CINXE.COM

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" /><title>Isaiah 50:3 I clothe the heavens in black and make sackcloth their covering."</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/isaiah/50-3.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/20/23_Isa_50_03.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="Isaiah 50:3 - Israel's Sin" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="I clothe the heavens in black and make sackcloth their covering." /><script type="application/javascript" src="https://scripts.webcontentassessor.com/scripts/8a2459b64f9cac8122fc7f2eac4409c8555fac9383016db59c4c26e3d5b8b157"></script><script src='https://qd.admetricspro.com/js/biblehub/biblehub-layout-loader-revcatch.js'></script><script id='HyDgbd_1s' src='https://prebidads.revcatch.com/ads.js' type='text/javascript' async></script><script>(function(w,d,b,s,i){var cts=d.createElement(s);cts.async=true;cts.id='catchscript'; cts.dataset.appid=i;cts.src='https://app.protectsubrev.com/catch_rp.js?cb='+Math.random(); document.head.appendChild(cts); }) (window,document,'head','script','rc-anksrH');</script></head><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="/vmenus/isaiah/50-3.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx6"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="245" scrolling="no" src="/bmc/isaiah/50-3.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable3"><tr><td><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" id="announce"><tr><td><div id="l1"><div id="breadcrumbs"><a href="/">Bible</a> > <a href="/isaiah/">Isaiah</a> > <a href="/isaiah/50.htm">Chapter 50</a> > Verse 3</div><div id="anc"><iframe src="/anc.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div id="anc2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div><div id="ad1"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/ad3.htm" width="100%" height="48" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="/isaiah/50-2.htm" title="Isaiah 50:2">◄</a> Isaiah 50:3 <a href="/isaiah/50-4.htm" title="Isaiah 50:4">►</a></div></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="topverse"> <a href="#audio" class="clickchap2" title="Context and Audio Bible"> Audio </a> <a href="#crossref" class="clickchap2" title="Cross References"> Cross </a> <a href="#study" class="clickchap2" title="Study Bible"> Study </a> <a href="#commentary" class="clickchap2" title="Commentary"> Comm </a> <a href="#lexicon" class="clickchap2" title="Lexicon"> Heb </a> </div><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheadingv"><b>Verse</b><a href="/bsb/isaiah/50.htm" class="clickchap" style="color:#001320" title="Click any translation name for full chapter">  (Click for Chapter)</a></div><div id="par"><span class="versiontext"><a href="/niv/isaiah/50.htm">New International Version</a></span><br />I clothe the heavens with darkness and make sackcloth its covering.&#8221<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nlt/isaiah/50.htm">New Living Translation</a></span><br />I dress the skies in darkness, covering them with clothes of mourning.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/esv/isaiah/50.htm">English Standard Version</a></span><br />I clothe the heavens with blackness and make sackcloth their covering.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/isaiah/50.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a></span><br />I clothe the heavens in black and make sackcloth their covering.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/isaiah/50.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br />I clothe the heavens with blackness, and I make sackcloth their covering.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/isaiah/50.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />I clothe the heavens with blackness, And I make sackcloth their covering.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/isaiah/50.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />“I clothe the heavens with blackness, And make sackcloth their covering.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/isaiah/50.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />&#8220I clothe the heavens with blackness And make sackcloth their covering.&#8221<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/isaiah/50.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />“I clothe the heavens with blackness, And I make sackcloth their covering.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/isaiah/50.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />I clothe the heavens with blackness And make sackcloth their covering.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/isaiah/50.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />“I clothe the heavens with the blackness [of storm clouds] And make sackcloth [of mourning] their clothing.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/isaiah/50.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />I dress the heavens in black and make sackcloth their covering.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/isaiah/50.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />I dress the heavens in black and make sackcloth their clothing. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/isaiah/50.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />I clothe the heavens with blackness, and I make sackcloth their covering.