Isa 52:14-53:5 | TNotes | STEP | Summary for Isa 52:14-15: 52:14-15 Despite the servant’s greatness, the actual way he would appear on earth would shock people. 52:14 were amazed: No one expected that the rescuer would suffer and die.

Summary for Isa 52:14-15: 52:14-15 ^a Despite the servant’s greatness, the actual way he would appear on earth would shock people. 52:14 ^b were amazed: No one expected that the rescuer would suffer and die.
52:15 ^c 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 53:1-5

53:1 ^d 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 ^e; 51:5 ^f, 9 ^g; 52:10 ^h), would actually manifest itself in weakness and apparent helplessness through the servant’s humiliation and exaltation (see 1 Cor 1:27-30 ⁱ).
53:2 ^j a tender green shoot ... in dry ground: Such a plant is vulnerable to extinction (cp. 37:27 ^k). 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 ^l).

• nothing to attract us to him: People like their leaders to be physically attractive and personally charismatic. The servant would be neither.
53:3 ^m 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 ⁿ 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 ^o he was pierced: See also Zech 12:10 ^p.

• 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 ^q). We do not need to suffer divine condemnation for our sins because the servant has already done so (see Gal 1:4 ^r).