This singular reference is even more common in biblical verses referring to the Messianic era, when the Jewish people will be fully united under the banner of God see Hosea , Jeremiah As we will see, for numerous reasons this chapter cannot be referring to Jesus. Even in the Christian scriptures, the disciples did not consider the Suffering Servant as referring to Jesus see Matthew , Mark , Luke So how did the Suffering Servant come to be associated with Jesus?
Only after one has come to believe that Jesus was the Messiah, and more specifically the kind of Messiah that he is, does it all begin to make sense The intention is not to denigrate another religion, but rather to understand the true meaning of the Divine word. Early in the Book of Isaiah, God predicts the long and difficult exile of the Jewish people. Chapter 53 occurs in the midst of Isaiah's "Messages of Consolation," which tell of the restoration of Israel to prominence as God's chosen people.
The key to understanding this chapter lies in correctly identifying who is speaking. Though the book was written by Isaiah, verses are told from the perspective of world leaders. For whom has the arm of God been revealed! See also Exodus , , , ; Deut. We saw him, but without a desirable appearance. This imagery of a tree struggling to grow in dry earth is a metaphor for the Jewish struggle in exile.
A young sapling in dry ground appears that it will die. The Jews were always a small nation, at times as small as 2 million people, threatened with extinction. As one from whom we would hide our faces, he was despised, and we had no regard for him.
This verse describes the Servant as universally despised and rejected. This has been a historical theme for the Jewish people, as a long list of oppressors have treated the Jews as sub-human the Nazis or as a pariah state the United Nations. See similar imagery in Isaiah , ; Psalms ; Nechemia While this description clearly applies to Israel, it cannot be reconciled with the New Testament account which describes Jesus as immensely popular Matthew Luke describes him as physically strong and well respected, a man whose popularity spread and was "praised by all" Luke Although Jesus died a criminal's death, Isaiah is describing someone for whom rejection has spanned the ages — obviously referring to a nation, not an individual who suffered rejection for only a few hours.
The chastisement upon him was for our benefit; and through his wounds we were healed. Indeed, the Christian idea directly contradicts the basic Jewish teaching that God promises forgiveness to all who sincerely return to Him; thus there is no need for the Messiah to atone for others Isaiah , Jeremiah , Ezekiel chapters 18 and 33, Hoseah , Jonah , Proverbs , Daniel , 2-Chronicles Like a sheep being led to the slaughter or a lamb that is silent before her shearers, he did not open his mouth.
For example: "You give us as sheep to be eaten and have scattered us among the nations This verse prophesizes the many hardships — both physical torment and economic exploitation — that the Jews endured in exile.
In our time, while Jews in Nazi-occupied Europe were "led to the slaughter," they still remained like a "lamb that is silent before her shearers" — without complaints against God. For he was removed from the land of the living; because of my people's sin they were afflicted.
Here the text makes absolutely clear that the oppressed Servant is a collective nation, not a single individual. This is where knowledge of biblical Hebrew is absolutely crucial. Missionaries cite this verse as a claim that Jesus lived a sinless life, and was thus the Messiah. This is contradicted, however, by the Gospels themselves, who record that Jesus sinned by violating the Sabbath John and — by claiming to be God Himself — violating the grave prohibition against making any physical image of God John , Further, wealthy Jews "submitted to his executions, for committing no crime" — killed so that wicked conquerors could confiscate their riches.
If the Jews would only "acknowledge guilt," they would see their "offspring and live long days. This verse emphasizes that the Servant is to be rewarded with long life and many children. This verse could not possibly refer to Jesus who, according to the New Testament, died young and childless. With his knowledge My servant will cause the masses to be righteous; and he will bear their sins.
Missionaries cite this verse to claim that Jesus died for our sins. Exodus , Deut. The Jews will accomplish this both by example Deut. This verse speaks of how the Jews always pray for the welfare of the nations they are exiled into see Jeremiah The verse continues to explain that the Jewish people, who righteously bore the sins of the world and yet remained faithful to God, will be rewarded. Regarding the above passage, some have claimed that the "suffering servant" cannot be Israel, since Israel has sins.