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cev/isaiah/50.htm">Contemporary English Version</a></span><br />I make the sky turn dark like the sackcloth you wear at funerals." <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/isaiah/50.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />I clothe the heavens with blackness, and I make sackcloth their covering.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/isaiah/50.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />I clothe the heavens in darkness and cover them with sackcloth.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/isaiah/50.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />I can make the sky turn dark, as if it were in mourning for the dead." <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/isaiah/50.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />I clothe the skies with darkness and make sackcloth their covering."<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/isaiah/50.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />I clothe the heavens in black and make sackcloth their covering.?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/isaiah/50.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />I can clothe the sky in darkness; I can cover it with sackcloth." <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/isaiah/50.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />I clothe the heavens with blackness, and I make sackcloth their covering."<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/isaiah/50.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />I clothe the heavens with blackness, and I make sackcloth their covering.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/isaiah/50.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />I clothe the heavens with blackness. I make sackcloth their covering.” <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/isaiah/50.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />I clothe the heavens [with] blackness, "" And I make their covering sackcloth.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/isaiah/50.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> I clothe the heavens with blackness, And sackcloth I make their covering.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/isaiah/50.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />I will put darkness upon the heavens, and I will put sackcloth their covering.<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/isaiah/50.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />I will clothe the heavens with darkness, and will make sackcloth their covering. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/isaiah/50.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br />I will clothe the heavens in darkness, and I will make sackcloth their covering.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/isaiah/50.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />I clothe the heavens in black, and make sackcloth their covering. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/isaiah/50.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />I clothe the heavens with blackness, and make sackcloth their covering.<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/isaiah/50.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />I clothe the heavens with darkness and make sackcloth their covering.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hpbt/isaiah/50.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a></span><br />And I clothe the Heavens in darkness and I make their covering sackcloth<div class="vheading2"><b>OT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/jps/isaiah/50.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a></span><br />I clothe the heavens with blackness, And I make sackcloth their covering.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/sep/isaiah/50.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a></span><br />I will clothe the sky with darkness, and will make its covering as sackcloth.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/isaiah/50-3.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></span></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv"><b>Audio Bible</b></div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Xv9bHT-nr9s?start=11276" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><div class="vheadingv"><b>Context</b></div><span class="hdg"><a href="/bsb/isaiah/50.htm">Israel's Sin</a></span><br>…<span class="reftext">2</span>Why was no one there when I arrived? Why did no one answer when I called? Is My hand too short to redeem you? Or do I lack the strength to deliver you? Behold, My rebuke dries up the sea; I turn the rivers into a desert; the fish rot for lack of water and die of thirst. <span class="reftext">3</span><span class="highl"><a href="/hebrew/3847.htm" title="3847: ’al·bîš (V-Hifil-Imperf-1cs) -- Or labesh; a primitive root; properly, wrap around, i.e. to put on a garment or clothe, literally or figuratively.">I clothe</a> <a href="/hebrew/8064.htm" title="8064: šā·ma·yim (N-mp) -- Heaven, sky. Dual of an unused singular shameh; from an unused root meaning to be lofty; the sky.">the heavens</a> <a href="/hebrew/6940.htm" title="6940: qaḏ·rūṯ (N-fs) -- Darkness, gloom. From qadar; duskiness.">in black</a> <a href="/hebrew/7760.htm" title="7760: ’ā·śîm (V-Qal-Imperf-1cs) -- To put, place, set. Or siym; a primitive root; to put.">and make</a> <a href="/hebrew/8242.htm" title="8242: wə·śaq (Conj-w:: N-ms) -- Sack, sackcloth. From shaqaq; properly, a mesh, i.e. Coarse loose cloth or sacking; hence, a bag.">sackcloth</a> <a href="/hebrew/3682.htm" title="3682: kə·sū·ṯām (N-fsc:: 3mp) -- A covering. From kacah; a cover; figuratively, a veiling.">their covering.”