Wherefore, when I came, was there no man? when I called, was there none to answer? Is my hand shortened at all, that it cannot redeem? or have I no power to deliver? behold, at my rebuke I dry up the sea, I make the rivers a wilderness: their fish stinketh, because there is no water, and dieth for thirst.

ISAIAH 50:2KJV
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Isaiah 50:2 (KJV)

What does Isaiah 50:2 mean?

Isaiah 50:2 describes God questioning why, when He came to help His people and called out to them, no one responded or answered Him. God reminds them that His power to save is not limited, pointing to His ability to dry up seas and rivers as proof of His strength and authority.

In this verse, God is speaking through the prophet Isaiah to the people of Israel, addressing their lack of response to His call and their doubts about His ability to rescue them. The verse uses vivid imagery—drying up seas and making rivers a desert—to emphasize that God's power has not diminished, and He is fully able to deliver and redeem His people, even if they have ignored Him.

The Hebrew behind Isaiah 50:2

  • "Hand" (יָד, yad, H3027): This word refers to power or ability. When God asks if His "hand" is shortened, He is questioning whether His strength has somehow become less than before, which it has not.
  • "Redeem" (פָּדָה, padah, H6304): This word means to rescue or buy back. God is reminding Israel that He still has the power to redeem them from trouble or captivity.
  • "Shortened" (קָצַר, qatsar, H7114): This word means to be made short or limited. God uses it to challenge the idea that His ability to save has somehow been reduced.
  • "Rebuke" (גָּעַר, gaar, H1606): This word means a strong command or scolding. God’s "rebuke" is so powerful that it can dry up seas, showing the force of His word.

Why Isaiah 50:2 matters

  • Isaiah 50:2 clears up the misunderstanding that God’s silence or Israel’s suffering means God is powerless or unwilling to save; the verse insists that God’s power remains unchanged.
  • The verse highlights the responsibility of the people to respond to God’s call, showing that the problem lies not with God’s ability, but with the people’s lack of response.
  • This verse connects to the wider passage by emphasizing God’s faithfulness and strength, even when His people doubt or ignore Him, setting up a contrast between divine power and human reluctance.