Isaiah 50 · Verse 6

Isaiah 50:6

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.
Isaiah 50:6, King James Version

Isaiah 50:6 in other translations

BSBI 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.
WEBI gave my back to those who beat me, and my cheeks to those who plucked off the hair. I didn’t hide my face from shame and spitting.
ASVI 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.
YLTMy back I have given to those smiting, And my cheeks to those plucking out, My face I hid not from shame and spitting.
DARBYI gave my back to smiters, and my cheeks to them that plucked off the hair; I hid not my face from shame and spitting.
BBEI was offering my back to those who gave me blows, and my face to those who were pulling out my hair: I did not keep my face covered from marks of shame.
WebsterI 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.

What does Isaiah 50:6 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
6. smiters--with scourges and with the open hand (Is 52:14; Mr 14:65). Literally fulfilled (Mt 27:26; 26:27; Lu 18:33). To "pluck the hair" is the highest insult that can be offered an Oriental (2Sa 10:4; La 3:30). "I gave" implies the voluntary nature of His sufferings; His example corresponds to His precept (Mt 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; Mt 27:30; Lu 18:32).

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 6 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?

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Isaiah 50:4-9

As Jesus was God and man in one person, we find him sometimes speaking, or spoken of, as the Lord God; at other times, as man and the servant of Jehovah. He was to declare the truths which comfort the broken, contrite heart, those weary of sin, harassed with afflictions. And as the Holy Spirit was upon him, that he might speak as never man spake; so the same Divine influence daily wakened him to pray, to preach the…

Read the full comment on Isaiah 50:4-9 →

Isaiah 50:6 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

גֵּוִי֙ge.Viback myH1460
נָתַ֣תִּיna.Ta.tiI gaveH5414
לְמַכִּ֔יםle.ma.Kimto [those who] struck [it]H5221
וּלְחָיַ֖יu.le.cha.Yaiand cheeks myH3895
לְמֹֽרְטִ֑יםle.mo.re.Timto [those who] made [them] bareH4803
פָּנַי֙pa.Naiface myH6440
לֹ֣אlo'notH3808
הִסְתַּ֔רְתִּיhis.Tar.tiI hidH5641
מִכְּלִמּ֖וֹתmi.ke.li.Motfrom insultsH3639
וָרֹֽק\׃va.Rokand spittleH7536

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Isaiah 50:6

  • Matthew 26:67

    Then did they spit in his face, and buffeted him; and others smote him with the palms of their hands,

  • Mark 14:65

    And some began to spit on him, and to cover his face, and to buffet him, and to say unto him, Prophesy: and the servants did strike him with the palms of their hands.

  • Mark 15:19

    And they smote him on the head with a reed, and did spit upon him, and bowing their knees worshipped him.

  • Luke 22:63-64

    And the men that held Jesus mocked him, and smote him. And when they had blindfolded him, they struck him on the face, and asked him, saying, Prophesy, who is it that smote thee?

  • Matthew 27:30

    And they spit upon him, and took the reed, and smote him on the head.

  • Isaiah 53:5

    But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.

  • Lamentations 3:30

    He giveth his cheek to him that smiteth him: he is filled full with reproach.

  • John 18:22

    And when he had thus spoken, one of the officers which stood by struck Jesus with the palm of his hand, saying, Answerest thou the high priest so?

  • Hebrews 12:2

    Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

  • Matthew 5:39

    But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.

  • Nehemiah 13:25

    And I contended with them, and cursed them, and smote certain of them, and plucked off their hair, and made them swear by God, saying, Ye shall not give your daughters unto their sons, nor take their daughters unto your sons, or for yourselves.

  • Matthew 27:26

    Then released he Barabbas unto them: and when he had scourged Jesus, he delivered him to be crucified.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
gave.
La 3:30; Mic 5:1; Mt 5:39; 26:67; 27:26; Mr 14:65; 15:19
Lu 22:63,64; Joh 18:22; Heb 12:2
my cheeks.The eastern people always held the beard in great veneration; and to pluck a man's beard is one of the grossest indignities that can be offered. D'Arvieux gives a remarkable instance of an Arab, who, having received a wound in his jaw, chose to hazard his life rather than suffer the surgeon to cut off his beard. See Note on 2 Sa 10:4.
that plucked.
Ne 13:25
I hid.Another instance of the utmost contempt and detestation. Throughout the East it is highly offensive to spit in any one's presence; and if this is such an indignity, how much more spitting in the face?

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Isaiah 50:5

    The Lord God hath opened mine ear, and I was not rebellious, neither turned away back.

  • Isaiah 50:6

    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.

  • Isaiah 50:7

    For the Lord God will help me; therefore shall I not be confounded: therefore have I set my face like a flint, and I know that I shall not be ashamed.

Read all of Isaiah 50

Isaiah 50:6 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Dí mi cuerpo á los heridores, y mis mejillas á los que me mesaban el cabello: no escondí mi rostro de las injurias y esputos.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		J’ai donné mon dos à ceux qui frappaient, et mes joues à ceux qui arrachaient le poil; je n’ai pas caché ma face à l’opprobre et aux crachats.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Ich bot meinen Rücken den Schlagenden und meine Wangen den Raufenden, mein Angesicht verbarg ich nicht vor Schmach und Speichel.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Corpus meum dedi percutientibus, et genas meas vellentibus; faciem meam non averti ab increpantibus et conspuentibus in me.