Show Bible Commentary For A Bible Verse

Click here to show/hide instructions.

Selected Verse: Isaiah 50:6 - Strong Concordance

Verse	Translation	Text
Isa 50:6	Strong Concordance	I gave [05414] my back [01460] to the smiters [05221], and my cheeks [03895] to them that plucked off [04803] the hair: I hid [05641] not my face [06440] from shame [03639] and spitting [07536].
	King James	I gave my back to the smiters, and my cheeks to them that plucked off the hair: I hid not my face from shame and spitting.

Summary Of Commentaries Associated With The Selected Verse

Open All | Close All Open All | Close All

A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]
smiters--with scourges and with the open hand (Isa 52:14; Mar 14:65). Literally fulfilled (Mat 27:26; Mat 26:27; Luk 18:33). To "pluck the hair" is the highest insult that can be offered an Oriental (Sa2 10:4; Lam 3:30). "I gave" implies the voluntary nature of His sufferings; His example corresponds to His precept (Mat 5:39). spitting--To spit in another's presence is an insult in the East, much more on one; most of all in the face (Job 30:10; Mat 27:30; Luk 18:32).

A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]

smiters--with scourges and with the open hand (Isa 52:14; Mar 14:65). Literally fulfilled (Mat 27:26; Mat 26:27; Luk 18:33). To "pluck the hair" is the highest insult that can be offered an Oriental (Sa2 10:4; Lam 3:30). "I gave" implies the voluntary nature of His sufferings; His example corresponds to His precept (Mat 5:39).

spitting--To spit in another's presence is an insult in the East, much more on one; most of all in the face (Job 30:10; Mat 27:30; Luk 18:32).

Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834]
I gave my back to the smiters - I submitted willingly to be scourged, or whipped. This is one of the parts of this chapter which can be applied to no other one but the Messiah. There is not the slightest evidence, whatever may be supposed to have been the probability, that Isaiah was subjected to any such trial as this, or that he was scourged in a public manner. Yet it was literally fulfilled in the Lord Jesus Christ (Mat 27:26; compare Luk 18:33). And my cheeks to them that plucked off the hair - literally, 'My cheeks to hose who pluck, or pull.' The word used here (מרט māraṭ) means properly to polish, to sharpen, to make smooth; then to make smooth the head, to make bald; that is, to pluck out the hair, or the beard. To do this was to offer the highest insult that could be imagined among the Orientals. The beard is suffered to grow long, and is regarded as a mark of honor. Nothing is regarded as more infamous than to cut it off (see Sa2 10:4), or to pluck it out; and there is nothing which an Oriental will sooner resent than an insult offered to his beard. 'It is a custom among the Orientals, as well among the Greeks as among other nations, to cultivate the beard with the utmost care and solicitude, so that they regard it as the highest possible insult if a single hair of the beard is taken away by violence.' (William of Tyre, an eastern archbishop, Gesta Dei, p. 802, quoted in Harmer, vol. ii. p. 359.) It is customary to beg by the beard, and to swear by the beard. 'By your beard; by the life of your beard; God preserve your beard; God pour his blessings on your beard,' - are common expressions there. The Mahometans have such a respect for the board that they think it criminal to shave (Harmer, vol. ii. p. 360). The Septuagint renders this, 'I gave my cheeks to buffering' (εἰς ῥαπίσμα eis rapisma); that is, to being smitten with the open hand, which was literally fulfilled in the case of the Redeemer Mat 26:67; Mar 14:65. The general sense of this expression is, that he would be treated with the highest insult. I hid not my face from shame and spitting - To spit on anyone was regarded among the Orientals, as it is everywhere else, as an expression of the highest insult and indignity Deu 25:9; Num 12:14; Job 30:10. Among the Orientals also it was regarded as an insult - as it should be everywhere - to spit in the presence of any person. Thus among the Medes, Herodotus (i. 99) says that Deioces ordained that, 'to spit in the king's presence, or in the presence of each other, was an act of indecency.' So also among the Arabians, it is regarded as an offence (Niebuhr's Travels, i. 57). Thus Monsieur d'Arvieux tells us (Voydans la Pal. p. 140) 'the Arabs are sometimes disposed to think, that when a person spits, it is done out of contempt; and that they never do it before their superiors' (Harmer, iv. 439). This act of the highest indignity was performed in reference to the Redeemer Mat 26:67; Mat 27:30; and this expression of their contempt he bore with the utmost meekness. This expression is one of the proofs that this entire passage refers to the Messiah. It is said Luk 17:32 that the prophecies should be fulfilled by his being spit upon, and yet there is no other prophecy of the Old Testament but this which contains such a prediction.

Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834]

I gave my back to the smiters - I submitted willingly to be scourged, or whipped. This is one of the parts of this chapter which can be applied to no other one but the Messiah. There is not the slightest evidence, whatever may be supposed to have been the probability, that Isaiah was subjected to any such trial as this, or that he was scourged in a public manner. Yet it was literally fulfilled in the Lord Jesus Christ (Mat 27:26; compare Luk 18:33).

