Isaiah 53:3-7

3 He was despised and rejected by mankind, a man of suffering, and familiar with pain. Like one from whom people hide their faces he was despised, and we held him in low esteem.

4 Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered him punished by God, stricken by him, and afflicted.

5 But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed.

6 We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; and the LORD has laid on 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 its shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth.

Isaiah 53:3-7 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. Psalms 69:29
• 2. ver 4,10; S Exodus 1:10; S Matthew 16:21; Luke 18:31-33; Hebrews 5:8
• 3. S Deuteronomy 31:17; Isaiah 1:15
• 4. S 1 Samuel 2:30; S Psalms 22:6; Matthew 27:29; John 1:10-11
• 5. Matthew 8:17*
• 6. S Deuteronomy 5:24; S Job 4:5; Jeremiah 23:5-6; Jeremiah 25:34; Ezekiel 34:23-24; Micah 5:2-4; Zechariah 13:7; John 19:7
• 7. S ver 3; S Genesis 12:17; S Ruth 1:21
• 8. S Psalms 22:16
• 9. S Exodus 28:38; S Psalms 39:8; S John 3:17; Romans 4:25; 1 Corinthians 15:3; Hebrews 9:28
• 10. Psalms 34:18
• 11. S Isaiah 50:6
• 12. S Isaiah 9:6; Romans 5:1
• 13. Isaiah 1:6; Matthew 27:26; John 19:1
• 14. S Deuteronomy 32:39; S 2 Chronicles 7:14; 1 Peter 2:24-25
• 15. S Psalms 95:10; 1 Peter 2:24-25
• 16. S 1 Samuel 8:3; Isaiah 56:11; Isaiah 57:17; Micah 3:5
• 17. ver 12; S Exodus 28:38; Romans 4:25
• 18. Isaiah 49:26
• 19. S Mark 14:61; 1 Peter 2:23
• 20. Matthew 27:31; S John 1:29
• 21. S Psalms 44:22