Isaiah 53 American Standard Version
53 Who hath believed our message? and to whom hath the arm of Jehovah been revealed? 2 For he grew 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 see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him. 3 He was despised, and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and as one from whom men hide their face he was despised, and we esteemed him not.
4 Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows; yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. 5 But 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. 6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and Jehovah hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.
7 He was oppressed, yet when he was afflicted he opened not his mouth; as a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and as a sheep that before its shearers is dumb, so he opened not his mouth. 8 By oppression and judgment he was taken away; and as for his generation, who among them considered that he was cut off out of the land of the living for the transgression of my people to whom the stroke was due? 9 And they made his grave with the wicked, and with a rich man in his death; although he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth.
10 Yet it pleased Jehovah 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 Jehovah shall prosper in his hand. 11 He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by the knowledge of himself shall my righteous servant justify many; and he shall bear their iniquities. 12 Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he poured out his soul unto death, and was numbered with the transgressors: yet he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.
The Suffering Servant – Isaiah 53
For many centuries, Christian interpreters have claimed that the suffering servant is Jesus. But this view is fraught with difficulties.
First, the text doesn’t refer to any individual, but rather to a nation. In fact, the word “servant” is used repeatedly in a plural sense and grammatically implies that it’s referring to the whole Jewish nation.
Then, the verses are surrounded by the context of chapters that clearly depict the Jews as despised and oppressed without cause at the hands of the gentile nations. In a sense, Isaiah 53 and its surrounding chapters are antithetical to the dominant Western worldview that seeks fame and fortune through wars and terrorism.
Second, the verses also show that the servant’s suffering is not for his own gain but to atone for the sins of others. This is a unique type of vicarious suffering.
Third, the verses describe how the servant will be able to see light even after his death. This is a promise that Jesus received and taught to his disciples.
Finally, the verses speak of how the servant will startle the non-Jewish nations and leave their kings speechless. This is not a direct reference to the crucifixion of Jesus, but it is a symbol of his power over the Gentiles that would be unleashed by his resurrection. This is the kind of power that is unmatched throughout human history. It will change the course of history forever.