And my cheeks to them that plucked off the hair - literally, 'My cheeks to hose who pluck, or pull.' The word used here (מרט māraṭ) means properly to polish, to sharpen, to make smooth; then to make smooth the head, to make bald; that is, to pluck out the hair, or the beard. To do this was to offer the highest insult that could be imagined among the Orientals. The beard is suffered to grow long, and is regarded as a mark of honor. Nothing is regarded as more infamous than to cut it off (see Sa2 10:4), or to pluck it out; and there is nothing which an Oriental will sooner resent than an insult offered to his beard. 'It is a custom among the Orientals, as well among the Greeks as among other nations, to cultivate the beard with the utmost care and solicitude, so that they regard it as the highest possible insult if a single hair of the beard is taken away by violence.' (William of Tyre, an eastern archbishop, Gesta Dei, p. 802, quoted in Harmer, vol. ii. p. 359.) It is customary to beg by the beard, and to swear by the beard. 'By your beard; by the life of your beard; God preserve your beard; God pour his blessings on your beard,' - are common expressions there. The Mahometans have such a respect for the board that they think it criminal to shave (Harmer, vol. ii. p. 360). The Septuagint renders this, 'I gave my cheeks to buffering' (εἰς ῥαπίσμα eis rapisma); that is, to being smitten with the open hand, which was literally fulfilled in the case of the Redeemer Mat 26:67; Mar 14:65. The general sense of this expression is, that he would be treated with the highest insult.

I hid not my face from shame and spitting - To spit on anyone was regarded among the Orientals, as it is everywhere else, as an expression of the highest insult and indignity Deu 25:9; Num 12:14; Job 30:10. Among the Orientals also it was regarded as an insult - as it should be everywhere - to spit in the presence of any person. Thus among the Medes, Herodotus (i. 99) says that Deioces ordained that, 'to spit in the king's presence, or in the presence of each other, was an act of indecency.' So also among the Arabians, it is regarded as an offence (Niebuhr's Travels, i. 57). Thus Monsieur d'Arvieux tells us (Voydans la Pal. p. 140) 'the Arabs are sometimes disposed to think, that when a person spits, it is done out of contempt; and that they never do it before their superiors' (Harmer, iv. 439). This act of the highest indignity was performed in reference to the Redeemer Mat 26:67; Mat 27:30; and this expression of their contempt he bore with the utmost meekness. This expression is one of the proofs that this entire passage refers to the Messiah. It is said Luk 17:32 that the prophecies should be fulfilled by his being spit upon, and yet there is no other prophecy of the Old Testament but this which contains such a prediction.

Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley [1754-65]
I gave - I patiently yielded up myself to those who smote me.

Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826
And my cheeks to them that plunked off the hair - The greatest indignity that could possibly be offered. See the note on Isa 7:20 (note). I hid not my face from shame and spitting - Another instance of the utmost contempt and detestation. It was ordered by the law of Moses as a severe punishment, carrying with it a lasting disgrace; Deu 25:9. Among the Medes it was highly offensive to spit in any one's presence, Herod. 1:99; and so likewise among the Persians, Xenophon, Cyrop. Lib. i., p. 18. "They abhor me; they flee far from me; They forbear not to spit in my face." Job 30:10. "And Jehovah said unto Moses, If her father had but spit in her face, should she not be ashamed seven days?" Num 22:14. On which place Sir John Chardin remarks, that "spitting before any one, or spitting upon the ground in speaking of any one's actions, is through the east an expression of extreme detestation." - Harmer's Observ. 2:509. See also, of the same notions of the Arabs in this respect, Niebuhr, Description de l'Arabie, p. 26. It so evidently appears that in those countries spitting has ever been an expression of the utmost detestation, that the learned doubt whether in the passages of Scripture above quoted any thing more is meant than spitting, - not in the face, which perhaps the words do not necessarily imply, - but only in the presence of the person affronted. But in this place it certainly means spitting in the face; so it is understood in St. Luke, where our Lord plainly refers to this prophecy: "All things that are written by the prophets concerning the Son of man shall be accomplished; for he shall be delivered to the Gentiles, and shall be mocked and spitefully entreated, and spitted on, εμπτυσθησεται, "Luk 18:31, Luk 18:32, which was in fact fulfilled; και ηρξεαντο τινες εμπτυειν αυτῳ, "and some began to spit on him," Mar 14:65, Mar 15:19. If spitting in a person's presence was such an indignity, how much more spitting in his face?

Top

³² For [1063] he shall be delivered [3860] unto the Gentiles [1484], and [2532] shall be mocked [1702], and [2532] spitefully entreated [5195], and [2532] spitted on [1716]:

³⁰ And [2532] they spit [1716] upon [1519] him [846], and took [2983] the reed [2563], and [2532] smote [5180] him [846] on [1519] the head [2776].

