Isaiah — Chapter 53

“Who can believe what we have heard?Upon whom has the arm of GODathe arm of GOD I.e., the vindication that the arm of GOD effects. been revealed?

For he has grown, by God’s favor, like a tree crown,Like a tree trunk out of arid ground.He had no form or beauty, that we should look at him:No charm, that we should find him pleasing.

He was despised, shunned by others,bshunned by others Meaning of Heb. uncertain. A man of suffering, familiar with disease.As one who hid his face from us,cAs one who hid his face from us I.e., as a leper; cf. Lev. 13.45ff. He was despised, we held him of no account.

Yet it was our sickness that he was bearing,Our suffering that he endured.We accounted him plagued,Smitten and afflicted by God;

But he was wounded because of our sins,Crushed because of our iniquities.He bore the chastisement that made us whole,And by his bruises we were healed.

We all went astray like sheep,Each of us going our own way;And GOD visited upon himThe guilt of all of us.”

He was maltreated, yet he was submissive,He did not open his mouth;Like a sheep being led to slaughter,Like a ewe, dumb before those who shear her,He did not open his mouth.

By oppressive judgment he was taken away,Who could describe his abode?dWho could describe his abode? Meaning of Heb. uncertain. For he was cut off from the land of the livingThrough the sin of my people, who deserved the punishment.

And his grave was set among the wicked,And with the rich, in his deatheAnd with the rich, in his death Emendation yields “And his tomb with evildoers.”—Though he had done no injusticeAnd had spoken no falsehood.

But GOD chose to crush him by disease,That, if he made himself an offering for guilt,fby disease, / … for guilt Meaning of Heb. uncertain. He might see offspringgoffspring Emendation yields “His arm,” i.e., God’s vindication; cf. v. 1 with note. and have long life,And that through him GOD’s purpose might prosper.

Out of his anguish he shall see it;hit I.e., the arm of GOD; see preceding note. He shall enjoy it to the full through his devotion.idevotion For this sense of daʻath see 11.2, 9. “My righteous servant makes the many righteous,It is their punishment that he bears;

Assuredly, I will give him the many as his portion,He shall receive the multitude as his spoil.For he exposed himself to deathAnd was numbered among the sinners,Whereas he bore the guilt of the manyAnd made intercession for sinners.”