Tyndale Open Study NotesIsaiah 53

This is the fourth of four passages that speak about the promised servant (see study note on Isaiah 42:1–4). The Hebrew poem is carefully constructed in five three-line stanzas.It begins with the servant’s exaltation (52:13), proceeds to his humiliation (52:14–53:9), and ends with his exaltation (53:10–12).

The faithful servant’s suffering would bring reconciliation between God and humans. The Lord Jesus perfectly fulfilled this prophecy (see Isaiah 40; Matthew 8:17; Acts 8:30–35; Romans 10:15–17; 15:21; 1 Peter 2:24–25).

• our message: Scholars have debated who the speaker could be. The main possibilities are:

  1. a faithful remnant of Israel, and

  2. Isaiah himself.

  Most likely, Isaiah the prophet was speaking for and with Israel.

• the arm: This refers to God's strength, vividly described in the previous chapters (see Isaiah 50:2; 51:5, 9; 52:10). It would show itself in weakness and apparent helplessness through the servant's humiliation and exaltation (see 1 Corinthians 1:27–30).

• a tender shoot … out of dry ground: Such a plant is at risk of dying out (compare Isaiah 37:27). It struggles to survive, much less offer anything to others.

• no stately form or majesty: The servant seemed to lack greatness or obvious royal splendor (see Isaiah 52:13–15).

• to attract us: People prefer leaders who are good-looking and charismatic. The servant would be neither.

• a man of sorrows, acquainted with grief: The servant would suffer deeply. He would know pain and sadness from personal experience.

  He would fully experience the results of human sin and the fall (the time when the first humans disobeyed God and brought suffering into the world).

• we esteemed Him not: People would not see how someone weak and insignificant could help them, so they would ignore his suffering.

• The uncaring world might think the servant caused his own suffering, not realizing he suffered for them.

• infirmities … sorrows: These descriptions of the servant's humiliation contrast with those of his exaltation.

• He was pierced: See also Zechariah 12:10.

• crushed … punishment … stripes: These were typical punishments for crimes. Sin is a crime against God.

• brought us peace: The Hebrew word shalom is usually translated as "peace." Shalom means experiencing wholeness in body, mind, and relationships with others. The servant would be injured so humanity can be whole and healthy in all aspects of life (see also Isaiah 57:18). We do not need to suffer divine punishment for our sins because the servant has already done so (see Galatians 1:4).

gone astray … turned to his own way: These phrases are metaphors for sin (see also Romans 3:10–18).

The Ethiopian eunuch was reading this passage when Philip met him (see Acts 8:32–33).

See 1 Peter 2:21–25 to see how Jesus Christ fulfills this prophecy.

• By oppression and judgment: The servant will not receive legal protection or a proper defense.

• cut off from the land of the living: To die in midlife was understood to be God’s judgment.

• no violence, nor was any deceit: See 1 Peter 2:21–25.

• with a rich man in His death (see Matthew 27:57–61): Although the Bible often views riches as a blessing from God, it frequently condemns the rich as dishonest and oppressive. The point here might be ironic: This good man would be buried with oppressors.

The final stanza of the poem first explains why the servant suffered and was treated unjustly in the place of others; it then explains what the result of that obedience would be.

• The servant's grief would lead to a greater good: the forgiveness and reconciliation of sinful humanity. Note also God’s good plan to prosper and exalt the servant.

• when His soul is made a guilt offering: The servant's suffering served as a substitute for others, similar to animal sacrifices in the Temple.

• Having many descendants and enjoying a long life are rewards for living wisely and righteously (see Proverbs 3:2; 17:6; 20:7). Because the servant trusted his fate to God, he would receive eternal rewards from God, who vindicates the righteous (see Philippians 2:9–11).

• His knowledge: This does not mean knowledge in the sense of ideas in the mind. It refers to everything the servant would live through. It includes his obedience, his suffering, and his close relationship with God.

• Because the servant obeys God fully, many people can be put right with God. This is called justification (God declaring a person to be right with him). He can do this because he will carry and bear their sins (see Genesis 15:6; Romans 5:18–19).

• a portion: See Philippians 2:9–11.

• He was numbered with the transgressors: Transgressors (Hebrew poshe‘im) is a stronger word than sinners and is important in Isaiah. It refers to those who defy lawful authority, in this case, God.

• intercession for the transgressors: The servant would pray for sinners while suffering (see Exodus 32:30; Luke 23:34).