¹⁰ They abhor [08581] me, they flee far [07368] from me, and spare [02820] not to spit [07536] in my face [06440].

³⁹ But [1161] I [1473] say [3004] unto you [5213], That ye resist [436] not [3361] evil [4190]: but [235] whosoever [3748] shall smite [4474] thee [4571] on [1909] thy [4675] right [1188] cheek [4600], turn [4762] to him [846] the other [243] also [2532].

³⁰ He giveth [05414] his cheek [03895] to him that smiteth [05221] him: he is filled full [07646] with reproach [02781].

⁴ Wherefore Hanun [02586] took [03947] David's [01732] servants [05650], and shaved off [01548] the one half [02677] of their beards [02206], and cut off [03772] their garments [04063] in the middle [02677], even to their buttocks [08357], and sent them away [07971].

³³ And [2532] they shall scourge [3146] him, and put [615] him [846] to death [615]: and [2532] the third [5154] day [2250] he shall rise again [450].

²⁷ And [2532] he took [2983] the cup [4221], and [2532] gave thanks [2168], and gave [1325] it to them [846], saying [3004], Drink ye [4095] all [3956] of [1537] it [846];

²⁶ Then [5119] released he [630] Barabbas [912] unto them [846]: and [1161] when he had scourged [5417] Jesus [2424], he delivered [3860] him to [2443] be crucified [4717].

⁶⁵ And [2532] some [5100] began [756] to spit [1716] on him [846], and [2532] to cover [4028] his [846] face [4383], and [2532] to buffet [2852] him [846], and [2532] to say [3004] unto him [846], Prophesy [4395]: and [2532] the servants [5257] did strike [906] him [846] with the palms of their hands [4475].

¹⁴ As many [07227] were astonied [08074] at thee; his visage [04758] was so marred [04893] more than any man [0376], and his form [08389] more than the sons [01121] of men [0120]:

³² Remember [3421] Lot's [3091] wife [1135].

³⁰ And [2532] they spit [1716] upon [1519] him [846], and took [2983] the reed [2563], and [2532] smote [5180] him [846] on [1519] the head [2776].

⁶⁷ Then [5119] did they spit [1716] in [1519] his [846] face [4383], and [2532] buffeted [2852] him [846]; and [1161] others smote him with the palms of their hands [4474],

¹⁰ They abhor [08581] me, they flee far [07368] from me, and spare [02820] not to spit [07536] in my face [06440].

¹⁴ And the LORD [03068] said [0559] unto Moses [04872], If her father [01] had but [03417] spit [03417] in her face [06440], should she not be ashamed [03637] seven [07651] days [03117]? let her be shut [05462] out [02351] from the camp [04264] seven [07651] days [03117], and after [0310] that let her be received [0622] in again.

⁹ Then shall his brother's wife [02994] come [05066] unto him in the presence [05869] of the elders [02205], and loose [02502] his shoe [05275] from off his foot [07272], and spit [03417] in his face [06440], and shall answer [06030] and say [0559], So shall it be done [06213] unto that man [0376] that will not build up [01129] his brother's [0251] house [01004].

⁶⁷ Then [5119] did they spit [1716] in [1519] his [846] face [4383], and [2532] buffeted [2852] him [846]; and [1161] others smote him with the palms of their hands [4474],

³³ And [2532] they shall scourge [3146] him, and put [615] him [846] to death [615]: and [2532] the third [5154] day [2250] he shall rise again [450].

²⁶ Then [5119] released he [630] Barabbas [912] unto them [846]: and [1161] when he had scourged [5417] Jesus [2424], he delivered [3860] him to [2443] be crucified [4717].

¹⁹ And [2532] they smote [5180] him [846] on the head [2776] with a reed [2563], and [2532] did spit [1716] upon him [846], and [2532] bowing [5087] their knees [1119] worshipped [4352] him [846].

³² For [1063] he shall be delivered [3860] unto the Gentiles [1484], and [2532] shall be mocked [1702], and [2532] spitefully entreated [5195], and [2532] spitted on [1716]:

³¹ Then [1161] he took [3880] unto him the twelve [1427], and said [2036] unto [4314] them [846], Behold [2400], we go up [305] to [1519] Jerusalem [2414], and [2532] all things [3956] that are written [1125] by [1223] the prophets [4396] concerning the Son [5207] of man [444] shall be accomplished [5055].

¹⁴ And the princes [08269] of Moab [04124] rose up [06965], and they went [0935] unto Balak [01111], and said [0559], Balaam [01109] refuseth [03985] to come [01980] with us.

¹⁰ They abhor [08581] me, they flee far [07368] from me, and spare [02820] not to spit [07536] in my face [06440].

²⁰ In the same day [03117] shall the Lord [0136] shave [01548] with a razor [08593] that is hired [07917], namely, by them beyond [05676] the river [05104], by the king [04428] of Assyria [0804], the head [07218], and the hair [08181] of the feet [07272]: and it shall also consume [05595] the beard [02206].