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Isaiah 53

World English Bible

WEB

1Who has believed our message? To whom has Yahweh’s arm been revealed? 2For he grew up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of dry ground. He has no good looks or majesty. When we see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him. 3He was despised and rejected by men, a man of suffering and acquainted with disease. He was despised as one from whom men hide their face; and we didn’t respect him. 4Surely he has borne our sickness and carried our suffering; yet we considered him plagued, struck by God, and afflicted. 5But he was pierced for our transgressions. He was crushed for our iniquities. The punishment that brought our peace was on him; and by his wounds we are healed. 6All we like sheep have gone astray. Everyone has turned to his own way; and Yahweh has laid on him the iniquity of us all. 7He was oppressed, yet when he was afflicted he didn’t open his mouth. As a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and as a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so he didn’t open his mouth. 8He was taken away by oppression and judgment. As for his generation, who considered that he was cut off out of the land of the living and stricken for the disobedience of my people? 9They made his grave with the wicked, and with a rich man in his death, although he had done no violence, nor was any deceit in his mouth. 10Yet it pleased Yahweh to bruise him. He has caused him to suffer. When you make his soul an offering for sin, he will see his offspring. He will prolong his days and Yahweh’s pleasure will prosper in his hand. 11After the suffering of his soul, he will see the light and be satisfied. My righteous servant will justify many by the knowledge of himself; and he will bear their iniquities. 12Therefore I will give him a portion with the great. He will divide the plunder with the strong, because he poured out his soul to death and was counted with the transgressors; yet he bore the sins of many and made intercession for the transgressors.

World English Bible, 2020 stable text edition. Public domain; “World English Bible” is a trademark of eBible.org. eBible.org

Overview

Isaiah Chapter 53 presents one of the most profound and prophetic descriptions of the suffering servant, which Christians understand to be a foreshadowing of Jesus Christ. The chapter begins by questioning who would believe the report of the Lord regarding this servant, emphasizing his humble beginnings and lack of outward beauty. This servant is described as one who would grow up before God like a tender shoot, yet he would be despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. This portrayal highlights the deep emotional and physical suffering that the servant would endure, reflecting the rejection he would face from his own people, the #Israelites (#Isaiah 53:1-3).

The chapter continues to reveal the purpose of the servant's suffering, stating that he bore our griefs and carried our sorrows, yet we esteemed him stricken and smitten by God. It is through his wounds that we are healed, illustrating the concept of substitutionary atonement, where the servant takes upon himself the iniquities of us all. This powerful imagery underscores the sacrificial nature of his mission, fulfilling the divine plan for redemption (#Isaiah 53:4-6). The chapter concludes with a declaration of the servant's ultimate vindication, as he will see the light of life and be satisfied, justifying many through his knowledge. This prophetic vision not only assures believers of the servant's redemptive work but also emphasizes God's sovereign plan for salvation through suffering, culminating in the resurrection and eternal life for those who believe (#Isaiah 53:10-12).

