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Isaiah 53

BSB·12 verses ·Old Testament
✦ Tap any verse to open Scripture Explorer — original Hebrew/Greek, commentary, notes & highlights
1Whoמִ֥יmî — who? what person?H4310 — Full Word Study → has believedהֶאֱמִ֖יןhe·’ĕ·mîn — to trust, believe, be faithfulH539 — Full Word Study → our messageלִשְׁמֻעָתֵ֑נוּliš·mu·‘ā·ṯê·nū — news, report, or rumor; something heard or toldH8052 — Full Word Study →? And toעַל־‘al- — upon, over, against; concerningH5921 — Full Word Study → whomמִ֥יmî — who? what person?H4310 — Full Word Study → has the armוּזְר֥וֹעַū·zə·rō·w·a‘ — arm; power, strength, mightH2220 — Full Word Study → of the LORDיְהוָ֖הYah·weh — The LORD; God's covenant nameH3068 — Full Word Study → been revealedנִגְלָֽתָה׃niḡ·lā·ṯāh — HeglamH1540 — Full Word Study →? 2He grew upוַיַּ֨עַלway·ya·‘al — to ascend, rise up, go upH5927 — Full Word Study → before Himלְפָנָ֗יוlə·p̄ā·nāw — face; presence; beforeH6440 — Full Word Study → like a tender shootכַּיּוֹנֵ֜קkay·yō·w·nêq — Young plant; tender shoot or saplingH3126 — Full Word Study →, and like a rootוְכַשֹּׁ֙רֶשׁ֙wə·ḵaš·šō·reš — Root; foundation; origin; bottomH8328 — Full Word Study → out of dryצִיָּ֔הṣî·yāh — Dryness, aridity, barren wildernessH6723 — Full Word Study → groundמֵאֶ֣רֶץmê·’e·reṣ — Land, earth, or countryH776 — Full Word Study →. He had noלֹא־lō- — not; negation; absenceH3808 — Full Word Study → stately form or majestyהָדָ֑רhā·ḏār — Glory, majesty, splendor, honorH1926 — Full Word Study → to attract usוְנִרְאֵ֥הוּwə·nir·’ê·hū — to see, perceive, behold, experienceH7200 — Full Word Study →, noוְלֹֽא־wə·lō- — not; negation; absenceH3808 — Full Word Study → beautyמַרְאֶ֖הmar·’eh — Appearance, sight, vision, or outward formH4758 — Full Word Study → that we should desire Himוְנֶחְמְדֵֽהוּ׃wə·neḥ·mə·ḏê·hū — To desire, covet, or take delight inH2530 — Full Word Study →. 3He was despisedנִבְזֶה֙niḇ·zeh — to despise, treat with contemptH959 — Full Word Study → and rejectedוַחֲדַ֣לwa·ḥă·ḏal — to cease, stop, refrain, forbearH2310 — Full Word Study → by menאִישִׁ֔ים’î·šîm — man, male person, husbandH376 — Full Word Study →, a manאִ֥ישׁ’îš — man, male person, husbandH376 — Full Word Study → of sorrowsמַכְאֹב֖וֹתmaḵ·’ō·ḇō·wṯ — Physical or emotional pain; anguishH4341 — Full Word Study →, acquaintedוִיד֣וּעַwî·ḏū·a‘ — to know, understand, perceiveH3045 — Full Word Study → with griefחֹ֑לִיḥō·lî — Sickness, disease, illnessH2483 — Full Word Study →. Like one from whom men hideוּכְמַסְתֵּ֤רū·ḵə·mas·têr — hiding place, shelter, refugeH4564 — Full Word Study → their facesפָּנִים֙pā·nîm — face; presence; beforeH6440 — Full Word Study →, He was despisedנִבְזֶ֖הniḇ·zeh — to despise, treat with contemptH959 — Full Word Study →, and we esteemed Himחֲשַׁבְנֻֽהוּ׃ḥă·šaḇ·nu·hū — to think, devise, plan, or reckonH2803 — Full Word Study → notוְלֹ֥אwə·lō — not; negation; absenceH3808 — Full Word Study →. 4Surelyאָכֵ֤ן’ā·ḵên — Surely, certainly, trulyH403 — Full Word Study → Heה֣וּאhū — He, she, it; the third person pronounH1931 — Full Word Study → took on our infirmitiesחֳלָיֵ֙נוּ֙ḥo·lā·yê·nū — Sickness, disease, illnessH2483 — Full Word Study → and carriedסְבָלָ֑םsə·ḇā·lām — to bear, carry, or endure a burdenH5445 — Full Word Study → our sorrowsוּמַכְאֹבֵ֖ינוּū·maḵ·’ō·ḇê·nū — Physical or emotional pain; anguishH4341 — Full Word Study →; yet weוַאֲנַ֣חְנוּwa·’ă·naḥ·nū — We, us, ourselves (first person plural pronoun)H587 — Full Word Study → considered Himחֲשַׁבְנֻ֔הוּḥă·šaḇ·nu·hū — to think, devise, plan, or reckonH2803 — Full Word Study → strickenנָג֛וּעַnā·ḡū·a‘ — to touch, reach, strike, or come into contactH5060 — Full Word Study → by God, struck downמֻכֵּ֥הmuk·kêh — To strike, smite, or defeat with forceH5221 — Full Word Study → and afflictedוּמְעֻנֶּֽה׃ū·mə·‘un·neh — To afflict, humble, or oppress; to treat harshlyH6031 — Full Word Study →. 