:—(+) day, early, morning, morrow.]

d. [he] wakeneth [Strong: 5782 ʻûwr, oor; a primitive root (rather identical with through the idea of opening the eyes); to wake (literally or figuratively):—(a-) wake(-n, up), lift up (self), × master, raise (up), stir up (self).]

e. mine [Strong: 589 ʼănîy, an-ee'; contracted from H595; I:—I, (as for) me, mine, myself, we, × which, × who.]

f. ear [Strong: 241 ʼôzen, o'-zen; from H238; broadness. i.e. (concrete) the ear (from its form in man):— advertise, audience, displease, ear, hearing, show.]

f. [to] hear [Strong: 8085 shâmaʻ, shaw-mah'; a primitive root; to hear intelligently (often with implication of attention, obedience, etc.; causatively, to tell, etc.):—× attentively, call (gather) together, × carefully, × certainly, consent, consider, be content, declare, × diligently, discern, give ear, (cause to, let, make to) hear(-ken, tell), × indeed, listen, make (a) noise, (be) obedient, obey, perceive, (make a) proclaim(-ation), publish, regard, report, shew (forth), (make a) sound, × surely, tell, understand, whosoever (heareth), witness.]

g. [as the] learned [Strong: 3928 limmûwd, lim-mood'; or לִמֻּד limmud; from H3925; instructed:—accustomed, disciple, learned, taught, used.]

1). The subject goes from Israel and their own disobedience causing the separation from God and God’s ability to deliver them to Isaiah 50:4-9 where observable events and behind the scenes events in the life of the Messiah during his ministry and eternal redemption of Israel and the world occur. 

2). Institute Of Creation Research Daily Devotional 5/15/2010 The prophetic words of our text were spoken by the Lord Jesus in the context of His suffering: "I gave my back to the smiters . . . I hid not my face from shame and spitting" (v. 6)--and His attentiveness to the will of His Father despite the suffering--"The Lord GOD hath opened mine ear, and I was not rebellious, neither turned away back" (v. 5). The amazing love of Christ is seen in the fact that, in the midst of His intense personal pain, He could still continue, even on the cross, "to speak a word in season to him that is weary," as He comforted His mother, spoke salvation to the dying thief, and even sought forgiveness for His executioners. In all this, He was "leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps" (1 Peter 2:21). How easy and natural it is to complain and rebel when we are suffering. We seek comfort and counsel from others, when we (like our Exemplar) should be comforting others with "the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God" (2 Corinthians 1:4). Though we cannot comprehend it fully, we must simply believe the mystery of the incarnation. God became man in Jesus Christ, and the omnipotent One "learned . . . obedience" (Hebrews 5:8). He was omniscient, yet somehow He "increased in wisdom" (Luke 2:52), as well as stature, and as He studied God's Word, wakening "morning by morning," He learned to hear the voice of the Father, thus receiving "the tongue of the learned," that "gracious words" might proceed out of His mouth (Luke 4:22). May the Lord grant each of His younger sons and daughters this gracious "tongue of the learned," as we, like His Firstborn, awaken each morning to hear His voice. HMM