Isaiah 50:6 and the Christological Interpretation
Isaiah 50:6 states, "I gave my back to those who strike, and my cheeks to those who pull out the beard; I did not hide my face from insult and spitting" (ESV) [1]. This verse is part of the third Servant Song in Isaiah, which has been a subject of significant Christological interpretation in Christian tradition.
Literary Context
The third Servant Song (Isaiah 50:4-9) is a poetic passage that describes the suffering and obedience of the Servant of the Lord. The surrounding verses (Isaiah 50:4-5 and 50:7-9) emphasize the Servant's commitment to his mission, despite facing opposition and humiliation. The passage is characterized by its vivid imagery and the Servant's unwavering resolve.
Historical Setting
The historical context of Isaiah 50 is debated among scholars, with some attributing it to the prophet Isaiah's own time (around 700 BCE), while others see it as part of a later redaction. Regardless, the passage has been understood within the Jewish tradition as referring to the nation of Israel or a faithful remnant, while Christian interpreters have often seen it as a prefiguration of Jesus Christ [2, 4].
Key Terms and Exegetical Decisions
The phrase "I gave my back to those who strike" is a key element in understanding the verse. The verb "strike" implies physical violence, and the image of giving one's back to the strikers conveys a sense of submission and non-resistance. The parallel line, "I did not hide my face from insult and spitting," further emphasizes the Servant's humiliation. The Targum Jonathan, a Jewish Aramaic translation of the Hebrew Bible, renders this verse as "I gave my back to the smiters, and my cheeks to those who plucked off the hair; I hid not my face from shame and spitting," highlighting the intensity of the suffering [4].
Range of Interpretations
Christian interpreters have frequently seen Isaiah 50:6 as a prophecy fulfilled in Jesus Christ, particularly in the events of his Passion. The New Testament accounts of Jesus' suffering, including the Gospel narratives of his arrest, trial, and crucifixion, are seen as corresponding to the details in Isaiah 50:6. For example, Matthew 26:67 and 27:30 describe Jesus being struck and spat upon, echoing the imagery in Isaiah 50:6 [1].
In contrast, Jewish tradition has interpreted the Servant Songs, including Isaiah 50:4-9, as referring to Israel or a faithful remnant within Israel. The Targum Jonathan on Isaiah 50:6, for instance, maintains a Jewish interpretation, understanding the verse as describing the suffering of the Servant, potentially Israel, at the hands of its oppressors [4].
Christological Interpretation in Tradition
The Christological interpretation of Isaiah 50:6 has been significant in Christian theology, particularly in understanding the Passion of Christ. Patristic writers, such as Augustine, referenced Isaiah 50:6 in the context of discussing Christ's suffering and the fulfillment of prophecy [3]. Reformed theologians like John Calvin also saw Isaiah 50:6 as a clear prefiguration of Christ's Passion, emphasizing the Servant's non-retaliation and submission to suffering as a model for Christian behavior [5].
The verse has also played a role in Christian liturgy and devotion, with its imagery of suffering and non-resistance influencing Christian understandings of martyrdom and discipleship. The connection between Isaiah 50:6 and the New Testament accounts of Jesus' Passion has been a cornerstone in Christian apologetics, demonstrating the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies in Jesus Christ.
Sources
- Treasury of Scripture Knowledge “Isaiah 50:6 cross-references: Nehemiah 13:25, Job 30:10, Psalms 69:8, Psalms 129:3, Isaiah 53:5, Isaiah 53:7, Lamentations 3:30, Micah 5:1, Matthew 5:39, Matthew 26:67, Matthew 27:26, Matthew 27:30, Mark 14:65, Mark 15:19, Luke 22:63, John 18:22, Hebrews 12:2”
- Targum Jonathan (Jewish (Rabbinic)) “Targum Jonathan, Targum Jonathan on Isaiah 51:6: Lift up your eyes to the heavens, and consider the earth beneath: for the heavens shall vanish away like smoke, and the earth that waxeth old like a garment, so shall it wax old, and its inhabitants, also, they shall die; but my salvation shall be for ever, and my righteousness shall not tarry.”
- Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “NPNF1 Vol 2: Augustine — City of God, Christian Doctrine — CHAP. 21.--UTTERANCES OF THE PROPHET ISAIAH REGARDING THE RESURRECTION OF THE DEAD AND THE RETRIBUTIVE JUDGMENT. (part 3): be remembered nor come into mind; but they shall find in it gladness and exultation. Behold, I will make Jerusalem an exultation, and my people a joy. And I will exult in Jerusalem, and joy in my people; and the voice of weeping shall be no more heard in her;"(1) and other promises, which some endeavor to refer to carnal enjoyment during the thousand years. For, in the manner of prophecy, figurative and literal exp”
- Targum Jonathan (Jewish (Rabbinic)) “Targum Jonathan, Targum Jonathan on Isaiah 50:6: I gave my back to the smiters, and I my cheeks to them that plucked off the hair : I hid not my face from shame and spitting.”
- CCEL (Reformed) “John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion, section 44: his children should be stript of the kingdom, and carried away into captivity, for a sin which he had committed ( Isa. 39:7 ); and the households of Pharaoh and Abimelech were made to suffer for an injury done to Abraham ( Gen. 12:17 ; 20:3–18). But the attempt to solve the question in this way is an evasion rather than a true interpretation. For the punishment denounced here and in similar passages is too great to be confined within the limits of the present life. We must therefore understand it to mean, that a curse from the Lord”