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.
Study Note
Study Note
The Servant declares that he gave his back to smiters, his cheeks to those who plucked the beard, and did not hide his face from shame and spitting — a triadic description of escalating degradation endured in deliberate submission. This Third Servant Song (50:4-9) presents the Servant as a disciple whose ear is opened morning by morning to receive God's teaching even amid suffering, making endurance itself a form of obedience. The specific details (beard-plucking, spitting) appear in the passion narratives (Matthew 26:67; 27:30; Mark 14:65) with sufficient correspondence to indicate that the evangelists saw Jesus' passion as fulfilling this text. The subsequent confidence ('the Lord God helps me; therefore I have not been disgraced,' 50:7) makes the suffering purposive and temporary.
Other Translations
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.
My back I have given to those smiting, And my cheeks to those plucking out, My face I hid not from shame and spitting.
I 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.
Cross References
But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon …
He giveth his cheek to him that smiteth him: he is filled full with reproach.
And they smote him on the head with a reed, and did spit upon him, and bowing their knees worshipped …
And some began to spit on him, and to cover his face, and to buffet him, and to say unto …
And they spit upon him, and took the reed, and smote him on the head.
Then released he Barabbas unto them: and when he had scourged Jesus, he delivered him to be crucified.
Then did they spit in his face, and buffeted him; and others smote him with the palms of their hands,
But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn …
Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured …
And when they had blindfolded him, they struck him on the face, and asked him, saying, Prophesy, who is it …