50:6 I offered my back to those who attacked, 11
my jaws to those who tore out my beard;
I did not hide my face
from insults and spitting.
50:7 But the sovereign Lord helps me,
so I am not humiliated.
For that reason I am steadfastly resolved; 12
I know I will not be put to shame.
50:8 The one who vindicates me is close by.
Who dares to argue with me? Let us confront each other! 13
Who is my accuser? 14 Let him challenge me! 15
50:9 Look, the sovereign Lord helps me.
Who dares to condemn me?
Look, all of them will wear out like clothes;
a moth will eat away at them.
1 tn Grk “my judgment is true.”
2 tn The phrase “when I judge” is not in the Greek text, but is implied by the context.
3 tn The phrase “do so together” is not in the Greek text, but is implied by the context.
4 tn That is, “he has not abandoned me.”
5 tn The mutual interrelationship of the Father and the Son (ἐγὼ ἐν τῷ πατρὶ καὶ ὁ πατὴρ ἐν ἐμοί ἐστιν, egw en tw patri kai Jo pathr en emoi estin) is something that Jesus expected even his opponents to recognize (cf. John 10:38). The question Jesus asks of Philip (οὐ πιστεύεις, ou pisteuei") expects the answer “yes.” Note that the following statement is addressed to all the disciples, however, because the plural pronoun (ὑμῖν, Jumin) is used. Jesus says that his teaching (the words he spoke to them all) did not originate from himself, but the Father, who permanently remains (μένων, menwn) in relationship with Jesus, performs his works. One would have expected “speaks his words” here rather than “performs his works”; many of the church fathers (e.g., Augustine and Chrysostom) identified the two by saying that Jesus’ words were works. But there is an implicit contrast in the next verse between words and works, and v. 12 seems to demand that the works are real works, not just words. It is probably best to see the two terms as related but not identical; there is a progression in the idea here. Both Jesus’ words (recall the Samaritans’ response in John 4:42) and Jesus’ works are revelatory of who he is, but as the next verse indicates, works have greater confirmatory power than words.
6 tn Grk “I do not speak from myself.”
7 tn Or “does.”
8 tn Or “his mighty acts”; Grk “his works.”
9 tn The phrase “but if you do not believe me” contains an ellipsis; the Greek text reads Grk “but if not.” The ellipsis has been filled out (“but if [you do] not [believe me]…”) for the benefit of the modern English reader.
10 tn Grk “because of the works.”
11 tn Or perhaps, “who beat [me].”
12 tn Heb “Therefore I set my face like flint.”
13 tn Heb “Let us stand together!”
14 tn Heb “Who is the master of my judgment?”
15 tn Heb “let him approach me”; NAB, NIV “Let him confront me.”