Bible Commentary

Isaiah 50:1

The Pulpit Commentary on Isaiah 50:1

The Pulpit Commentary · Joseph S. Exell and contributors · Public domain

Where is the bill of your mother's divorcement? On account of her persistent "backsliding," God had "put away Israel," Judah's sister, and had "given her a bill of divorce" (). But he had not repudiated Judah; and her children were wrong to suppose themselves altogether cast off (see ).

They had, in fact, by their transgressions, especially their idolatries, wilfully divorced themselves, or at any rate separated themselves, from God; but no sentence had gone forth from him to bar reconciliation and return.

Or which of my creditors is it to whom I have sold you! Neither has God exercised the right, regarded as inherent in a parent (; ; , ), of selling his children to a creditor.

They are not sold—he has "taken no money for them" (; ); and the Babylonians are thus not their rightful owners ()—they are still God's children, his property, and the objects of his care.

For your iniquities … for your transgressions; rather, by your iniquities … by your transgressions. The separation, such as it was, between God and his people was caused by their sins, not by any act of his.

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