5But Heוְהוּא֙wə·hū — He, she, it; the third person pronounH1931 — Full Word Study → was piercedמְחֹלָ֣לmə·ḥō·lāl — to profane, defile, or beginH2490 — Full Word Study → for our transgressionsמִפְּשָׁעֵ֔נוּmip·pə·šā·‘ê·nū — Willful rebellion or transgression against God's lawH6588 — Full Word Study →, He was crushedמְדֻכָּ֖אmə·ḏuk·kā — to crush, break, or oppressH1792 — Full Word Study → for our iniquitiesמֵעֲוֺנֹתֵ֑ינוּmê·‘ă·wō·nō·ṯê·nū — Iniquity, guilt, or moral wrongdoingH5771 — Full Word Study →; the punishmentמוּסַ֤רmū·sar — Discipline, instruction, or correctionH4148 — Full Word Study → that brought us peaceשְׁלוֹמֵ֙נוּ֙šə·lō·w·mê·nū — Peace, wholeness, well-being, prosperityH7965 — Full Word Study → was upon Himעָלָ֔יו‘ā·lāw — upon, over, against; concerningH5921 — Full Word Study →, and by His stripesוּבַחֲבֻרָת֖וֹū·ḇa·ḥă·ḇu·rā·ṯōw — A bruise, wound, or stripe on the bodyH2250 — Full Word Study → we are healedנִרְפָּא־nir·pā- — To heal, restore to healthH7495 — Full Word Study →. 6We allכֻּלָּ֙נוּ֙kul·lā·nū — All, every, whole, totalityH3605 — Full Word Study → like sheepכַּצֹּ֣אןkaṣ·ṣōn — flock of sheep or goatsH6629 — Full Word Study → have gone astrayתָּעִ֔ינוּtā·‘î·nū — to stray, wander, or go astrayH8582 — Full Word Study →, each oneאִ֥ישׁ’îš — man, male person, husbandH376 — Full Word Study → has turnedפָּנִ֑ינוּpā·nî·nū — to turn, face, or direct attentionH6437 — Full Word Study → to his own wayלְדַרְכּ֖וֹlə·ḏar·kōw — way, path, journey, conductH1870 — Full Word Study →; and the LORDוַֽיהוָה֙Yah·weh — The LORD; God's covenant nameH3068 — Full Word Study → has laidהִפְגִּ֣יעַhip̄·gî·a‘ — to meet, encounter, or intercedeH6293 — Full Word Study → upon Himאֵ֖ת’êṯ — direct object marker; signs accusative caseH853 — Full Word Study → the iniquityעֲוֺ֥ן‘ă·wōn — Iniquity, guilt, or moral wrongdoingH5771 — Full Word Study → of us allכֻּלָּֽנוּ׃kul·lā·nū — All, every, whole, totalityH3605 — Full Word Study →. 7He was oppressedנִגַּ֨שׂnig·gaś — to press upon, oppress, or exact tributeH5065 — Full Word Study → and afflictedנַעֲנֶה֮na·‘ă·neh — To afflict, humble, or oppress; to treat harshlyH6031 — Full Word Study →, yet He did notוְלֹ֣אwə·lō — not; negation; absenceH3808 — Full Word Study → openיִפְתַּח־yip̄·taḥ- — to open, loosen, or beginH6605 — Full Word Study → His mouthפִּיו֒pîw — Mouth; lips; edge; openingH6310 — Full Word Study →. He was ledיוּבָ֔לyū·ḇāl — to lead, conduct, or carry forthH2986 — Full Word Study → like a lambכַּשֶּׂה֙kaś·śeh — A small domesticated quadruped, sheep or lambH7716 — Full Word Study → to the slaughterלַטֶּ֣בַחlaṭ·ṭe·ḇaḥ — slaughter, butchering of animals for meat or sacrificeH2874 — Full Word Study →, and as a sheepוּכְרָחֵ֕לū·ḵə·rā·ḥêl — female sheep; eweH7353 — Full Word Study → beforeלִפְנֵ֥יlip̄·nê — face; presence; beforeH6440 — Full Word Study → her shearersגֹזְזֶ֖יהָḡō·zə·ze·hā — To shear or cut off hair/woolH1494 — Full Word Study → is silentנֶאֱלָ֑מָהne·’ĕ·lā·māh — to be silent, mute, or boundH481 — Full Word Study →, so He did notוְלֹ֥אwə·lō — not; negation; absenceH3808 — Full Word Study → openיִפְתַּ֖חyip̄·taḥ — to open, loosen, or beginH6605 — Full Word Study → His mouthפִּֽיו׃pîw — Mouth; lips; edge; openingH6310 — Full Word Study →. 