The Suffering Servant and Atonement
Isaiah 52:13-53:12
Isa.52.13 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- הנה: PART
- ישכיל: VERB,qal,imperfect,3,m,sg
- עבדי: NOUN,m,pl,cons
- ירום: VERB,niphal,impf,3,m,sg
- ונשא: CONJ+VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- וגבה: CONJ+VERB,qal,imf,3,m,sg
- מאד: ADV
Parallels
- Isaiah 53:11-12 (structural): Direct continuation of the Servant song: after suffering the servant 'shall see the fruit of the travail' and be exalted/divide the spoil, developing the exaltation announced in 52:13.
- Isaiah 6:1 (verbal): Uses similar language of 'high and lifted up' (רם ונשא) to describe God's exalted enthroned state, linking the motif of lofty exaltation.
- Philippians 2:9 (thematic): Paul declares that God 'highly exalted' Jesus, echoing the servant's exaltation language and the theme of exaltation following humility/suffering.
- John 12:32-33 (verbal): Jesus' prediction of being 'lifted up' (hypsōthēsomai) ties the image of lifting/exaltation to suffering (crucifixion) and subsequent glorification, resonating with Isa.52:13.
- Acts 8:32-35 (allusion): The Ethiopian eunuch reads Isaiah's Servant passage (Isaiah 53) and Philip interprets it as fulfilled in Jesus, reflecting early Christian application of the servant's exaltation.
Alternative generated candidates
- Behold, my servant shall act wisely; he shall be exalted, lifted up, and greatly ennobled.
- Behold, my servant shall prosper; he shall be exalted and lifted up, and be very high.
Isa.52.14 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- כאשר: CONJ
- שממו: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,pl
- עליך: PREP+2ms
- רבים: ADJ,m,pl,abs
- כן: ADV
- משחת: VERB,qal,perf,2,m,sg
- מאיש: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- מראהו: NOUN,m,sg,abs,3ms-suff
- ותארו: CONJ+NOUN,m,sg,abs+PRON,3,m,sg
- מבני: PREP+NOUN,m,pl,cs
- אדם: NOUN,m,sg,abs
Parallels
- Isaiah 53:2-3 (verbal): Direct continuation of the Suffering Servant material; explicitly states the servant had no beauty and was despised, echoing and amplifying 'marred more than any man.'
- Psalm 22:7-8,16-18 (thematic): Shares motifs of mockery, derision, and extreme bodily suffering; later Christian interpreters link these images with the servant's humiliation in Isaiah.
- John 19:1-5 (allusion): Pilate's presentation ('Behold the man') and the physical humiliation of Jesus (scourging, crown of thorns) reflect the image of a visage marred and a figure subjected to shame.
- Philippians 2:7-8 (thematic): Paul's hymn emphasizing Christ's voluntary humiliation and obedience unto death parallels the servant's abasement and degraded appearance described in Isaiah.
Alternative generated candidates
- As many were appalled at you, so his appearance was marred more than any man's, and his form more than the sons of men.
- Just as many were astonished at you, so shall his appearance be marred beyond that of a man, and his form beyond the sons of men.
Isa.52.15 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- כן: ADV
- יזה: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- גוים: NOUN,m,pl,abs
- רבים: ADJ,m,pl,abs
- עליו: PREP,3,m,sg
- יקפצו: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,pl
- מלכים: NOUN,m,pl,abs
- פיהם: NOUN,m,sg,abs,3,m,pl
- כי: CONJ
- אשר: PRON,rel
- לא: PART_NEG
- ספר: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- להם: PREP+PRON,3,m,pl
- ראו: VERB,qal,impv,2,pl
- ואשר: CONJ+PRON,rel
- לא: PART_NEG
- שמעו: VERB,qal,impv,2,m,pl
- התבוננו: VERB,hitp,perf,3,m,pl
Parallels
- Isaiah 52:10 (structural): Immediate context in the same chapter: God’s salvation and the revealing of his arm so that “all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God,” echoing the motif of nations seeing what was not told.
