The Bible — World English Bible
Isaiah 53
In brief
Isaiah 53 is the fourth song of the Servant of the Lord, written about 700 years before Jesus. It describes a servant despised, a man of sorrows, who bears the sufferings and faults of others without opening his mouth, like a lamb led to slaughter. His death brings peace and healing to those who had gone their own way, and the text announces he will see the fruit of his work. Christians recognize Jesus and his cross in it.
The chapter in 4 parts
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.
Key verses
He 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.
The servant is despised and abandoned, a man of sorrows. The image is the opposite of a conquering king: God works through a path men did not expect.
Surely he has borne our sickness and carried our suffering; yet we considered him plagued, struck by God, and afflicted. But 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.
Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows. Yet we considered him punished by God, smitten by him, and afflicted. His suffering is vicarious, for others.
All we like sheep have gone astray. Everyone has turned to his own way; and Yahweh has laid on him the iniquity of us all.
He was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth. Many see in this a link with Jesus before his accusers.
He 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.
The chapter ends with the servant's victory: he gave himself to death, bore the sins of many, and intercedes for the guilty. This is how many Christians understand Jesus' cross.
Therefore 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.
The text presents the servant as one who does not defend himself but accepts suffering. Many Christians see in this a picture of Jesus' patience and acceptance at his trial.
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Frequently asked questions about Isaiah 53
What does 'By his wounds we are healed' in Isaiah 53:5 mean?
Christians do not understand it all the same way. Some see chiefly forgiveness of sins; others also include healing of the body. What all see is that the servant's suffering has a purpose and benefit for others. The text speaks of the servant taking on what belongs to us.
Why is Isaiah 53 read around Easter?
Because it describes, 700 years before Jesus, a servant who suffers, dies for the faults of others, and whose work bears fruit. Many Christians see in it an announcement of the cross and resurrection.
Who does the Jewish tradition identify as the suffering servant in Isaiah 53?
The Jewish tradition has varied interpretations. Some identify the servant with Israel as a people, others with a faithful remnant. Christians uniquely see in it a prophecy of Jesus and his redemptive work. The text remains central to Jewish-Christian dialogue.
Articles quoting Isaiah 53
World English Bible translation — public domain.