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Isaiah 53
Isaiah 53:1
General Information:
Isaiah continues describing Yahweh's servant. Here Isaiah describes events that will happen in the future as if they happened in the past. This emphasizes that they certainly will happen. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-pastforfuture)
Who has believed what they heard from us
What Isaiah just found out is so amazing that he wonders if the exiles will believe it. The "we" includes him and those in exile. Alternate translation: "It is hard for anyone to believe what we have heard" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-exclusive and rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-rquestion)
to whom has the arm of Yahweh been revealed?
Arm refers to God's power. This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "Yahweh has revealed his power to people." (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metonymy and rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-activepassive and rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-rquestion)
Isaiah 53:2
For he grew up before Yahweh like a sapling
Here "he" refers to God's servant whom Isaiah compares to a very young tree. This emphasizes that he will appear weak. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-simile)
out of parched earth
"parched earth" is hard and dry ground that will not allow plants to grow and represents where the servant of Yahweh will come. Alternate translation: "out of an impossible situation" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor)
Isaiah 53:3
General Information:
Isaiah continues describing Yahweh's servant (Isaiah 53:1-2).
He was despised and rejected by people
This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "People considered him as nothing and rejected him" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-activepassive)
a man of sorrows
"a man knowing all kinds of sadness"
from whom men hide their faces
"Face" represents a person's attention or fellowship. Hiding one's face means to turn away from someone. Alternate translation: "from whom people turn away" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metonymy)
he was despised
This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "they considered him to be worthless" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-activepassive)
Isaiah 53:4
General Information:
Isaiah continues describing Yahweh's servant (Isaiah 53:1-2).
he has borne our sicknesses and carried our sorrows
To "bear" or carry an abstraction like sickness and sorrow represents taking it up. Alternate translation: "he has taken our sicknesses and sorrows upon himself" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor)
yet we thought he was being punished by God, struck by God, and afflicted
This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "yet we thought God was punishing and afflicting him" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-activepassive and rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-explicit)
Isaiah 53:5
General Information:
Isaiah continues describing Yahweh's servant (Isaiah 53:1-2).
But he was pierced because of our rebellious deeds; he was crushed because of our sins
These two phrases share similar meanings and emphasize that the servant suffered because of the people's sins. This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "God allowed the enemy to stab him and kill him because of our sins" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-parallelism and rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-activepassive)
The punishment for our peace was on him
This refers to peace with God. This can be made explicit. Alternate translation: "He accepted this punishment so we could live in harmony" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-explicit)
with his wounds we are healed
This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "he healed us by his suffering of the wounds" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-activepassive)
Isaiah 53:6
General Information:
Isaiah continues describing Yahweh's servant (Isaiah 53:1-2).
We all like sheep have gone astray
Sheep often leave the path on which the shepherd leads them. Isaiah means that we do what we want instead of what God commands. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-simile)
the iniquity of us all
Our "iniquity" here represents the guilt for our sin. Alternate translation: "the guilt for the sin of every one of us" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor)
Isaiah 53:7
General Information:
Isaiah continues describing Yahweh's servant (Isaiah 53:1-2).
He was oppressed
This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "They treated him harshly" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-activepassive)
he did not open his mouth
"Mouth" represents what a person says. Opening one's mouth means to speak. Alternate translation: "he did not protest" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metonymy)
as a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and as a sheep that before its shearers is silent
Isaiah compares the servant to a lamb and a sheep to emphasize that he will remain silent as people harm and humiliate him. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-simile)
as a lamb that is led to the slaughter
This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "just as a lamb is silent as a person slaughters it" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-simile and rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-activepassive)
Isaiah 53:8
General Information:
Isaiah continues describing Yahweh's servant (Isaiah 53:1-2).
By coercion and judgment he was taken away
This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "They coerced him, judged him, and took him away" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-activepassive)
coercion
forcing a person to do what that person does not want to do
As for his generation, who thought that he was cut off ... my people?
Some versions read, "As for his generation, who thought about it? He was cut off ... my people." In this reading, the words "his generation" refers to "his descendants," and the rhetorical question can be translated as a statement, "No one thought about his descendants." (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-rquestion)
As for his generation, who thought that ... my people?
This rhetorical question can be translated as a statement. Alternate translation: "No one in his generation thought that ... my people." (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-rquestion)
he was cut off from the land of the living
"Cut off" here refers to death. This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "he died" or "death took him away" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-activepassive and rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-idiom)
of my people
"of the people of Israel"
Isaiah 53:9
nor had there been any deceit in his mouth
"Mouth" represents what a person says. Alternate translation: "nor did he deceive anyone when he spoke" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metonymy)
Isaiah 53:10
General Information:
Isaiah continues describing Yahweh's servant (Isaiah 53:1-2).
he will see his offspring
Here, "offspring" means those people that Yahweh has forgiven because of the servant's sacrifice. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor)
he will prolong his days
This speaks of making him live for more time. Alternate translation: "Yahweh will make his servant live again" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-idiom)
Yahweh's purpose will be accomplished through him
This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "Yahweh will accomplish his purpose through his servant" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-activepassive)
Isaiah 53:11
After the suffering of his life
Here "his life" refers to the servant. Alternate translation: "After the servant has suffered" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metonymy)
he will see light
Many versions understand "light" here to stand for life. That is, the servant will become alive again. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor)
My righteous servant
Here "my" refers to Yahweh.
he will bear their iniquities
The word "bear" means carry. Possible meanings are 1) "their iniquities" is a metonym representing the punishment for their sins. Alternate translation: "he will take their punishment" or "he will be punished for their sins" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor)or 2) "their iniquities" is a metonym representing their guilt. Alternate translation: "he will take their guilt upon himself" or "he will be guilty for their sins"
Isaiah 53:12
General Information:
Yahweh continues describing his servant.
Therefore will I give him his portion among the multitudes, and he will divide the spoils with the many
These two clauses mean basically the same thing. "Portion" and "spoils" refer to a king after a victorious battle sharing the plunder or rewards with his army. This means God will greatly honor his servant because of his sacrifice. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-parallelism and rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor)
the multitudes
Many versions interpret this expression as "the many" or "the strong."
because he exposed himself to death
"Exposed" means to be vulnerable or unprotected. The servant of Yahweh put himself in a situation where he would die. Alternate translation: "he willingly accepted the possibility of death" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metonymy)
was numbered with the transgressors
This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "allowed people to treat him as a criminal" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-activepassive)