- Isaiah 53:1 (thematic): Closely related verse in the Servant Songs: questions of belief and revelation—“Who has believed our report?”—which parallels the surprising revelation to many nations in 52:15.
- Psalm 72:11 (thematic): Royal/eschatological hope that kings and nations will bow before the ruler (“May all kings fall down before him”), resonating with kings rendered speechless in 52:15.
- Philippians 2:10–11 (allusion): New Testament depiction of universal submission—‘every knee should bow’—echoes the idea that rulers/nations will recognize and be overwhelmed by the exalted servant.
- Psalm 22:27 (thematic): Prophetic universalism: ‘All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn to the LORD; and all the families of the nations shall worship before you,’ paralleling the global astonishment and attention described in 52:15.
Alternative generated candidates
- So he shall astonish many nations; kings shall be silenced because of him—for what had not been told them they shall see, and what they had not heard they shall perceive.
- So he will astonish many nations; kings will shut their mouths because of him; for what had not been told them they shall see, and what they had not heard they shall perceive.
Isa.53.1 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- מי: PRON,interr,sg
- האמין: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- לשמעתנו: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,cons,1,pl
- וזרוע: CONJ+NOUN,f,sg,abs
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- על: PREP
- מי: PRON,interr,sg
- נגלתה: VERB,niphal,perf,3,f,sg
Parallels
- Isaiah 52:10 (verbal): Nearly identical imagery — 'the arm of the LORD' is revealed/made bare; immediate contextual parallel preparing the servant-song of Isaiah 53.
- Romans 10:16 (quotation): Paul directly quotes 'Who has believed our report?' from Isaiah 53:1 to explain Israel's lack of faith in the gospel.
- John 12:38 (quotation): John cites Isaiah 53:1 ('Who has believed our report? ... to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?') to interpret the unbelief surrounding Jesus.
- Habakkuk 1:5 (thematic): Declares that God will do a marvelous work that people will not believe even when told — parallels Isaiah 53:1's theme of incredulous reception of a prophetic report.
- Isaiah 45:1 (allusion): Uses the motif of God's 'hand'/'arm' acting in history (God empowering Cyrus); shares the theme of the LORD's power being revealed to accomplish his purposes.
Alternative generated candidates
- Who has believed our report? And to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed?
- Who has believed our report? And to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed?
Isa.53.2 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ויעל: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- כיונק: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- לפניו: PREP+PRON,3,m,sg
- וכשרש: CONJ+PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- מארץ: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,abs
- ציה: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- לא: PART_NEG
- תאר: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- לו: PRON,3,m,sg
- ולא: CONJ
- הדר: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ונראהו: VERB,qal,impf,1,pl+PRON,3,m,sg
- ולא: CONJ
- מראה: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ונחמדהו: VERB,niphal,perf,3,f,sg+PRON,3,m,sg
Parallels
- Isaiah 52:14-15 (verbal): Same servant-figure language about a marred/astonishing appearance; closely connected contextually to 53:2–3.
- Isaiah 53:3 (verbal): Immediate parallel within the servant song—explicit statement that he had 'no form or comeliness' and was despised and rejected.
- Psalm 22:6-8 (thematic): Speaks of being despised, scorned and rejected by people—themes echoed in the servant's unattractive/rejected portrayal.
- John 1:11 (thematic): New Testament reflection on the servant motif: 'He came to his own, and his own received him not,' echoing the theme of rejection.
- 1 Peter 2:22-24 (allusion): Peter applies the suffering-servant tradition to Jesus (citing Isaiah 53 motifs), interpreting the servant's humiliation and vicarious suffering in a Christological key.
Alternative generated candidates
- He grew up before him like a sapling, and like a root out of dry ground; he had no form or comeliness that we should look upon him, no beauty to delight us.
- He grew up before him like a tender shoot, and like a root out of dry ground; he had no form or majesty that we should look at him, nothing in his appearance to attract us.
