Bible Strands
Isaiah 50:6
I offered My back to those who struck Me, and My cheeks to those who tore out My beard. I did not hide My face from scorn and spittle.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The Servant of the Lord speaks in first person, recounting what has been done to him between God's command (v. 5) and his confidence in vindication (v. 7). He testifies to an unspecified audience of his submission.
The words — נָתַ֣תִּי (natan, "I gave") is the governing verb: the Servant does not merely endure but actively offers his back and cheeks. The agency is his, not his attackers'.
The thread — The spitting and striking are enacted in the passion narratives: Matthew 26:67, Mark 14:65, Mark 15:19. The Servant's words anticipate the specific actions of the crowd.
Why it lands — The verse removes the option of passive victimhood; the Servant chose to give. A reader is asked to reckon with what it means to offer oneself to suffering rather than merely suffer it.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
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.
Cross-references
- Matthew 26:67 Then they spit in His face and struck Him. Others slapped Him
- Mark 14:65 Then some of them began to spit on Him. They blindfolded Him, struck Him with their fists, and said to Him, “Prophesy!” And the officers received Him with slaps in His face.
- Mark 15:19 They kept striking His head with a staff and spitting on Him. And they knelt down and bowed before Him.
- Matthew 27:30 Then they spit on Him and took the staff and struck Him on the head repeatedly.
- Luke 22:63 The men who were holding Jesus began to mock Him and beat Him.
- Isaiah 53:5 But He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed.
- Lamentations 3:30 Let him offer his cheek to the one who would strike him; let him be filled with reproach.
- John 18:22 When Jesus had said this, one of the officers standing nearby slapped Him in the face and said, “Is this how You answer the high priest?”
- Matthew 5:39 But I tell you not to resist an evil person. If someone slaps you on your right cheek, turn to him the other also;
- Hebrews 12:2 Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.