Isaiah 52:13-15
Summary for Isa 52:13-53:12: 52:13–53:12 a This is the fourth of four passages that speak about the promised servant (see study note on 42:1-4). The Hebrew poem is carefully constructed in five three-line stanzas. It begins with the servant’s exaltation (52:13 b), proceeds to his humiliation (52:14–53:9 c), and ends with his exaltation (53:10-12 d). The faithful servant’s suffering would bring reconciliation between God and humans. The Lord Jesus perfectly fulfilled this prophecy (see ch 40 e; Matt 8:17 f; Acts 8:30-35 g; Rom 10:15-17 h; 15:21 i; 1 Pet 2:24-25 j). 52:13 k prosper ... be highly exalted: The servant would be wise and successful, set apart with the great and noble. Similar terms describe God in 6:1 l and 57:15 m.Summary for Isa 52:14-15: 52:14-15 n Despite the servant’s greatness, the actual way he would appear on earth would shock people. 52:14 o were amazed: No one expected that the rescuer would suffer and die.
52:15 p startle many nations: They would be amazed that a rescuer would appear so weak and helpless and would stand speechless.
• What they will see and what they will understand will be in complete contrast to anything they had previously imagined.
Isaiah 53
53:1 q our message: The identity of the speaker has been debated—the main possibilities are (1) a faithful remnant of Israel, and (2) Isaiah himself. Most likely, Isaiah the prophet was speaking for and with Israel.• powerful arm: God’s strength, so dramatically described in the previous chapters (see 50:2 r; 51:5 s, 9 t; 52:10 u), would actually manifest itself in weakness and apparent helplessness through the servant’s humiliation and exaltation (see 1 Cor 1:27-30 v).
53:2 w a tender green shoot ... in dry ground: Such a plant is vulnerable to extinction (cp. 37:27 x). It can hardly stay alive for itself, let alone provide anything for anyone else.
• nothing beautiful or majestic: The servant appeared to have no greatness or self-evident royal splendor (see 52:13-15 y).
• nothing to attract us to him: People like their leaders to be physically attractive and personally charismatic. The servant would be neither.
53:3 z a man of sorrows, acquainted with deepest grief (or a man of pains, acquainted with illness): The servant would fully experience the effects of sin and the Fall.
• we did not care: Because people would fail to see how such a weak, insignificant person could do anything beneficial for them, they would be unconcerned about his suffering.
53:4 aa The callous world would assume that the servant somehow brought his suffering on himself, never realizing that he was suffering for them.
• troubles ... punishment: These descriptions of the servant’s humiliation contrast with the descriptions of his exaltation.
53:5 ab he was pierced: See also Zech 12:10 ac.
• crushed ... beaten ... whipped: These were typically punishments for crimes. Sin is a crime against God.
• be whole: Hebrew shalom, usually translated “peace.” Shalom means to experience wholeness in body, in mind, and in relationships with others. The servant would be injured so that humanity can be whole and healthy in all aspects of life (see also Isa 57:18 ad). We do not need to suffer divine condemnation for our sins because the servant has already done so (see Gal 1:4 ae).
53:6 af strayed away ... left God’s paths: These are metaphors for sin (see also Rom 3:10-18 ag).
Summary for Isa 53:7-8: 53:7-8 ah The Ethiopian eunuch was reading this passage when Philip met him (Acts 8:32-33 ai). 53:7 aj See 1 Pet 2:21-25 ak for the fulfillment of this prophecy in Jesus Christ.
53:8 al Unjustly condemned: The servant will be given no legal protection or proper defense.
• cut short in midstream: To die in midlife was understood to be God’s judgment.
53:9 am no wrong ... never deceived anyone: See 1 Pet 2:21-25 an.
• in a rich man’s grave: Literally he was with the rich in his death (see Matt 27:57-61 ao). Although the Bible often considers riches as a blessing from God, it regularly condemns the rich as crooked and oppressive. The point here might be ironic: This good man would be buried with oppressors.
Summary for Isa 53:10-12: 53:10-12 ap The final stanza of the poem first explains why the servant suffered and was treated unjustly in the place of others; it then explains what the result of that obedience would be. 53:10 aq The servant’s grief would accomplish a greater good; the forgiveness and reconciliation of sinful humanity. Note also God’s good plan to prosper and exalt the servant.
• when his life is made an offering for sin: The suffering of the servant provided a substitute for others, just as the animal sacrifices in the Temple did.
• Having many descendants and enjoying a long life are rewards for godly and wise living (see Prov 3:2 ar; 17:6 as; 20:7 at). Because the servant left his fate in his God’s hands, he would receive eternal rewards from the God who vindicates the righteous (see Phil 2:9-11 au).
53:11 av his experience (literally his knowledge): This clearly does not refer to intellectual knowledge but to all that the servant would experience in his obedience, suffering, and intimate relationship with God.
• The servant’s righteous obedience enables people to be put right with God (see Gen 15:6 aw; Rom 5:18-19 ax), for he will bear all their sins.
53:12 ay the honors: See Phil 2:9-11 az.
• He was counted among the rebels: Rebels (Hebrew poshe‘im) is a stronger word than sinners and is a key word in Isaiah. It refers to those who are in willful defiance of a lawful authority, in this case, God.
• interceded for rebels: The servant would pray for sinners in the midst of his suffering (see Exod 32:30 ba; Luke 23:34 bb).
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