Isa.53.3 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- נבזה: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- וחדל: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- אישים: NOUN,m,pl,abs
- איש: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- מכאבות: NOUN,f,pl,cstr
- וידוע: VERB,qal,ptcp,0,m,sg
- חלי: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- וכמסתר: PREP
- פנים: NOUN,m,pl,abs
- ממנו: PREP+PRON,3,m,sg
- נבזה: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- ולא: CONJ
- חשבנהו: VERB,qal,perf,1,pl
Parallels
- Psalm 22:6-8 (thematic): Both depict the righteous sufferer as scorned and mocked—'I am a worm and not a man... all who see me mock me' parallels 'despised and rejected, a man of sorrows.'
- Psalm 69:7-9 (thematic): Expresses reproach, alienation, and the sufferer's zeal that brings persecution—echoing the humiliation and grief of Isaiah's servant.
- John 1:11 (verbal): John states that the Word came to his own and his own received him not, directly paralleling the theme of being rejected by men in Isaiah 53:3.
- Matthew 27:41-43 (structural): The crowd's mockery of Jesus on the cross—doubting God's care and treating him with contempt—reflects the Isaiah motif of being despised and not esteemed.
- 1 Peter 2:21-24 (allusion): Peter presents Christ as the suffering servant who endured reviling and grief on behalf of others, explicitly echoing Isaiah 53's portrait of the despised, sorrowful servant.
Alternative generated candidates
- He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, acquainted with grief; and as one from whom people hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not.
- He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom people hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not.
Isa.53.4 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- אכן: ADV
- חלינו: NOUN,m,pl,cs+1pl
- הוא: PRON,3,m,sg
- נשא: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- ומכאבינו: CONJ+NOUN,m,pl,cs+1pl
- סבלם: NOUN,m,sg,abs+3pl
- ואנחנו: CONJ+PRON,1,pl
- חשבנהו: VERB,qal,perf,1,pl+obj:3,m,sg
- נגוע: PART,ptc,pass,m,sg
- מכה: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- אלהים: NOUN,m,pl,abs
- ומענה: CONJ+PART,ptc,pass,m,sg
Parallels
- Matt.8:17 (quotation): Matthew explicitly cites Isaiah 53:4 to explain Jesus' healings: 'He took our infirmities and bore our diseases,' applying the servant's bearing of sickness to Jesus' ministry.
- Isa.53:5 (structural): Immediate parallel within the Servant Song: verse 5 develops v.4's idea of vicarious suffering with the famous wording 'by his wounds we are healed,' linking suffering and restoration.
- Isa.53:3 (structural): Earlier line in the same unit describing the servant as 'despised and rejected' who 'bore our griefs,' thematically and structurally connected to v.4's claim that he bore our infirmities and pains.
- 1 Pet.2:24 (allusion): Peter echoes the servant motif—'He himself bore our sins in his body'—alluding to Isaiah's theme of vicarious bearing of sickness and sin as redemptive.
- Heb.9:28 (thematic): Hebrews portrays Christ as having been offered to bear the sins of many, reflecting Isaiah 53's overarching theme of substitutionary suffering on behalf of others.
Alternative generated candidates
- Surely he has borne our infirmities and carried our pains; yet we regarded him stricken, smitten by God and afflicted.
- Surely he has borne our sicknesses and carried our pains; yet we regarded him stricken, smitten by God and afflicted.
Isa.53.5 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- והוא: CONJ+PRON,3,m,sg
- מחלל: VERB,pual,ptc,3,m,sg
- מפשענו: PREP+NOUN,m,pl,poss1,pl
- מדכא: VERB,pual,ptc,3,m,sg
- מעונתינו: PREP+NOUN,m,pl,poss1,pl
- מוסר: NOUN,m,sg,const
- שלומנו: NOUN,m,sg,poss1,pl
- עליו: PREP,3,m,sg
- ובחברתו: CONJ+PREP+NOUN,f,sg,poss3,sg
- נרפא: VERB,niphal,perf,3,m,sg
- לנו: PREP+PRON,1,pl
Parallels
- 1 Peter 2:24 (quotation): Direct New Testament citation/paraphrase of Isa 53:5 — 'He himself bore our sins in his body... by his wounds you have been healed.'