8By oppressionמֵעֹ֤צֶרmê·‘ō·ṣer — Restraint, confinement, oppression, or constraintH6115 — Full Word Study → and judgmentוּמִמִּשְׁפָּט֙ū·mim·miš·pāṭ — Justice, judgment, or legal decisionH4941 — Full Word Study → He was taken awayלֻקָּ֔חluq·qāḥ — to take, seize, or receiveH3947 — Full Word Study →, andוְאֶת־wə·’eṯ- — direct object marker; signs accusative caseH853 — Full Word Study → whoמִ֣יmî — who? what person?H4310 — Full Word Study → can recountיְשׂוֹחֵ֑חַyə·śō·w·ḥê·aḥ — to muse, meditate, speak, or communeH7878 — Full Word Study → His descendantsדּוֹר֖וֹdō·w·rōw — generation; age; lifetime; posterityH1755 — Full Word Study →? Forכִּ֤יkî — because, since, that (conjunction/reason marker)H3588 — Full Word Study → He was cut offנִגְזַר֙niḡ·zar — To cut; to decree or determineH1504 — Full Word Study → from the landמֵאֶ֣רֶץmê·’e·reṣ — Land, earth, or countryH776 — Full Word Study → of the livingחַיִּ֔יםḥay·yîm — alive, living, lifeH2416 — Full Word Study →; He was strickenנֶ֥גַעne·ḡa‘ — Plague, affliction, or stroke of judgmentH5061 — Full Word Study → for the transgressionמִפֶּ֥שַׁעmip·pe·ša‘ — Willful rebellion or transgression against God's lawH6588 — Full Word Study → of My peopleעַמִּ֖י‘am·mî — a people; nation; communityH5971 — Full Word Study →. 9He was assignedוַיִּתֵּ֤ןway·yit·tên — to give, grant, or bestowH5414 — Full Word Study → a graveקִבְר֔וֹqiḇ·rōw — A grave or burial place; a tombH6913 — Full Word Study → withאֶת־’eṯ- — with, together with, againstH854 — Full Word Study → the wickedרְשָׁעִים֙rə·šā·‘îm — wicked, guilty, morally corruptH7563 — Full Word Study →, and withוְאֶת־wə·’eṯ- — with, together with, againstH854 — Full Word Study → a rich manעָשִׁ֖יר‘ā·šîr — A wealthy or rich person; one possessing abundant resourcesH6223 — Full Word Study → in His deathבְּמֹתָ֑יוbə·mō·ṯāw — death, the state of being deadH4194 — Full Word Study →, althoughעַ֚ל‘al — upon, over, against; concerningH5921 — Full Word Study → He had doneעָשָׂ֔ה‘ā·śāh — to do, make, or accomplish; to act or performH6213 — Full Word Study → noלֹא־lō- — not; negation; absenceH3808 — Full Word Study → violenceחָמָ֣סḥā·mās — Violence, cruelty, or wrongful harmH2555 — Full Word Study →, norוְלֹ֥אwə·lō — not; negation; absenceH3808 — Full Word Study → was any deceitמִרְמָ֖הmir·māh — deceit, treachery, or cunning deceptionH4820 — Full Word Study → in His mouthבְּפִֽיו׃bə·p̄îw — Mouth; lips; edge; openingH6310 — Full Word Study →. 10Yet it was the LORD’sוַיהוָ֞הYah·weh — The LORD; God's covenant nameH3068 — Full Word Study → willחָפֵ֤ץḥā·p̄êṣ — to delight in; to desire; to take pleasureH2654 — Full Word Study → to crush Himדַּכְּאוֹ֙dak·kə·’ōw — to crush, break, or oppressH1792 — Full Word Study → and to cause Him to sufferהֶֽחֱלִ֔יhe·ḥĕ·lî — to be sick, weak, or afflicted; to entreat or beseechH2470 — Full Word Study →; and whenאִם־’im- — If, whether; conditional conjunction with wide applicabilityH518 — Full Word Study → His soulנַפְשׁ֔וֹnap̄·šōw — soul, life, person, selfH5315 — Full Word Study → is madeתָּשִׂ֤יםtā·śîm — to put, place, set, appointH7760 — Full Word Study → a guilt offeringאָשָׁם֙’ā·šām — guilt offering; reparation sacrificeH817 — Full Word Study →, He will seeיִרְאֶ֥הyir·’eh — to see, perceive, behold, experienceH7200 — Full Word Study → His offspring, He will prolongיַאֲרִ֣יךְya·’ă·rîḵ — to lengthen, prolong, or extend in time or spaceH748 — Full Word Study → His daysיָמִ֑יםyā·mîm — day; time; period; ageH3117 — Full Word Study →, and the good pleasureוְחֵ֥פֶץwə·ḥê·p̄eṣ — Pleasure, desire, delight, or purposeH2656 — Full Word Study → of the LORDיְהוָ֖הYah·weh — The LORD; God's covenant nameH3068 — Full Word Study → will prosperיִצְלָֽח׃yiṣ·lāḥ — To prosper, succeed, push forwardH6743 — Full Word Study → in His handבְּיָד֥וֹbə·yā·ḏōw — hand; power, strength, controlH3027 — Full Word Study →. 