Isaiah 53
53
1Who would believe what we have heard?#What we have heard: this fourth servant oracle is introduced by words of the Lord (52:13–15) but is now continued by speakers who are not identified, perhaps those referred to in 52:15, perhaps Israel (cf. “struck for the sins of his people”—v. 8). The Lord is again the speaker in vv. 11–13.
To whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?#Is 52:10; Jn 12:38; Rom 10:16.
2He grew up like a sapling before him,#Is 11:1.
like a shoot from the parched earth;
He had no majestic bearing to catch our eye,
no beauty to draw us to him.
3He was spurned and avoided by men,
a man of suffering, knowing pain,
Like one from whom you turn your face,
spurned, and we held him in no esteem.#Jb 19:18; Ps 31:11–13; Mk 9:11.
4Yet it was our pain that he bore,
our sufferings he endured.
We thought of him as stricken,
struck down by God#Struck down by God: the Bible often sees suffering as a punishment for sin (e.g., Ps 6:2; 32:1–5), yet sin sometimes appears to go unpunished and the innocent often suffer (cf. Ps 73; the Book of Job). In the case of the servant, the onlookers initially judge him guilty because of his suffering but, in some way not explained, they come to understand that his sufferings are for the sins of others. One notes the element of surprise, for such vicarious suffering, in the form described here, is without parallel in the Old Testament. and afflicted,#Jer 10:19; Mt 8:17.
5But he was pierced for our sins,
crushed for our iniquity.
He bore the punishment that makes us whole,
by his wounds we were healed.#1 Cor 15:3; 1 Pt 2:24.
6We had all gone astray like sheep,
all following our own way;
But the Lord laid upon him#The Lord laid upon him: the servant’s suffering is no accidental or casual matter, but part of God’s plan; see also v. 10. The bystanders’ speculation of v. 4 is verified, but not in the sense intended by them.
the guilt of us all.#Lv 16:21–22.
7Though harshly treated, he submitted
and did not open his mouth;
Like a lamb led to slaughter
or a sheep silent before shearers,
he did not open his mouth.#Mt 26:63; Acts 8:32.
8Seized and condemned, he was taken away.
Who would have thought any more of his destiny?
For he was cut off from the land of the living,
struck for the sins of his people.
9He was given a grave among the wicked,
a burial place with evildoers,
Though he had done no wrong,
nor was deceit found in his mouth.#1 Pt 2:22–23; 1 Jn 3:5.
10But it was the Lord’s will to crush him with pain.
By making his life as a reparation offering,#Reparation offering: the Hebrew term ’asham is used of a particular kind of sacrifice, one that is intended as compensation for that which is due because of guilt. See Lv 5:14–26 and note. Justify: the verb means “to be acquitted,” “declared innocent,” but since the servant bears “their iniquity,” an effective rather than simply legal action is suggested.
he shall see his offspring, shall lengthen his days,
and the Lord’s will shall be accomplished through him.
11Because of his anguish he shall see the light;
because of his knowledge he shall be content;
My servant, the just one, shall justify the many,
their iniquity he shall bear.
12Therefore I will give him his portion among the many,
and he shall divide the spoils with the mighty,
Because he surrendered himself to death,
was counted among the transgressors,
Bore the sins of many,
and interceded for the transgressors.#Mk 15:28; Lk 22:37.
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Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Inc
Isaiah 53
53
1Who can believe what we have heard,
and for whose sake has the LORD’s arm#53.1 Or power been revealed?
2He grew up like a young plant before us,#53.2 Or him
like a root from dry ground.
He possessed no splendid form for us to see,
no desirable appearance.
3He was despised and avoided by others;
a man who suffered, who knew sickness well.
Like someone from whom people hid their faces,
he was despised, and we didn’t think about him.
4It was certainly our sickness that he carried,
and our sufferings that he bore,
but we thought him afflicted,
struck down by God and tormented.
5He was pierced because of our rebellions
and crushed because of our crimes.
He bore the punishment that made us whole;
by his wounds we are healed.
6Like sheep we had all wandered away,
each going its own way,
but the LORD let fall on him all our crimes.
7He was oppressed and tormented,
but didn’t open his mouth.
Like a lamb being brought to slaughter,
like a ewe silent before her shearers,
he didn’t open his mouth.
8Due to an unjust ruling he was taken away,
and his fate—who will think about it?
He was eliminated from the land of the living,
struck dead because of my people’s rebellion.
9His grave was among the wicked,
his tomb with evildoers,#53.9 Cf Tg; MT and with a rich one in his deaths
though he had done no violence,
and had spoken nothing false.
10But the LORD wanted to crush him
and to make him suffer.
If his life is offered#53.10 Or if you place his life as restitution,
he will see his offspring; he will enjoy long life.
The LORD’s plans will come to fruition through him.
11After his deep anguish he will see light,#53.11 DSS (1QIsaa); MT lacks light. and he will be satisfied.
Through his knowledge, the righteous one, my servant,
will make many righteous,
and will bear their guilt.
12Therefore, I will give him a share with the great,
and he will divide the spoil with the strong,
in return for exposing his life to death
and being numbered with rebels,
though he carried the sin of many
and pleaded on behalf of those who rebelled.
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