- Matthew 8:16-17 (quotation): Matthew cites Isaiah 53:4 ('he took our infirmities') to explain Jesus' healings, linking Jesus' suffering/healing role to 'by his wounds we are healed.'
- John 19:34-37 (allusion): The piercing of Jesus' side and John's reference to 'they will look on him whom they have pierced' echo the piercing/crushing imagery of Isa 53:5 (and related prophetic texts).
- Psalm 22:16-18 (verbal): Psalmist's language of hands and feet being pierced, mockery, and dividing garments parallels the vivid suffering and piercing imagery in Isa 53:5.
- Romans 5:6-8 (thematic): Paul's argument that Christ died for the ungodly reflects the substitutionary/penal atonement theme of Isa 53:5 ('wounded for our transgressions; crushed for our iniquities').
Alternative generated candidates
- But he was pierced for our transgressions, crushed for our iniquities; the chastisement that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed.
- But he was pierced for our transgressions, crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed.
Isa.53.6 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- כלנו: PRON,1,pl
- כצאן: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- תעינו: VERB,qal,perf,1,pl
- איש: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- לדרכו: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,abs+PRON,3,m,sg
- פנינו: VERB,qal,perf,1,pl
- ויהוה: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- הפגיע: VERB,hiphil,perf,3,m,sg
- בו: PREP+PRON,3,m,sg
- את: PRT,acc
- עון: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- כלנו: PRON,1,pl
Parallels
- Isaiah 53:4-5 (structural): Immediate context of the Suffering Servant: describes his suffering and the substitutionary effects (he bore our diseases/piercing and by his wounds we are healed), directly connected to v.6's claim that our iniquities were laid on him.
- Ezekiel 34:11-16 (thematic): Shepherd/sheep imagery and the theme of scattered, wayward sheep: 'I will search for my sheep... I will seek the lost,' which echoes 'all we like sheep have gone astray'.
- 1 Peter 2:24 (verbal): 'He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree' is a direct New Testament echo of the servant bearing the iniquity of many, paralleling the language and substitutionary idea of Isa 53:6.
- 2 Corinthians 5:21 (thematic): Paul's substitutionary statement ('God made him who knew no sin to be sin for us') parallels the servant bearing the people's guilt—transfer of sin/blame onto the righteous one.
- John 1:29 (allusion): 'Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world' echoes the servant's vicarious atonement and the corporate language ('our' iniquities) in Isa 53:6.
Alternative generated candidates
- All of us like sheep have gone astray; each has turned to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all.
- All of us like sheep have gone astray; each of us has turned to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all.
Isa.53.7 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- נגש: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- והוא: CONJ+PRON,3,m,sg
- נענה: VERB,niphal,perf,3,m,sg
- ולא: CONJ
- יפתח: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- פיו: NOUN,m,sg,abs+3ms
- כשה: CONJ
- לטבח: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- יובל: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- וכרחל: CONJ+PREP+NOUN,m,sg
- לפני: PREP
- גזזיה: NOUN,m,pl,abs
- נאלמה: VERB,niphal,perf,3,m,sg
- ולא: CONJ
- יפתח: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- פיו: NOUN,m,sg,abs+3ms
Parallels
- Acts 8:32-35 (quotation): The Ethiopian eunuch is reading Isaiah 53:7 (LXX) — 'like a sheep led to the slaughter' — and Philip explains the passage as referring to Jesus; direct New Testament quotation and exposition of this verse.
- 1 Peter 2:21-23 (quotation): Peter cites the servant's silent endurance: when reviled he did not revile, when suffering he did not threaten — echoing Isaiah 53:7's 'he opened not his mouth' and applying it to Christ.
- Isaiah 42:2 (thematic): Earlier 'Servant' language: 'He will not cry out, nor lift up his voice' parallels the motif of the servant's quiet, passive suffering found in Isaiah 53:7.