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Referenced by

  1. Leviticus 1:4v6Leviticus 1:4 describes the laying of hands on the offering, symbolizing the transfer of sin. Isaiah 53:6 speaks of the Lord laying on the Messiah the iniquity of us all, illustrating the ultimate transfer of sin to Christ.
  2. Leviticus 16:21v6Leviticus 16:21 describes the transfer of Israel's sins onto the scapegoat, which Isaiah 53:6 echoes in the prophecy of the Messiah bearing the iniquities of all.
  3. Leviticus 21:21v2Leviticus 21:21 excludes those with physical defects from priestly service, while Isaiah 53:2-3 describes the Messiah as having no beauty or majesty, yet He fulfills the ultimate priestly role.
  4. Psalms 38:4v6Psalm 38:4 describes the overwhelming burden of sin, similar to Isaiah 53:6, which speaks of all humanity going astray and the Lord laying on the Messiah the iniquity of us all.
  5. Psalms 103:3v5Psalm 103:3 speaks of God who forgives all iniquities and heals all diseases, which is echoed in Isaiah 53:5 where the suffering servant's wounds bring healing, pointing to the redemptive work of Christ.
  6. Jeremiah 11:19v7Jeremiah 11:19 describes Jeremiah as a lamb led to the slaughter, which is a motif also found in Isaiah 53:7, referring to the suffering servant, highlighting themes of innocence and unjust suffering.
  7. Jeremiah 33:6v5Jeremiah 33:6 speaks of God bringing health and healing, which is echoed in Isaiah 53:5 where the suffering of the Messiah brings healing to humanity.
  8. Lamentations 1:12v3Lamentations 1:12 calls for attention to the unparalleled sorrow of Jerusalem, reminiscent of the suffering servant in Isaiah 53:3, who is described as a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief.
  9. Daniel 9:24v5Daniel 9:24 speaks of atonement for iniquity and bringing in everlasting righteousness, which is fulfilled in the suffering and atoning work of the Messiah as described in Isaiah 53:5.
  10. Matthew 8:17v4Matthew 8:17 cites Isaiah 53:4 to show that Jesus' healing ministry fulfills the prophecy of the Suffering Servant bearing our infirmities.
  11. Matthew 27:57-60v9Matthew 27:57-60 describes Jesus' burial in a rich man's tomb, fulfilling the prophecy in Isaiah 53:9 about the Messiah being with the rich in His death.
  12. Mark 15:43v9Mark 15:43 mentions Joseph of Arimathea, a respected member of the council, who provides a tomb for Jesus, fulfilling the prophecy in Isaiah 53:9 about the Messiah being with a rich man in His death.
  13. Luke 18:31-33v3In Luke 18:31-33, Jesus predicts His suffering and death, fulfilling the prophecy of the Suffering Servant in Isaiah 53:3-5.
  14. Luke 22:37v12Luke 22:37 quotes Isaiah 53:12, where Jesus identifies Himself as the suffering servant who is 'numbered with the transgressors.'
  15. Luke 23:34v12In Luke 23:34, Jesus prays for forgiveness for those crucifying Him, fulfilling Isaiah 53:12, which speaks of the Messiah making intercession for transgressors.
  16. John 12:38v1John 12:38 references Isaiah 53:1 to explain the unbelief of the people despite Jesus' signs, fulfilling the prophecy of the suffering servant's rejection.
  17. Acts 3:18v5Acts 3:18 speaks of the fulfillment of what God foretold through all the prophets about the suffering of the Messiah, directly connecting to Isaiah 53:5, which prophesies the suffering of the Messiah.
  18. Acts 8:26-31v7Acts 8:26-31 recounts Philip explaining Isaiah 53:7-8 to the Ethiopian eunuch, showing the fulfillment of the prophecy of the suffering servant in Jesus.
  19. 1 Corinthians 15:3-4v51 Corinthians 15:3-4 summarizes the gospel message, emphasizing Christ's death for our sins and His resurrection, which fulfills the prophecy of the suffering servant in Isaiah 53:5-6.
  20. 2 Corinthians 5:21v62 Corinthians 5:21 explains that Christ was made sin for us, so we might become the righteousness of God, which is foreshadowed in Isaiah 53:6 where the iniquity of us all is laid on the suffering servant.
  21. Hebrews 9:28v12Hebrews 9:28 speaks of Christ being offered once to bear the sins of many, which aligns with Isaiah 53:12 where the suffering servant bears the sin of many.
  22. 1 Peter 2:24v51 Peter 2:24 speaks of Jesus bearing our sins in His body on the cross, fulfilling the prophecy of the suffering servant in Isaiah 53:5.
  23. Revelation 5:6v7Revelation 5:6 describes the Lamb as having been slain, which echoes Isaiah 53:7's depiction of the suffering servant led like a lamb to the slaughter, highlighting Jesus' sacrificial role.

Topics in this chapter

Related chapters

  • Matthew 27Good FridaySubstitutionBurial
  • 1 Peter 2Suffering ServantChosen PeopleRejection
  • Mark 15Good FridaySubstitutionBurial
  • Luke 23Good FridaySubstitutionBurial
  • John 19Good FridayBurialSuffering Servant
  • Psalms 22Good FridaySuffering ServantCrucifixion
  • Matthew 8Suffering ServantDivine PowerHealing
  • Leviticus 16Good FridayLamb of GodSubstitution
  • Isaiah 52Armor of the LordChrist's SacrificeSuffering Servant
  • John 12Suffering ServantCrucifixionLent
  • Revelation 5Lamb of GodSuffering ServantJesus Christ
  • Isaiah 50Armor of the LordSuffering ServantVindication

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