</a> </span><div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><span class="crossverse"><a href="/matthew/27-45.htm">Matthew 27:45</a></span><br />From the sixth hour until the ninth hour darkness came over all the land.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/mark/15-33.htm">Mark 15:33</a></span><br />From the sixth hour until the ninth hour darkness came over all the land.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/luke/23-44.htm">Luke 23:44-45</a></span><br />It was now about the sixth hour, and darkness came over all the land until the ninth hour. / The sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was torn down the middle.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/amos/8-9.htm">Amos 8:9</a></span><br />And in that day, declares the Lord GOD, I will make the sun go down at noon, and I will darken the earth in the daytime.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/joel/2-10.htm">Joel 2:10</a></span><br />Before them the earth quakes; the heavens tremble. The sun and moon grow dark, and the stars lose their brightness.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/revelation/6-12.htm">Revelation 6:12</a></span><br />And I watched as the Lamb opened the sixth seal, and there was a great earthquake, and the sun became black like sackcloth of goat hair, and the whole moon turned blood red,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/revelation/8-12.htm">Revelation 8:12</a></span><br />Then the fourth angel sounded his trumpet, and a third of the sun and moon and stars were struck. A third of the stars were darkened, a third of the day was without light, and a third of the night as well.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/exodus/10-21.htm">Exodus 10:21-23</a></span><br />Then the LORD said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand toward heaven, so that darkness may spread over the land of Egypt—a palpable darkness.” / So Moses stretched out his hand toward heaven, and total darkness covered all the land of Egypt for three days. / No one could see anyone else, and for three days no one left his place. Yet all the Israelites had light in their dwellings.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/jeremiah/4-28.htm">Jeremiah 4:28</a></span><br />Therefore the earth will mourn and the heavens above will grow dark. I have spoken, I have planned, and I will not relent or turn back.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/ezekiel/32-7.htm">Ezekiel 32:7-8</a></span><br />When I extinguish you, I will cover the heavens and darken their stars. I will cover the sun with a cloud, and the moon will not give its light. / All the shining lights in the heavens I will darken over you, and I will bring darkness upon your land,’ declares the Lord GOD.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/acts/2-20.htm">Acts 2:20</a></span><br />The sun will be turned to darkness, and the moon to blood, before the coming of the great and glorious Day of the Lord.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/matthew/24-29.htm">Matthew 24:29</a></span><br />Immediately after the tribulation of those days: ‘The sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from the sky, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken.’<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/13-10.htm">Isaiah 13:10</a></span><br />For the stars of heaven and their constellations will not give their light. The rising sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/34-4.htm">Isaiah 34:4</a></span><br />All the stars of heaven will be dissolved. The skies will be rolled up like a scroll, and all their stars will fall like withered leaves from the vine, like foliage from the fig tree.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/job/9-7.htm">Job 9:7</a></span><br />He commands the sun not to shine; He seals off the stars.</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">I clothe the heavens with blackness, and I make sackcloth their covering.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/exodus/10-21.htm">Exodus 10:21</a></b></br> And the LORD said unto Moses, Stretch out thine hand toward heaven, that there may be darkness over the land of Egypt, even darkness <i>which</i> may be felt.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/psalms/18-11.htm">Psalm 18:11,12</a></b></br> He made darkness his secret place; his pavilion round about him <i>were</i> dark waters <i>and</i> thick clouds of the skies… </p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/matthew/27-45.htm">Matthew 27:45</a></b></br> Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land unto the ninth hour.