Yet this is a fallacy, since we know that no human being — not even Moses — is completely free of sin. If Jesus is God, these ideas have no meaning.
This point is acknowledged by all Christian commentaries. In the days of Jesus, nobody ever understood Isaiah 53 to be predicting the death of the Messiah. When Jesus said, "I am going to Jerusalem where I will suffer and die," the Apostle Peter did not relate this in any way to the suffering described in Isaiah Rather, Peter rebuked Jesus, saying, "Be it far from you Lord, this shall not be unto you.
If the context of Isaiah 53 so clearly refers to the Jewish people, how could so many Christian leaders have mistranslated the Bible? History shows that — for whatever motivation — many did so knowingly:. When all the verses have been parsed, and all the proofs have been presented, one still might wonder: What difference does it make who is right? The theological gap between Judaism and Christianity is not limited to the question: "Who is the Messiah," or a debate over the translation of a few biblical verses.
Judaism and Christianity are two different belief systems, differing over core issues such as the existential nature of man, the role of our relationship with God, and the path to genuine spiritual fulfillment. Jews have held steadfast to their beliefs for thousands of years, amidst all forms of persecution and hardship.
As the prophet Isaiah predicts, this will become eminently clear when the Messiah, the King of Israel, arrives. May it be speedily in our day. For further study, see www. The book of Isaiah did not have one author; it had three, who wrote at different times.
I will refer those with questions about Isaiah to this excellent article. Not all nations have disdain for the Jews From this perspective alone the premise that all world leaders hate Israel is defeated!
Where is the nominative pronoun "he" used to describe the Jewish people? Where else in the Torah is the nominative pronoun "he" used to describe the Jewish people? Or is it ever used this way, except in Isaiah? Please clarify. If it says in Sanhedrin 98b that a verse in Yeshayahu is referring to mashiach, how can we say that it's only referring to the jewish people?
Too often the Torah and Tanakh have been deliberately misinterpreted to suit the purpose of other beliefs and theology, too often resulting in the persecution and growth of the evil antisemitism by such groups and faiths. Great article, shalom!! I've made it my mission to spend a little time every day engaging thse missionaries -- i doubt that they're going to change their mind, but I don't want others to fall.
Articles such as yours give me the resources that I need to point out their mistranslations, misapplications, etc. But when the time will come for him to reveal himself in all his glory, then all will see and understand how great is the strength of the one who suffers for his generation. This laziness means that the beauty of the text is reduced to a paltry proof text. This text deserves far more sympathetic and respectful attention Could one suggest that Hitler rent the fabric of German society by declaring persons who were Jewish to be effectively non-German I hope I am being sensitive enough here.
While this has been a repeated story for the Jewish people and persons, it is also possible to see it as an example in other cultural situations. I think that is important because it can speak to us of how a denial of a shared humanity has so enabled unspeakable brutality And the Hebrew Scriptures speak so powerfully about welcoming the stranger. Finally, I wonder if there might be extra textual space to consider the Suffering Servant in relation to the character and situation of Job Many arguments, many "proofs" We can testify all we want of ourselves, however if there is no testimony from others about our arguments then??????
No one with an inkling of history will testify the Jews suffer in silence, ever. It would be more true of the Roma people, Where is the Gypsy holocaust museum? Many other truths but who has ever been able to tell a Jew anything? Even G-d? Exo , Deut 28 A goy who tries, is met with shrieks, "antisemite! And continue to cry for your messiah to come. He was a humble servant, who would save the world through his suffering.
Learn more in the video lectures on Isaiah , taught by John N. Oswalt and available through MasterLectures. MasterLectures gives you unlimited access to thousands of video lectures on the Bible and theology. Start for FREE. Who Is the Suffering Servant in Isaiah 53? Categories Online Courses Old Testament. You may unsubscribe from these email communications at any time. If you have any questions, please review our Privacy Policy or email us at yourprivacy harpercollins.
