Isaiah 53:6-12

6 1All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned--every one--to his own way; 2and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all.
7 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, 3yet he opened not his mouth; 4like a 5lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so he opened not his mouth.
8 By oppression and judgment he was taken away; and as for his generation, 6who considered that he was cut off out of the land of the living, stricken for the transgression of my people?
9 And they made his grave with the wicked 7and with a rich man in his death, although 8he had done no violence, and there was no deceit in his mouth.
10 Yet 9it was the will of the LORD to crush him; he has put him to grief;[a] 10when his soul makes[b] an offering for guilt, he shall see his offspring; he shall prolong his days; 11the will of the LORD shall prosper in his hand.
11 Out of the anguish of his soul he shall see[c] and be satisfied; by his knowledge shall 12the righteous one, my servant, 13make many to be accounted righteous, 14and he shall bear their iniquities.
12 15Therefore I will divide him a portion with the many,[d] 16and he shall divide the spoil with the strong,[e] because he poured out his soul to death and was numbered with the transgressors; 17yet he bore the sin of many, and makes intercession for the transgressors.

Isaiah 53:6-12 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO ISAIAH 53

This chapter treats of the mean appearance of Christ in human nature, his sufferings in it, and the glory that should follow. It begins with a complaint of the small number of those that believed the report concerning him, the power of God not being exerted, Isa 53:1, the reason of this general disbelief was the meanness of his outward circumstances, and the want of comeliness in him; hence he was treated with general neglect and contempt, Isa 52:2,3 was the more unkind and ungenerous, since it was the griefs and sorrows of others he bore, and their sins also, for which he was wounded and bruised, that they might have healing, Isa 53:4-6, yet he took and bore all patiently, like a lamb at the slaughter, and the sheep under the shearer, Isa 53:7, which was the more extraordinary, since he was used, both in life and at death, in so rigorous and barbarous a manner, and all for the sins of others, having been guilty of none himself, Isa 53:8,9, and, what is most amazing, the Lord himself had a hand in grieving and bruising him, Isa 53:10, though for his encouragement, and a reward to him, as man and Mediator, for all his sufferings, it is intimated that he should succeed and prosper, have a numerous issue, should justify many, and have a portion and spoil divided with the great and mighty, Isa 53:10-12.

Cross References 17

  • 1. Cited 1 Peter 2:25; [Jeremiah 50:6, 17]
  • 2. 2 Corinthians 5:21; [ver. 10; Colossians 2:14]
  • 3. Matthew 26:63; Mark 14:61; John 19:9; 1 Peter 2:23
  • 4. Cited Acts 8:32
  • 5. [Jeremiah 11:19]
  • 6. Isaiah 57:1
  • 7. Matthew 27:57, 60
  • 8. Cited 1 Peter 2:22; [Hebrews 4:15; 1 John 3:5]
  • 9. [ver. 4]
  • 10. [ver. 6]
  • 11. [Isaiah 44:28]
  • 12. [1 John 2:1]
  • 13. Acts 13:39; Romans 5:18, 19
  • 14. [ver. 5]
  • 15. Isaiah 52:13; [Philippians 2:9]
  • 16. [Colossians 2:15]
  • 17. ver. 6, 8, 10

Footnotes 5

  • [a]. Or he has made him sick
  • [b]. Or when you make his soul
  • [c]. Masoretic Text; Dead Sea Scroll he shall see light
  • [d]. Or with the great
  • [e]. Or with the numerous
The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.