Isaiah 53

What Isaiah 53 means

The chapter opens with a question: who has believed this report? The servant grows up like a small plant in dry ground. Nothing about his looks draws people to him. He is "despised and rejected of men" and called "a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief." The people speaking admit they turned their faces away from him.

Verses 4-6 are the turning point. The speakers thought the servant was being punished by God for his own wrongs. Then they see the truth: he was suffering for theirs. He was wounded for our transgressions and bruised for our iniquities, and "with his stripes we are healed." Verse 6 puts everyone in the same place: "All we like sheep have gone astray," and the LORD laid on him the iniquity of us all.

Verses 7-9 describe how he suffers. He does not argue or defend himself. Like a lamb led to the slaughter, "he openeth not his mouth." He is taken from prison and judgment and cut off from the land of the living, though he had done no violence and spoke no deceit. His grave is set with the wicked, and with the rich in his death.

The last verses say this was not an accident. It pleased the LORD to bruise him, and his soul is made an offering for sin. Yet the chapter does not end in death. The servant will see his seed, prolong his days, and be satisfied. By his knowledge "my righteous servant" will justify many, because he bears their iniquities and makes intercession for the transgressors.

Christians have read this chapter as a picture of Jesus since the earliest days of the church. Its details line up with the Gospel accounts: his silence before his accusers, his death alongside criminals, and his burial in a rich man's tomb. The New Testament writers quote it directly several times.

Background and context

The book is traditionally attributed to the prophet Isaiah son of Amoz, who prophesied in Judah during the reigns of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz and Hezekiah (Isaiah 1:1).

The passage actually begins at Isaiah 52:13, where God says his servant will be exalted and very high. Isaiah 52:13 through 53:12 is often called the fourth Servant Song. Jewish readers have often understood the servant as the people of Israel; Christians, following the apostles, read it as a portrait of Jesus.

The Great Isaiah Scroll found among the Dead Sea Scrolls, copied before the time of Jesus, contains this chapter.

Key verses

Cross references

• Acts 8:32-35 The Ethiopian eunuch is reading verses 7-8, and Philip begins at that scripture and preaches Jesus to him.The place of the scripture which he read was this, He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and like a lamb dumb before his shearer, so opened he not his mouth: In his humiliation his judgment was taken away: and who shall declare his generation? for his life is taken from the earth. And the eunuch answered Philip, and said, I pray thee, of whom speaketh the prophet this? of himself, or of some other man? Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus.
• 1 Peter 2:22-25 Peter weaves in verses 5, 6 and 9: no guile in his mouth, healed by his stripes, sheep going astray.Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously: Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed. For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.
• Matthew 8:17 Matthew quotes verse 4 after Jesus heals the sick in Capernaum.That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, Himself took our infirmities, and bare our sicknesses.
• Mark 15:28 At the crucifixion between two thieves, Mark cites verse 12: he was numbered with the transgressors.And the scripture was fulfilled, which saith, And he was numbered with the transgressors.
• Luke 22:37 Jesus himself quotes verse 12 on the night he was betrayed and says it must be accomplished in him.For I say unto you, that this that is written must yet be accomplished in me, And he was reckoned among the transgressors: for the things concerning me have an end.
• John 12:38 John quotes verse 1 to explain why many did not believe in Jesus.That the saying of Esaias the prophet might be fulfilled, which he spake, Lord, who hath believed our report? and to whom hath the arm of the Lord been revealed?
• Romans 10:16 Paul also quotes verse 1 about those who did not obey the gospel.But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report?
• Matthew 27:57-60 A rich man, Joseph of Arimathaea, lays Jesus in his own new tomb, recalling verse 9.When the even was come, there came a rich man of Arimathaea, named Joseph, who also himself was Jesus’ disciple: He went to Pilate, and begged the body of Jesus. Then Pilate commanded the body to be delivered. And when Joseph had taken the body, he wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, And laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn out in the rock: and he rolled a great stone to the door of the sepulchre, and departed.