- Matthew 27:12-14 (verbal): Jesus gives no answer to the accusations of the chief priests and elders and remains largely silent before his judges, reflecting the 'opened not his mouth' motif of Isaiah 53:7.
- Mark 15:3-5 (verbal): When questioned by Pilate and accused, Jesus remains silent or gives minimal response; Mark's portrayal echoes the image of the suffering servant who does not open his mouth.
Alternative generated candidates
- He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; like a lamb led to the slaughter, and like a sheep before her shearers is silent, so he opened not his mouth.
- He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; like a lamb led to the slaughter, and like a sheep silent before its shearers, so he opened not his mouth.
Isa.53.8 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- מעצר: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- וממשפט: CONJ+PREP,NOUN,m,sg,abs
- לקח: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- ואת: CONJ
- דורו: NOUN,m,sg,abs+PRON,3,m,sg
- מי: PRON,interr,sg
- ישוחח: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- כי: CONJ
- נגזר: VERB,niphal,perf,3,m,sg
- מארץ: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,abs
- חיים: ADJ,m,pl,abs
- מפשע: PREP,NOUN,m,sg,abs
- עמי: NOUN,m,sg,abs+1s
- נגע: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- למו: PREP+PRON,3,m,pl
Parallels
- Acts 8:32-33 (quotation): The Ethiopian eunuch reads Isaiah 53 (LXX) and Philip explains it; Acts 8:33 quotes the LXX rendering of v.8 ('He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and as a lamb before its shearer is silent...He was taken away from prison and from judgment'), directly citing the servant's removal and death.
- 1 Peter 2:24 (verbal): Peter applies the servant’s vicarious suffering to Christ: 'He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree,' echoing Isaiah’s language that the servant was 'stricken' for the transgressions of the people.
- Psalm 22:1,16-18 (thematic): Psalm 22 portrays a righteous sufferer—rejected, mocked, physically attacked and stripped—which parallels Isaiah 53’s depiction of the servant being despised, cut off from the living, and suffering on behalf of others.
- Isaiah 53:5-6 (structural): Immediate context within the Suffering Servant song: vv.5–6 describe the servant being 'stricken' for our iniquities and bearing the people's sins, directly paralleling v.8's statement that he was 'cut off' and 'stricken for the transgression of my people.'
Alternative generated candidates
- By oppression and judgment he was taken away; and who can declare his generation? For he was cut off from the land of the living; for the transgression of my people he was struck.
- By oppression and judgment he was taken away; and who can speak of his generation? For he was cut off from the land of the living; for the transgression of my people he was stricken.
Isa.53.9 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ויתן: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- את: PRT,acc
- רשעים: NOUN,m,pl,abs
- קברו: NOUN,m,sg,abs+3m
- ואת: CONJ
- עשיר: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- במתיו: NOUN,f,pl,abs+PRON,3,m,sg
- על: PREP
- לא: PART_NEG
- חמס: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- עשה: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- ולא: CONJ
- מרמה: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- בפיו: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs,3,m
Parallels
- Isa.53:7-8 (structural): Immediate context in the Suffering Servant song: v.7 describes being led like a sheep to the slaughter and v.8 his cutting off — flows directly into v.9's statement about his grave with the wicked and innocence in speech.
- Matthew 27:57-60 (thematic): Joseph of Arimathea, described as a rich man, requests Jesus' body and lays it in his own new tomb—seen by the Gospel as fulfillment of 'with the rich in his death.'
- John 19:38-42 (thematic): John's account parallels Matthew: a wealthy follower (Joseph) buries Jesus, providing the specific fulfillment of burial in a rich man's tomb and the burial of the righteous sufferer.
- 1 Peter 2:22 (verbal): Peter echoes Isaiah's claim of the Servant's innocence: 'He committed no sin, nor was any deceit found in his mouth,' directly reflecting Isa.53's 'no violence... no deceit in his mouth.'
