The Lord GOD has given me the tongue of those who are taught, that I may know how to sustain with a word him who is weary. Morning by morning he awakens; he awakens my ear to hear as those who are taught.
English Standard Version (ESV)
What's easily missed is the profound intimacy of God's communication: He doesn't just "give" a teaching tongue, but actively "awakens" the ear daily, morning by morning, to learn from Him. This isn't about possessing knowledge, but about a constant, responsive relationship where instruction is a continuous, personal unveiling.
The Lord GOD has given me the tongue of those who are taught, that I may know how to sustain with a word him who is weary. Morning by morning he awakens; he awakens my ear to hear as those who are taught.
English Standard Version (ESV)
In this passage, the Servant of the Lord begins to speak about himself, describing how God has uniquely equipped him for his mission. This is a continuation from the previous section where the Servant's calling and future restoration of Israel were detailed, setting the stage for his personal testimony of divine instruction and readiness to serve.
Have you ever felt like you just didn't know what to say to someone hurting? This verse reveals a special equipping for that very challenge.
The Art of the 'Word in Season'
The Lord God, the ultimate authority and source of all wisdom, has intentionally given the speaker a 'tongue of those who are taught.' This isn't just about knowing a lot of facts; it's about having a divinely imparted ability to speak with precision and effectiveness. The purpose? 'To know how to sustain with a word him who is weary.'
This highlights a crucial aspect of ministry and compassionate care: the right word, spoken at the right time, has immense power to uplift and strengthen those who are struggling. It's about discernment – understanding what a weary soul needs to hear, whether it's comfort, encouragement, or a gentle truth.
It's a reminder that this ability isn't innate; it's a gift from God, bestowed for the purpose of supporting others. This implies that we, too, can pray for and seek this kind of divine equipping when we interact with those facing hardship.
What if the secret to speaking wisely isn't just about having the right words, but about consistently hearing the right things?
Awakened Ears for Divine Instruction
The verse doesn't stop with the gift of speech; it immediately links it to a process of ongoing spiritual formation. 'Morning by morning he awakens; he awakens my ear to hear as those who are taught.' This paints a picture of constant, intentional receptivity.
The repetition of 'awakens' signifies a deliberate and persistent action by God. He isn't just giving a one-time download; He is actively drawing the speaker's attention each day.
Ask a follow-up
The phrase 'to hear as those who are taught' points to a posture of humility and teachability. It's not about hearing passively, but about listening with the attentiveness of a disciple, ready to receive and internalize God's guidance. This daily discipline of listening is what prepares the speaker to then offer sustaining words to others.
Understand the original words
Adonai YHWH · Hebrew Title/Noun
A title of God emphasizing His absolute sovereignty, authority, and status as the Creator and Ruler of all (often used in tandem with the personal name YHWH).
limmudim · Hebrew Adjective/Noun
One who is discipled or instructed by God; it implies a heart that is submissive to divine revelation and eager to learn the mind of God.
This passage directly echoes Isaiah's promise to 'sustain with a word him who is weary,' presenting Jesus' invitation to the weary and burdened to find rest in Him.
John 8:28Jesus' statement, 'I do nothing on my own but speak just what the Father has taught me,' powerfully illustrates the 'tongue of those who are taught' that Isaiah describes, highlighting divine instruction as the source of His words.
Hebrews 4:15This verse speaks of Jesus as a High Priest who 'can sympathize with our weaknesses, because he faced all points like us, yet was without sin,' connecting to Isaiah's depiction of one who understands and can sustain the weary.
1 Corinthians 1:18The Apostle Paul describes the message of the cross as 'foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God,' mirroring Isaiah's theme of divinely imparted wisdom ('tongue of the learned') that sustains even when it seems like weakness to the world.
Colossians 4:6This verse instructs believers to 'let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone,' which directly relates to the 'word in season' that Isaiah's Servant is equipped to provide for the weary.
barnesIsaiah 50:4: "The Lord GOD hath given me the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak a word in season to him that is weary: he wakeneth morning by morning, he wakeneth mine ear to hear as the learned."
The Lord God hath given me - This verse commences a new subject, and the deliverer is directly introduced as himself speaking. The reasons why this is supposed to refer to the Messiah, have been given in the analysis to the chapter. Those reasons will be strengthened by the examina…
bensonIsaiah 50:4: "The Lord GOD hath given me the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak a word in season to him that is weary: he wakeneth morning by morning, he wakeneth mine ear to hear as the learned."
Isaiah 50:4 . The Lord God hath given me, &c. — The second discourse of the fifth part of Isaiah’s prophecies, according to Vitringa, begins here, and is continued to the seventeenth verse of the following chapter. God having, in the preceding paragraph, asserted his own power; to…
What's easily missed is the profound intimacy of God's communication: He doesn't just "give" a teaching tongue, but actively "awakens" the ear daily, morning by morning, to learn from Him. This isn't about possessing knowledge, but about a constant, responsive relationship where instruction is a continuous, personal unveiling.
In this passage, the Servant of the Lord begins to speak about himself, describing how God has uniquely equipped him for his mission. This is a continuation from the previous section where the Servant's calling and future restoration of Israel were detailed, setting the stage for his personal testimony of divine instruction and readiness to serve.
In this passage, the Servant of the Lord begins to speak about himself, describing how God has uniquely equipped him for his mission. This is a continuation from the previous section where the Servant's calling and future restoration of Israel were detailed, setting the stage for his personal testimony of divine instruction and readiness to serve.
"The Lord GOD has given me the tongue of those who are taught, that I may know how to sustain with a word him who is weary. Morning by morning he awakens; he awakens my ear to hear as those who are ta…" — What's easily missed is the profound intimacy of God's communication: He doesn't just "give" a teaching tongue, but actively "awakens" the ear daily, morning by morning, to learn from Him. This i…
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
Last reviewed October 2026