</p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/isaiah/28-27.htm">Black</a> <a href="/proverbs/20-20.htm">Blackness</a> <a href="/isaiah/49-18.htm">Clothe</a> <a href="/isaiah/37-2.htm">Clothed</a> <a href="/isaiah/37-2.htm">Covering</a> <a href="/isaiah/49-9.htm">Darkness</a> <a href="/isaiah/37-2.htm">Haircloth</a> <a href="/isaiah/49-13.htm">Heavens</a> <a href="/isaiah/47-2.htm">Robe</a> <a href="/isaiah/37-2.htm">Sackcloth</a> <a href="/isaiah/40-12.htm">Sky</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/jeremiah/4-28.htm">Black</a> <a href="/lamentations/4-8.htm">Blackness</a> <a href="/isaiah/51-9.htm">Clothe</a> <a href="/isaiah/61-6.htm">Clothed</a> <a href="/isaiah/51-16.htm">Covering</a> <a href="/isaiah/50-10.htm">Darkness</a> <a href="/jeremiah/4-8.htm">Haircloth</a> <a href="/isaiah/51-6.htm">Heavens</a> <a href="/isaiah/50-9.htm">Robe</a> <a href="/isaiah/58-5.htm">Sackcloth</a> <a href="/isaiah/51-6.htm">Sky</a><div class="vheading2">Isaiah 50</div><span class="reftext">1. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/isaiah/50-1.htm">Christ shows Israel's Sin is not to be imputed to him, </a></span><br><span class="reftext">2. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/isaiah/50-2.htm">by his ability to save</a></span><br><span class="reftext">5. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/isaiah/50-5.htm">By his obedience in that work</a></span><br><span class="reftext">7. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/isaiah/50-7.htm">And by his confidence in that assistance</a></span><br><span class="reftext">10. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/isaiah/50-10.htm">An exhortation to trust in God, and not in ourselves</a></span><br></div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div><br /><br /> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script> <br /><br /> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top"><a href="/study/isaiah/50.htm">Study Bible</a></td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/study/isaiah/" title="Book Summary and Study">Book ◦</a> <a href="/study/chapters/isaiah/50.htm" title="Chapter summary and Study">Chapter </a></tr></table></div><b>I clothe the heavens in black</b><br>This phrase signifies God's sovereign power over creation, emphasizing His ability to alter the natural order. In biblical context, darkness often symbolizes judgment or mourning. The imagery of clothing the heavens in black can be seen as a metaphor for divine judgment, similar to the darkness that covered Egypt during the plagues (<a href="/exodus/10-21.htm">Exodus 10:21-23</a>). This act of darkening the heavens is also reminiscent of the cosmic disturbances prophesied in the end times (<a href="/joel/2-31.htm">Joel 2:31</a>, <a href="/revelation/6-12.htm">Revelation 6:12</a>). The phrase underscores God's control over the universe, reflecting His authority to bring about both physical and spiritual change.<p><b>and make sackcloth their covering.</b><br>Sackcloth is traditionally associated with mourning, repentance, and humility in the Bible. It was a coarse material worn during times of grief or penitence (<a href="/genesis/37-34.htm">Genesis 37:34</a>, <a href="/jonah/3-5.htm">Jonah 3:5-6</a>). By using sackcloth as a covering for the heavens, the text conveys a profound sense of lamentation and divine displeasure. This imagery may also point to the mourning of creation itself in response to human sin or impending judgment. The use of sackcloth here can be seen as a type of Christ, who bore the sins of humanity and experienced profound sorrow and suffering (<a href="/isaiah/53-3.htm">Isaiah 53:3-4</a>). The covering of the heavens with sackcloth symbolizes a call to repentance and recognition of God's righteous judgment.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <b><a href="/topical/i/isaiah.htm">Isaiah</a></b><br>A major prophet in the Old Testament, Isaiah is the author of the book that bears his name. He prophesied during the reigns of several kings of Judah and is known for his messages of both judgment and hope.<br><br>2. <b><a href="/topical/h/heavens.htm">Heavens</a></b><br>In this context, the heavens refer to the sky or the celestial realm. The imagery of clothing the heavens with blackness signifies a dramatic change or divine intervention.<br><br>3. <b><a href="/topical/s/sackcloth.htm">Sackcloth</a></b><br>A coarse material traditionally worn during times of mourning or repentance. The use of sackcloth as a covering for the heavens symbolizes a period of judgment or lamentation.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><b><a href="/topical/g/god's_sovereignty_over_creation.htm">God's Sovereignty Over Creation</a></b><br><a href="/isaiah/50-3.htm">Isaiah 50:3</a> reminds us of God's ultimate authority over the natural world. Just as He created light, He can also bring darkness. This should lead us to trust in His power and plan, even when circumstances seem bleak.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/s/symbolism_of_darkness_and_sackcloth.htm">Symbolism of Darkness and Sackcloth</a></b><br>The imagery of darkness and sackcloth serves as a powerful symbol of judgment and repentance. It calls believers to reflect on their own lives and consider areas where they need to turn back to God.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/c/call_to_repentance.htm">Call to Repentance</a></b><br>The use of sackcloth in the Bible often accompanies repentance. This verse encourages us to examine our hearts and seek forgiveness, knowing that God is merciful and just.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/h/hope_in_god's_redemption.htm">Hope in God's Redemption</a></b><br>While the imagery is somber, it also points to the hope of redemption. God's actions are purposeful, and His judgments are often a precursor to restoration and renewal.