11After the anguishמֵעֲמַ֤לmê·‘ă·mal — Labor, toil, trouble, or arduous workH5999 — Full Word Study → of His soulנַפְשׁוֹ֙nap̄·šōw — soul, life, person, selfH5315 — Full Word Study →, He will see the light of life and be satisfiedיִשְׂבָּ֔עyiś·bā‘ — to satisfy, fill, have enoughH7646 — Full Word Study →. By His knowledgeבְּדַעְתּ֗וֹbə·ḏa‘·tōw — Knowledge, understanding, awarenessH1847 — Full Word Study → My righteousצַדִּ֛יקṣad·dîq — Righteous, just person; one who is right with GodH6662 — Full Word Study → Servantעַבְדִּ֖י‘aḇ·dî — Servant; slave; one in bondage or serviceH5650 — Full Word Study → will justifyיַצְדִּ֥יקyaṣ·dîq — To be righteous, justify, vindicateH6663 — Full Word Study → manyלָֽרַבִּ֑יםlā·rab·bîm — great, many, abundant, mightyH7227 — Full Word Study →, and Heה֥וּאhū — He, she, it; the third person pronounH1931 — Full Word Study → will bearיִסְבֹּֽל׃yis·bōl — to bear, carry, or endure a burdenH5445 — Full Word Study → their iniquitiesוַעֲוֺנֹתָ֖םwa·‘ă·wō·nō·ṯām — Iniquity, guilt, or moral wrongdoingH5771 — Full Word Study →. 12Thereforeלָכֵ֞ןlā·ḵên — so, thus, rightly, thereforeH3651 — Full Word Study → I will allot Him a portionאֲחַלֶּק־’ă·ḥal·leq- — to divide, distribute, or apportion; to be smooth or flatterH2505 — Full Word Study → with the greatבָרַבִּ֗יםḇā·rab·bîm — great, many, abundant, mightyH7227 — Full Word Study →, and He will divideיְחַלֵּ֣קyə·ḥal·lêq — to divide, distribute, or apportion; to be smooth or flatterH2505 — Full Word Study → the spoilsשָׁלָל֒šā·lāl — Plunder, spoils of war; prey taken in battleH7998 — Full Word Study → withוְאֶת־wə·’eṯ- — with, together with, againstH854 — Full Word Study → the strongעֲצוּמִים֮‘ă·ṣū·mîm — Mighty, strong, powerfulH6099 — Full Word Study →, becauseתַּ֗חַתta·ḥaṯ — Under, beneath, instead of, in place ofH8478 — Full Word Study → He has poured outהֶעֱרָ֤הhe·‘ĕ·rāh — to uncover, expose, or lay bareH6168 — Full Word Study → His lifeנַפְשׁ֔וֹnap̄·šōw — soul, life, person, selfH5315 — Full Word Study → unto deathלַמָּ֙וֶת֙lam·mā·weṯ — death, the state of being deadH4194 — Full Word Study →, and He was numberedנִמְנָ֑הnim·nāh — To count, number, appoint, or ordainH4487 — Full Word Study → withוְאֶת־wə·’eṯ- — with, together with, againstH854 — Full Word Study → the transgressorsפֹּשְׁעִ֖יםpō·šə·‘îm — To transgress, rebel, or violate a covenant or lawH6586 — Full Word Study →. Yet Heוְהוּא֙wə·hū — He, she, it; the third person pronounH1931 — Full Word Study → boreנָשָׂ֔אnā·śā — To lift up, raise, or bear; to carry or supportH5375 — Full Word Study → the sinחֵטְא־ḥêṭ- — sin, transgression, or guiltH2399 — Full Word Study → of manyרַבִּ֣יםrab·bîm — great, many, abundant, mightyH7227 — Full Word Study → and made intercessionיַפְגִּֽיעַ׃סyap̄·gî·a‘ — to meet, encounter, or intercedeH6293 — Full Word Study → for the transgressorsוְלַפֹּשְׁעִ֖יםwə·lap·pō·šə·‘îm — To transgress, rebel, or violate a covenant or lawH6586 — Full Word Study →.
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Chapter Commentary — Isaiah 53
Chapter Overview