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But the Christ needed not to die at all, so far as he himself was personally concerned. There was no cause within himself why he should go to the cross to lay down his life. He yielded himself up, a willing sacrifice for our sins. He was taken from prison and from judgment, and who will declare His generation? This not only refers to the confinement of the Messiah before His crucifixion, but it also speaks of the fact that the Messiah died childless. There was no one to declare His generation.
For He was cut off from the land of the living; for the transgressions of My people He was stricken : This is the first indication in this passage that the suffering Servant of the LORD, the Messiah Himself, would die. Up to this point, we might have thought He would only have been severely beaten. But there is no mistaking the point: He is to be cut off from the land of the living.
This, among many aspects of this prophecy, demonstrates again that Isaiah cannot be speaking of Israel as the suffering Servant. As badly as Israel has suffered through the centuries, she has never been cut off from the land of the living. She has always endured, even as God promised Abraham.
The prophet brings the point home again and again. And they made His grave with the wicked : Jesus died in the company of the wicked Luke , and it was the intention of those supervising His execution to cast Him into a common grave with the wicked. But with the rich at His death, because He had done no violence, nor was any deceit in His mouth : Despite the intention of others to make His grave with the wicked , God allowed the Messiah to be with the rich at His death , buried in the tomb of the wealthy Joseph of Arimathea Luke , Matthew The line because He had done no violence, nor was any deceit in His mouth is important.
He remained the Holy One, despite all the pain and suffering. As a recognition of that, He was buried with the rich at His death , and would indeed be resurrected. He shall see the labor of His soul, and be satisfied. He has put Him to grief! Jesus was no victim of circumstance or at the mercy of political or military power. The Father and the Son worked together at the cross. Though Jesus was treated as if He were an enemy of God, He was not.
Even as Jesus was punished as if He were a sinner, He was performing the most holy service to God the Father ever offered. In and of itself, the suffering of the Son did not please the Father. But as it accomplished the work of reconciling the world to Himself , it was completely pleasing to God the Father. When you make His soul an offering for sin : The Hebrew speaks of a specific, sacrificial sin-offering as described in Leviticus chapter 5.
The idea of a substitutionary atonement for sin cannot be more specifically stated. And it was this — the becoming of the sin-sacrifice — more than the physical suffering that Jesus dreaded. His was the pouring out of a whole soul in all the phases of suffering into which perfect souls can pass.
He felt the horror of sin as we who have sinned could not feel it, and the sight of evil afflicted him much more than it does the purest among us. He lives on! He lives to see His seed , His spiritual descendants. He shall prolong His days , and not be under the curse of death. He shall see the labor of His soul, and be satisfied : The Messiah will look upon His work — with full view of the travail of His soul — and in the end, He shall be satisfied.
The Messiah will have no regrets. Every bit of the suffering and agony was worth it and brought about a satisfactory result. By His knowledge My righteous Servant shall justify many, for He shall bear their iniquities : It is in knowing the Messiah, in both who He is and what He has done, that makes us justified before God.
Therefore I will 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 He was numbered with the transgressors, And He bore the sin of many, And made intercession for the transgressors.
With the image of dividing the spoil after a victorious battle, we see that the Messiah ultimately triumphs. Paul described this ultimate triumph in Philippians That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. That is a glorious reward. He has gotten his most illustrious splendour, his brightest jewels, his divinest crowns, out of coming into contact with this poor fallen race.
In the end, the sufferings and humiliation of Jesus only bring Him more glory and majesty! If there had been no sinners, there could not have been a Saviour. If no sin, no pouring out of the soul unto death; and if no pouring out of the soul unto death, no dividing a portion with the great. If there had been no guilt, there had been no act of expiation. C 2 He grew up before him like a tender shoot, D and like a root E out of dry ground. He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance F that we should desire him.
H Like one from whom people hide I their faces he was despised, J and we held him in low esteem. M 5 But he was pierced N for our transgressions, O he was crushed P for our iniquities; the punishment Q that brought us peace R was on him, and by his wounds S we are healed.
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