- Acts 8:32-33 (quotation): The Ethiopian eunuch is reading the Suffering Servant passage (LXX of Isaiah 53), and Philip explains it as referring to Jesus; the quoted lines include the Servant's silent suffering and his appointed grave with the wicked/rich.
Alternative generated candidates
- They made his grave with the wicked and with a rich man in his death, though he had done no violence, nor was deceit found in his mouth.
- They assigned him a grave with the wicked and with a rich man in his death, though he had done no violence, and there was no deceit in his mouth.
Isa.53.10 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ויהוה: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- חפץ: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- דכאו: VERB,qal,infc,3,m,sg
- החלי: VERB,hiph,perf,3,m,sg
- אם: CONJ
- תשים: VERB,qal,impf,2,m,sg
- אשם: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- נפשו: NOUN,f,sg,abs+PRON,3,m,sg
- יראה: VERB,qal,perf,1,_,sg
- זרע: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- יאריך: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- ימים: NOUN,m,pl,abs
- וחפץ: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- בידו: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs+3,m,sg
- יצלח: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
Parallels
- Isaiah 52:13-15 (structural): Immediate context of the Suffering Servant song; introduces the servant’s suffering and ultimate vindication, paralleling 53:10’s motif of God’s purpose in causing the servant’s suffering and its successful outcome.
- Psalm 22:1-31 (thematic): Portrait of a righteous sufferer poured out and later vindicated; shares themes of intense suffering, being afflicted on behalf of others, and eventual vindication that resonate with 53:10’s sacrificial suffering and prosperous outcome.
- Acts 8:32-35 (quotation): The Ethiopian eunuch reads and Philip explains the Isaian servant passage (vv.7–8); early Christian use shows 53:10’s sacrificial language was read as predicting the Messiah’s death and vindication.
- Hebrews 10:5-10 (allusion): Interprets Christ’s offering of his body as fulfilling God’s will; echoes Isaiah’s idea of the servant’s soul made an offering for sin and God’s pleasure accomplishing its purpose.
- 1 Peter 2:21-25 (verbal): Directly echoes Isaiah’s language about bearing sins, being wounded for our transgressions, and healing through the servant’s suffering—applying 53’s sacrificial imagery to Christ’s redemptive death.
Alternative generated candidates
- Yet it pleased the LORD to crush him; when you make his life an offering for sin, he shall see offspring and prolong his days; and the will of the LORD shall prosper in his hand.
- Yet it was the will of the LORD to crush him; when you make his life an offering for guilt, he shall see offspring and prolong his days; the will of the LORD shall prosper in his hand.
Isa.53.11 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- מעמל: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- נפשו: NOUN,f,sg,abs+PRON,3,m,sg
- יראה: VERB,qal,perf,1,_,sg
- ישבע: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- בדעתו: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,suff
- יצדיק: VERB,hiph,impf,3,m,sg
- צדיק: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- עבדי: NOUN,m,pl,cons
- לרבים: PREP+ADJ,m,pl
- ועונתם: CONJ+NOUN,m,pl,suff
- הוא: PRON,3,m,sg
- יסבל: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
Parallels
- Hebrews 9:28 (verbal): Speaks of Christ being offered to bear the sins of many — echoes Isaiah 53's language that the servant 'will bear their iniquities.'
- Romans 5:18-19 (thematic): Describes how 'one act of righteousness'/the obedience of one makes many righteous — parallels Isaiah's 'by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many.'
- 1 Peter 2:24 (verbal): Says 'He himself bore our sins in his body' and 'by his wounds you have been healed,' closely echoing Isaiah's motif of the servant bearing iniquities and accomplishing justification/healing.
- Matthew 8:16-17 (quotation): Matthew explicitly cites Isaiah (53:4) — 'He took our infirmities and bore our diseases' — linking Jesus' healing ministry to the suffering‑servant imagery of Isaiah 53, of which verse 11 is part.
- Acts 8:32-35 (quotation): The Ethiopian eunuch reads Isaiah 53 (especially vv.7–8) about the suffering servant; Philip explains this passage as referring to Jesus, connecting the servant's suffering and vicarious role to NT interpretation of justification and atonement.
