Isaiah 53

KJV · Chapter 53/66

1Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the Lord revealed?

2For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him.

3He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.

4Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.

5But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.

6All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.

7He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.

8He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken.

9And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth.

10Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his hand.

11He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities.

12Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.

📖 Chapter study

Summary

The most famous and detailed Song of the Suffering Servant: he is despised, rejected, wounded for our transgressions and bruised for our iniquities, led like a lamb to the slaughter without opening his mouth, bearing the sin of many and interceding for the transgressors.

Explanation

This chapter is one of the most read and debated texts in all of biblical literature, describing a figure who voluntarily suffers for the sin of others, something with virtually no parallel in other religions of antiquity. The Christian New Testament sees in it a detailed prophecy of Jesus's crucifixion, quoted extensively in texts such as Acts 8:32-33 (when Philip explains this passage to an Ethiopian eunuch) and 1 Peter 2:22-25. Jewish scholars have also traditionally debated this passage, some interpreting the "Servant" as representing the people of Israel itself suffering in exile, while other ancient Jewish readings also recognized an individual messianic sense. Regardless of interpretation, the central message of someone who suffers unjustly to bring healing and reconciliation to others is universally powerful. The application today is to reflect on how voluntary suffering out of love for others can carry a redemptive purpose greater than it appears.

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