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_isaiah_50.htm">Top 10 Lessons from Isaiah 50</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/what_does_the_bible_say_on_sun_moon.htm">What does the Bible say about sun and moon changes?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/how_do_skeptics_view_uninhabitable_areas.htm">In light of Isaiah 45:18 stating God created the earth 'to be inhabited,' how do skeptics reconcile this with scientific evidence suggesting vast uninhabitable regions and cosmic voids?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/how_does_isaiah_50_2_fit_natural_laws.htm">How do we reconcile Isaiah 50:2 with natural laws when it describes drying up seas and turning rivers into deserts by mere rebuke?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/revelation_6_12-14__explain_its_science.htm">Revelation 6:12-14--How do we address the scientific impossibility of the sky vanishing like a scroll and every mountain being moved from its place?</a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/isaiah/50.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 3.</span> - <span class="cmt_word">I clothe the heavens with blackness</span> (comp. <a href="/jeremiah/4-28.htm">Jeremiah 4:28</a>; <a href="/ezekiel/32-7.htm">Ezekiel 32:7, 8</a>; <a href="/joel/2-10.htm">Joel 2:10</a>; <a href="/joel/3-15.htm">Joel 3:15</a>; <a href="/matthew/24-29.htm">Matthew 24:29</a>; <a href="/mark/13-24.htm">Mark 13:24</a>; <a href="/luke/21-25.htm">Luke 21:25</a>; <a href="/revelation/6-12.htm">Revelation 6:12</a>). The Egyptian plague of darkness (<a href="/exodus/10-21.htm">Exodus 10:21-23</a>) is not adequate to the expressions here used. God means to assert his power of leaving all nature in absolute darkness, if he so choose - a power necessarily belonging to him who said, "Let there be light; and there was light" (<a href="/genesis/1-3.htm">Genesis 1:3</a>). <span class="cmt_word">I make sackcloth their covering</span> (see <a href="/revelation/6-12.htm">Revelation 6:12</a>, "The sun became black as sackcloth of hair"). <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/isaiah/50-3.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a></span><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Hebrew</div><span class="word">I clothe</span><br /><span class="heb">אַלְבִּ֥ישׁ</span> <span class="translit">(’al·bîš)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - first person common singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3847.htm">Strong's 3847: </a> </span><span class="str2">Wrap around, to put on a, garment, clothe</span><br /><br /><span class="word">the heavens</span><br /><span class="heb">שָׁמַ֖יִם</span> <span class="translit">(šā·ma·yim)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_8064.htm">Strong's 8064: </a> </span><span class="str2">Heaven, sky</span><br /><br /><span class="word">in black</span><br /><span class="heb">קַדְר֑וּת</span> <span class="translit">(qaḏ·rūṯ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_6940.htm">Strong's 6940: </a> </span><span class="str2">Darkness, gloom</span><br /><br /><span class="word">and make</span><br /><span class="heb">אָשִׂ֥ים</span> <span class="translit">(’ā·śîm)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_7760.htm">Strong's 7760: </a> </span><span class="str2">Put -- to put, place, set</span><br /><br /><span class="word">sackcloth</span><br /><span class="heb">וְשַׂ֖ק</span> <span class="translit">(wə·śaq)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_8242.htm">Strong's 8242: </a> </span><span class="str2">A mesh, coarse loose cloth, sacking, a bag</span><br /><br /><span class="word">their covering.</span><br /><span class="heb">כְּסוּתָֽם׃</span> <span class="translit">(kə·sū·ṯām)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3682.htm">Strong's 3682: </a> </span><span class="str2">A cover, a veiling</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/isaiah/50-3.htm">Isaiah 50:3 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/isaiah/50-3.htm">Isaiah 50:3 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/isaiah/50-3.htm">Isaiah 50:3 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/isaiah/50-3.htm">Isaiah 50:3 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/isaiah/50-3.htm">Isaiah 50:3 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/isaiah/50-3.htm">Isaiah 50:3 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/isaiah/50-3.htm">Isaiah 50:3 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/isaiah/50-3.htm">Isaiah 50:3 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/isaiah/50-3.htm">Isaiah 50:3 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/isaiah/50-3.htm">Isaiah 50:3 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/isaiah/50-3.htm">OT Prophets: Isaiah 50:3 I clothe the heavens with blackness (Isa Isi Is)</a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/isaiah/50-2.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Isaiah 50:2"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Isaiah 50:2" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/isaiah/50-4.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Isaiah 50:4"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Isaiah 50:4" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>