Isaiah 50:3 kjv
I clothe the heavens with blackness, and I make sackcloth their covering.
Isaiah 50:3 nkjv
I clothe the heavens with blackness, And I make sackcloth their covering."
Isaiah 50:3 niv
I clothe the heavens with darkness and make sackcloth its covering."
Isaiah 50:3 esv
I clothe the heavens with blackness and make sackcloth their covering."
Isaiah 50:3 nlt
I dress the skies in darkness,
covering them with clothes of mourning."
Isaiah 50 3 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Isaiah 50:2 | "When I [God] come, why should there be no man? When I call, why should there be no answer?" | Parallel to verse 3 |
| Jeremiah 51:56 | "For a devastator comes against them, against Babylon; her mighty men are taken..." | God's judgment on nations |
| Psalm 104:7 | "At your rebuke they flee; at the sound of your thunder they take to flight..." | God's power over waters |
| Nahum 1:4 | "He rebukes the sea and makes it dry; he makes all the rivers fail..." | God's power over creation |
| Amos 7:4 | "And I saw the great devastation that the Lord brought upon the land." | God's destructive power |
| Revelation 16:4 | "The second angel poured his bowl into the sea, and it became like blood..." | God's judgment affecting water |
| Exodus 7:19 | "The LORD said to Moses, 'Say to Aaron, ‘Take your staff and stretch out your hand over the waters of Egypt...'" | God's power over water |
| Psalm 77:16 | "The waters saw you, O God; the waters saw you and shuddered; the waves also heaved." | God's power over waters |
| Genesis 1:9 | "And God said, 'Let the waters under the heavens be gathered together into one place...'" | God's creation of seas |
| Joshua 3:16 | "the waters coming down from above stood and rose up in a single heap, a great distance..." | God parting waters |
| Matthew 8:27 | "And they marveled, saying, 'What sort of man is this, that even winds and sea obey him?'" | Jesus' authority over nature |
| 1 Kings 17:1 | "Now Elijah the Tishbite, from Tishbi in Gilead, said to Ahab, 'As the LORD, the God of Israel, lives...'" | Elijah's prophecy of drought |
| Revelation 7:16 | "They shall hunger no more, neither shall they thirst anymore..." | Future fulfillment, absence of natural judgment |
| John 1:3 | "All things were made through him [Christ], and without him was not anything made that was made." | Christ's role in creation |
| Colossians 1:17 | "And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together." | Christ's sustaining power |
| Hebrews 1:3 | "who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped..." | Christ's divine nature |
| Acts 4:24 | "When they heard it, they raised their voices together to God and said, 'Sovereign Lord, who made the heaven and the earth...'" | Praising God as Creator |
| Psalm 136:4 | "To him who alone does great wonders, for his steadfast love endures forever..." | God's wonders in creation |
| Nehemiah 9:6 | "You are the LORD, you alone. You have made heaven, the heaven of heavens, with all their host, the earth and all that is on it..." | God's unique role as Creator |
| Psalm 95:5 | "The sea is his, for he made it, and the land, his hands formed it." | God's ownership of creation |
| Isaiah 44:24 | "Thus says the LORD, your Redeemer, who formed you from the womb: 'I am the LORD, who made all things, who alone stretched out the heavens...'" | God's sole power in creation |
Isaiah 50 verses
Isaiah 50 3 Meaning
This verse speaks of God's divine power to drought the land and sea, symbolizing His absolute authority and ability to bring judgment or to withhold blessings as He pleases. It highlights God's complete dominion over creation, a power that extends even to the severest forms of natural affliction.
Isaiah 50 3 Context
Isaiah 50 is part of the larger "Servant Songs" within Isaiah, which depict the suffering and ultimate vindication of God's servant, often understood to be a prophetic figure or a representation of Israel, and by extension, Christ. This chapter specifically focuses on the servant's faithfulness amidst rejection and suffering. The preceding verses set up God's addressing of those who have been cast off and forsaken, assuring them of His continued presence and power. Verse 3, in this context, functions as a declaration of God's formidable authority and ability to judge, contrasting with His faithful action towards His servant. It establishes the ultimate sovereign power behind the events described for the servant. The historical backdrop is the impending or ongoing Babylonian exile, a period of national crisis and a demonstration of God’s power in judgment.
Isaiah 50 3 Word analysis
He: (Hebrew: וַאֲנִי / wə’anî) - The conjunction "and" and the pronoun "I." This immediately places God speaking in the first person, emphasizing His direct involvement and personal declaration. It’s a strong personal statement of capability.
rebuke: (Hebrew: גָּעַר / gāʿar) - To chide, rebuke, or speak sharply. In a divine context, it implies a powerful word of command that elicits an immediate response from creation.
the sea: (Hebrew: יָם / yām) - Refers to the ocean or a large body of saltwater. This is a potent symbol of chaos and the uncontrollable forces of nature in the ancient world.
make it dry: (Hebrew: הוֹבִישׁ / hôḇîš) - To make dry, to cause to be arid or parched. It signifies a complete desiccation or drying up.
and: (Hebrew: וְ / wə) - Conjunction linking clauses.
cause the rivers: (Hebrew: יְאוֹרִים / yə’ôrîm) - Specifically refers to rivers, particularly large ones like the Nile.
to fail: (Hebrew: חָרַב / ḥārâḇ) - To be dry, withered, or empty. Implies a cessation of flow and life-giving properties.
Group analysis (God's powerful command over water): The phrase "rebuke the sea and make it dry, and cause the rivers to fail" highlights God's absolute sovereignty over the most elemental and formidable aspects of creation. The power to not just calm, but to dry up and empty these vast water sources demonstrates an authority that transcends natural laws, speaking to His ultimate control in judgment or in sustaining His people through miraculous means.
Isaiah 50 3 Bonus section
The imagery of drying up the sea and causing rivers to fail is paralleled in other biblical accounts of God's judgment and power. For instance, during the Exodus, God demonstrated His control over water by parting the Red Sea. Later, during the time of Elijah, a drought was brought upon Israel as a sign of God's displeasure. This verse extends that power to an even more comprehensive level, showing God's capability to affect all bodies of water. It also connects to the prophetic curses for disobedience, where lack of rain and dried-up rivers are described as consequences (Deuteronomy 28:23-24). Ultimately, this power is understood to be exercised by Christ, who Himself calmed the seas and demonstrated dominion over nature, fulfilling the ultimate prophetic declaration of God’s authority.
Isaiah 50 3 Commentary
This verse is a profound statement of divine omnipotence. God's ability to control the very waters that represent untamable power in the ancient mindset underscores His supreme authority over all creation. He can withhold life-giving waters or unleash devastating drought. This capability serves as a foundational assurance of God's power, particularly in the context of the Servant's ministry and suffering, implying that the God who can command the seas to dry up is certainly powerful enough to protect and vindicate His servant. It points to God's comprehensive dominion, from the grandest ocean to the flowing river.