Chapter Overview

Isaiah 53 stands as one of the most remarkable prophetic passages in all of Scripture. Written over 700 years before Christ's birth, this chapter presents a detailed portrait of the Messiah as a suffering servant who would bear the sins of His people. Rather than depicting a conquering king, Isaiah reveals a figure of sorrows who would be despised, rejected, and ultimately sacrificed for humanity's redemption. This chapter forms the theological heart of the Gospel message: substitutionary atonement through Christ's willing sacrifice.

Verses 1-3: The Unbelieved Report and Rejected Servant

Isaiah opens with a penetrating question: "Who hath believed our report?" (verse 1). The prophet anticipates that few will accept the message about the suffering servant. The "arm of the LORD" refers to God's power and intervention in history. Verses 2-3 describe the servant's humble origins and appearance. Growing "as a tender plant" and "as a root out of a dry ground" emphasizes both vulnerability and the unlikely nature of His emergence. Remarkably, the passage tells us "there is no beauty that we should desire him" (verse 2)—His appeal would not be physical or worldly. He would be "despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief" (verse 3). This is Jesus in His earthly ministry: often rejected by the religious establishment, bearing the emotional and spiritual weight of humanity's condition.

Verses 4-5: The Substitutionary Atonement

Here we find the theological centerpiece of redemption. Verse 4 states: "Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows." The servant takes upon Himself what rightfully belongs to us. Verse 5 makes the substitution explicit: "he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities." The Hebrew concept of bearing iniquity means to carry the guilt and consequence of sin. "The chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed"—through His punishment, we receive peace and restoration. This is the heart of the Gospel: Christ died in our place, absorbing the wrath we deserved.

Verses 6-9: The Universal Scope and Silent Suffering

Verse 6 employs the powerful image of sheep: "All 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." Every person has sinned; every person's sin was placed on Christ. Verses 7-9 depict His passive acceptance of suffering. Like a lamb led to slaughter, "he opened not his mouth"—He did not defend Himself or curse His accusers. Despite His innocence ("he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth," verse 9), He was executed. "He made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death"—a reference to His burial between criminals yet in a rich man's tomb (Matthew 27:57-60).

Verses 10-12: Vindication and Eternal Results

Despite the darkness of His suffering, God's purpose prevails. Verse 10 pivots: "Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him"—God's plan required Christ's sacrifice. The passage moves from death to resurrection and exaltation: "he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand." Verse 11 reveals that His sacrifice brings justification: "by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities." The servant's suffering produces spiritual descendants—all who believe. Verse 12 concludes with reward and intercession: "he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death...and made intercession for the transgressors." Even now, Christ intercedes for us (Romans 8:34).

Application for Today

Isaiah 53 invites us into wonder at Christ's willing sacrifice and gratitude for His substitutionary death. As believers, we are called to receive by faith what He accomplished and to live as those who have been redeemed at infinite cost. This passage also strengthens our witness: the prophetic specificity of these verses attests to Scripture's divine inspiration and Christ's centrality to God's redemptive plan.

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