Isaiah 53

King James Version

Full text for Isaiah Chapter 53

1¶ Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the LORD revealed?

2For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, [there is] no beauty that we should desire him.

3He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were [our] faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.

4¶ Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.

5But he [was] wounded for our transgressions, [he was] bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace [was] upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.

6All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.

7He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.

8He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken.

9And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither [was any] deceit in his mouth.

10¶ Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put [him] to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see [his] seed, he shall prolong [his] days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand.

11He shall see of the travail of his soul, [and] shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities.

12Therefore will I divide him [a portion] with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.

AI Analysis

AI Summaries

Short Summary

Isaiah 53 describes the suffering and sacrifice of the Lord's servant, who is despised and rejected by men. He bears the transgressions and iniquities of others, suffering silently as a lamb led to slaughter. Through his wounds and death, he provides healing and justification, fulfilling the Lord's will to make his soul an offering for sin. Ultimately, he will be exalted for his intercession and bearing the sins of many.

Medium Summary

This chapter opens with a lament over the unbelief concerning the Lord's servant, whose humble appearance offers no beauty to desire. He is portrayed as despised, rejected, and acquainted with grief, yet he silently bears the sorrows and griefs of humanity. The servant is wounded for transgressions and bruised for iniquities, with the chastisement for peace laid upon him, and by his stripes, healing is achieved. All have strayed like sheep, and the Lord places the iniquity of all upon this suffering servant. He endures oppression and unjust judgment, cut off from the land of the living, and is buried with the wicked despite his innocence. It is revealed that this suffering pleased the Lord, making his soul an offering for sin. Through this sacrifice, he will see his spiritual offspring, prolong his days, and justify many by bearing their iniquities, ultimately receiving a portion with the great for his profound intercession.

Long Summary

Isaiah 53 begins by questioning who has believed the report of the Lord's arm, introducing a servant who grows up humbly, without outward beauty or comeliness to attract desire. He is described as despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows deeply acquainted with grief, whom people turned away from and esteemed not. Despite his lowly state, it is revealed that he truly bore the griefs and carried the sorrows of others, though he was mistakenly perceived as smitten by God. The text clarifies that he was wounded specifically for human transgressions and bruised for iniquities, with the chastisement necessary for peace placed upon him, and through his suffering, healing is provided. The prophet confesses that all have strayed like lost sheep, each turning to their own way, and the Lord sovereignly laid the iniquity of all upon this singular servant. He endured oppression and affliction without opening his mouth, likened to a lamb led to slaughter or a sheep silent before its shearers. He was unjustly taken from prison and judgment, cut off from the land of the living, his death attributed to the transgression of the people. His burial was appointed with the wicked, yet also with the rich, emphasizing his innocence, as no violence or deceit was found in his mouth. Remarkably, it pleased the Lord to bruise him and put him to grief, making his soul an offering for sin. Through this profound sacrifice, the servant is promised to see his spiritual seed, prolong his days, and witness the prosperity of the Lord's pleasure in his hand. He will be satisfied by the travail of his soul, and by his knowledge, this righteous servant will justify many, for he bears their iniquities. Consequently, he will be highly exalted and share a portion with the great, having poured out his soul unto death, being numbered with transgressors, bearing the sin of many, and making intercession for them.

Core Concepts

  • The Suffering ServantThe central figure of the chapter, depicted as humble, despised, rejected, and a "man of sorrows," who silently endures affliction for the sake of others.
  • Vicarious AtonementThe concept that the servant bears the griefs, sorrows, transgressions, and iniquities of others, suffering in their place to provide healing and peace.
  • Divine Purpose in SufferingThe suffering of the servant is not accidental but part of God's sovereign plan, as "it pleased the LORD to bruise him" and make his soul an offering for sin.
  • Justification by SacrificeThrough the servant's knowledge and the bearing of iniquities, he will "justify many," indicating that his suffering and death provide righteousness for those who believe.
  • Exaltation and IntercessionDespite his death and being numbered with transgressors, the servant is promised future exaltation, seeing his "seed," prolonging his "days," and making intercession for transgressors.
  • Innocence and Unjust SufferingThe servant is explicitly stated to have "done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth," yet he suffers unjust judgment and death, highlighting his blamelessness.
  • Healing through StripesA specific promise that "with his stripes we are healed," emphasizing the redemptive power of the servant's physical and emotional suffering.