Alternative generated candidates
- Out of the anguish of his soul he shall see light and be satisfied; by his knowledge my righteous servant shall justify many, and he shall bear their iniquities.
- Out of the anguish of his soul he shall see light and be satisfied; by his knowledge my righteous servant shall justify many, and he shall bear their iniquities.
Isa.53.12 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- לכן: ADV
- אחלק: VERB,qal,impf,1,c,sg
- לו: PRON,3,m,sg
- ברבים: PREP+NOUN,m,pl,abs
- ואת: CONJ
- עצומים: ADJ,m,pl,abs
- יחלק: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- שלל: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- תחת: PREP
- אשר: PRON,rel
- הערה: VERB,hiph,perf,3,m,sg
- למות: VERB,qal,inf
- נפשו: NOUN,f,sg,abs+PRON,3,m,sg
- ואת: CONJ
- פשעים: NOUN,m,pl,abs
- נמנה: VERB,nif,perf,3,m,sg
- והוא: CONJ+PRON,3,m,sg
- חטא: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- רבים: ADJ,m,pl,abs
- נשא: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- ולפשעים: CONJ+PREP+NOUN,m,pl,abs
- יפגיע: VERB,pi,impf,3,m,sg
Parallels
- Luke 22:37 (quotation): Jesus cites Isaiah 53:12 (“and he was numbered with the transgressors”) as a fulfillment of Scripture, explicitly connecting his being counted among criminals to the Servant’s destiny.
- Acts 8:32–33 (quotation): Philip quotes the Isaiah servant-song (including being 'numbered with the transgressors' and suffering unto death) to explain the eunuch’s passage, showing early Christian identification of the servant with Jesus’ death.
- Hebrews 9:28 (verbal): ‘Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many’ closely echoes Isaiah 53:12’s wording and theme that the servant ‘bore the sin of many.’
- 1 Peter 2:24 (verbal): ‘He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree’ parallels the servant’s bearing of others’ sins and the vicarious suffering described in Isaiah 53:12.
- Mark 10:45 (thematic): Jesus’ mission ‘to give his life as a ransom for many’ reflects the servant’s poured‑out life and bearing of the peoples’ guilt in Isaiah 53:12.
Alternative generated candidates
- Therefore I will assign him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he poured out his life unto death and was numbered with the transgressors— yet he bore the sin of many and made intercession for the transgressors.
- Therefore I will divide him a portion with the many, and he shall divide the spoil with the mighty; because he poured out his life to death and was numbered with the transgressors—yet he bore the sin of many and will make intercession for the transgressors.
Behold, my servant shall prosper; he shall be exalted, lifted up, and made very high.
Just as many were appalled at you, so his appearance was marred more than any man’s, and his form beyond that of the sons of men. So he will astonish many nations; kings will shut their mouths before him. For that which had not been told them they shall see, and that which they had not heard they shall consider.
Who has believed our report? And to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed?
He grew up before him like a young shoot, like a root from parched ground. He had no form or comeliness that we should look upon him, no beauty that we should desire him.
Despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not.
Surely he has borne our infirmities and carried our pains; yet we regarded him stricken, smitten by God and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions, crushed for our iniquities; the chastisement that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed.
All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—each one—to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all.
He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; like a lamb led to the slaughter, like a sheep before its shearers he was silent and opened not his mouth.
By oppression and judgment he was taken away; and who of his generation will declare? For he was cut off from the land of the living; for the transgression of my people he was stricken.
They assigned him a grave with the wicked, and with a rich man in his death—though he had done no violence, nor was any deceit in his mouth.
Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; when you make his life an offering for sin, he shall see offspring and prolong his days; the will of the LORD shall prosper in his hand.
Out of the anguish of his soul he shall see light and be satisfied; by his knowledge my righteous servant will justify many, and he will bear their iniquities.
Therefore I will give him a portion among the many, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he poured out his life unto death and was numbered with the transgressors—yet he bore the sin of many and interceded for the transgressors.