Isaiah 53:5-12

5 But He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed. ^[a]

6 We all like sheep have gone astray, ^[b] each one has turned to his own way; and the LORD has laid upon Him the iniquity of us all.

7 He was oppressed and afflicted, yet He did not open His mouth. He was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is silent, so He did not open His mouth.

8 By oppression and judgment He was taken away, and who can recount His descendants? For He was cut off from the land of the living; ^[c] He was stricken for the transgression of My people.

A Grave Assigned

9 He was assigned a grave with the wicked, ¹ and with a rich man in His death, although He had done no violence, nor was any deceit in His mouth. ^[d]

10 Yet it was the LORD’s will to crush Him and to cause Him to suffer; and when His soul is made a guilt offering, ^[e] He will see His offspring, He will prolong His days, and the good pleasure of the LORD will prosper in His hand.

11 After the anguish of His soul, He will see the light of life ^[f] and be satisfied. By His knowledge My righteous Servant will justify many, and He will bear their iniquities.

12 Therefore I will allot Him a portion with the great, ^[g] and He will divide the spoils with the strong, ^[h] because He has poured out His life unto death, and He was numbered with the transgressors. ^[i] Yet He bore the sin of many and made intercession for the transgressors.

Isaiah 53:5-12 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

• 1. (Matthew 27:57–61; Mark 15:42–47; Luke 23:50–56; John 19:38–42)

Footnotes

• [a] Cited in 1 Peter 2:24
• [b] Cited in 1 Peter 2:25
• [c] LXX In humiliation He was deprived of justice. Who can recount His descendants? For His life was removed from the earth; cited in Acts 8:32–33.
• [d] Cited in 1 Peter 2:22
• [e] Or and though He makes His life a guilt offering
• [f] DSS (see also LXX); MT does not include the light of life.
• [g] Or many
• [h] Or numerous
• [i] Cited in Luke 22:37