Bible Strands
Isaiah 50:8
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!
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The Servant addresses his opponents during his trial, standing between his vow of unflinching resolve in Isaiah 50:7 and his declaration of God's continuing help in Isaiah 50:9.
The words — The text foregrounds קָרוֹב (ka.rOv), meaning "[is] near," and מַצְדִּיקִי (matz.di.Ki), meaning "[the one who] justifies Me," while issuing the legal challenge מִי־ יָרִיב אִתִּי (mi- ya.Riv 'i.Ti), "who will contend with Me?" and the summons נַעַמְדָה יַחַד (Na.'am.dah Ya.chad), "let us stand together."
The thread — This legal confrontation and divine vindication pattern runs through Isaiah 41:1, where the Lord calls nations to stand together for judgment, and reappears in Romans 8:32, which ties God's provision of His Son to the certainty of His justifying action.
Why it lands — The passage requires a reader to acknowledge that human accusations lose their power when the justifying authority is already present, shifting the burden of proof entirely onto the challenger.
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
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.
Cross-references
- Romans 8:32 He who did not spare His own Son but gave Him up for us all, how will He not also, along with Him, freely give us all things?
- Isaiah 41:1 “Be silent before Me, O islands, and let the peoples renew their strength. Let them come forward and testify; let us together draw near for judgment.
- Revelation 12:10 And I heard a loud voice in heaven saying: “Now have come the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God, and the authority of His Christ. For the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down—he who accuses them day and night before our God.
- Isaiah 41:21 “Present your case,” says the LORD. “Submit your arguments,” says the King of Jacob.
- Isaiah 43:26 Remind Me, let us argue the matter together. State your case, so that you may be vindicated.
- Exodus 22:9 In all cases of illegal possession of an ox, a donkey, a sheep, a garment, or any lost item that someone claims, ‘This is mine,’ both parties shall bring their cases before the judges. The one whom the judges find guilty must pay back double to his neighbor.
- Deuteronomy 19:17 both parties to the dispute must stand in the presence of the LORD, before the priests and judges who are in office at that time.
- Zechariah 3:1 Then the angel showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the LORD, with Satan standing at his right hand to accuse him.
- Matthew 5:25 Reconcile quickly with your adversary, while you are still on the way to court. Otherwise, he may hand you over to the judge, and the judge may hand you over to the officer, and you may be thrown into prison.
- 1 Timothy 3:16 By common confession, the mystery of godliness is great: He appeared in the flesh, was vindicated by the Spirit, was seen by angels, was proclaimed among the nations, was believed in throughout the world, was taken up in glory.