Isaiah-Chap-53
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Remember the
following truth from our beloved Torah!
“Ye shall NOT ADD TO THE WORD which
I command you, NEITHER SHALL YE DIMINISH FROM
IT, that ye may keep the commandments of יְהוָה
אֱלֹהֵיכֶם - the LORD your Eloleichem, which I command you”. Davarim -
Deuteronomy 4:2.
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With
Rabbi, Dr. Reuven Ben Avraham-Goossens, PhD.
Isaiah 53 is the climax of the
“Servant Songs”. It describes a “Suffering Servant” who is despised and
rejected by men, yet bears the sicknesses and pains of the collective. In the
Hebraic tradition, the Servant is identified as the “People of Israel” in exile
“bearing the iniquities of the nations and suffering on the world’s stage”,
only to be eventually vindicated and exalted before the eyes of astonished
kings!
Let us now read Yeshayahu - Isaiah Chapter 53: (JPS-1917 version of the Tanakh).
1. “‘Who would have believed our report? And to whom hath the arm of יְהוָה - the LORD been revealed?
2. For he shot up right forth as a sapling, and as a root out of a dry ground; he had no form nor comeliness, that we should look upon him, nor beauty that we should delight in him.
3. He was despised, and forsaken of men, a man of pains, and acquainted with disease, and as one from whom men hide their face: he was despised, and we esteemed him not.
4. Surely our diseases he did bear, and our pains he carried; whereas we did esteem him stricken, smitten of אֱלֹהִים - Elohim (God), and afflicted.
5. But he was wounded because of our transgressions, he was crushed because of our iniquities: the chastisement of our welfare was upon him, and with his stripes we were healed.
6. All we like sheep did go astray, we turned every one to his own way; and יְהוָה - the LORD hath made to light on him the iniquity of us all.
7. He was oppressed, though he humbled himself and opened not his mouth; as a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and as a sheep that before her shearers is dumb; yea, he opened not his mouth.
8. By oppression and judgment he was taken away, and with his generation who did reason? for he was cut off out of the land of the living, for the transgression of my people to whom the stroke was due.
9. And they made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich his tomb; although he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth’.
10. Yet it pleased יְהוָה - the LORD to crush him by disease; to see if his soul would offer itself in restitution, that he might see his seed, prolong his days, and that the purpose of יְהוָה - the LORD might prosper by his hand:
11. Of the travail of his soul he shall see to the full, even My servant, who by his knowledge did justify the Righteous One to the many, and their iniquities he did bear.
12. Therefore will I divide him a portion among the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the mighty; because he bared his soul unto death, and was numbered with the transgressors; yet he bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors”.
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It is time to look at the ‘verse by verse’ item, with explanatins:
Verse 1: Who would have believed our report? And to whom hath the arm of יְהוָה - the LORD been revealed?
Explanation: The kings of the nations speak here, expressing utter shock. They cannot believe that the downtrodden people they witnessed (Israel) were actually the instrument of אֱלֹהִים - Elohim’s power (the “arm of יְהוָה - the LORD”).
Verse 2: For he shot up right forth as a sapling, and as a root out of a dry ground; he had no form nor comeliness, that we should look upon him, nor beauty that we should delight in him.
Explanation: The Servant (Israel) grew up in the “dry ground” of exile. To the nations, the Jewish people appeared physically unimpressive and without the political “beauty” or “majesty” of the great empires.
Verse 3: He was despised, and forsaken of men, a man of pains, and accustomed to disease; and as one from whom men hide their face: he was despised, and we esteemed him not.
Explanation: This depicts the historical “reproach of Israel”. The nations looked away in disgust or indifference while the Hebraic people suffered through centuries of persecution and “pains”.
Verse 4: Surely our diseases he did bear, and our pains he carried; whereas we did esteem him stricken, smitten of אֱלֹהִים, and afflicted.
Explanation: The nations realized their error. They thought Israel was being punished by אֱלֹהִים for being “cursed”, but they now see that Israel was suffering the consequences of the world’s moral failures.
Verse 5: But he was wounded because of our transgressions, he was crushed because of our iniquities; the chastisement of our welfare was upon him, and with his stripes we were healed.
Explanation: This is the core of the “vicarious” suffering. The survival and spiritual steadfastness of Israel, despite being “crushed” by the nations’ sins, somehow provides a path to the world’s eventual moral healing.
Verse 6: All we like sheep did go astray, we turned every one to his own way; and יְהוָה - the LORD hath made to light on him the iniquity of us all.
Explanation: While the nations ignored Divine law and followed their own “ways”. the Servant remained the focal point of the world’s chaotic history and redirected judgment.
Verse 7: He was oppressed, though he humbled himself and opened not his mouth; as a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and as a sheep that before her shearers is dumb; yea, he opened not his mouth.
Explanation: This highlights the dignity and silence of the Servant. Throughout many persecutions, Israel often accepted the “decree of Heaven” without rebelling against אֱלֹהִים, maintaining their faith in silence.
Verse 8: By oppression and judgment he was taken away; and with his generation who did reason? for he was cut off out of the land of the living, for the transgression of my people to whom the stroke was due.
Explanation: The Servant was subjected to rigged “judgments” and “oppression”. He was effectively removed from the “land of the living” (sovereign existence) because of the sins of those who oppressed him.
Verse 9: And they made his grave with the wicked and with the rich in his deaths; although he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth.
Explanation: Even in death or exile, the Servant was buried among the “wicked” (pagans). Yet, the Prophet insists on Israel’s innocence regarding “violence” or “deceit” against the nations.
Verse 10: Yet it pleased יְהוָה - the LORD to crush him by disease; to see if his soul would offer itself in restitution, that he might see his seed, prolong his days, and that the purpose of יְהוָה - the LORD might prosper by his hand.
Explanation: The “crushing” had a purpose. If the Servant remains faithful through the trial, he is promised “seed” (descendants) and a “prolonging of days” a promise of national eternity.
Verse 11: Of the travail of his soul he shall see to the full, even My servant, who by his knowledge did justify the Righteous One to the many, and their iniquities he did bear.
Explanation: Through the “knowledge” of אֱלֹהִים, the Servant (Israel) brings a level of justification and awareness to the “many” (the nations), bearing the burden of a witness.
Verse 12: Therefore will I divide him a portion among the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the mighty; because he bared his soul unto death, and was numbered with the transgressors; yet he bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.
Explanation: The final vindication. Because Israel was willing to endure the lowliness of exile and being “numbered with transgressors”, they will ultimately receive the highest “portion” and “spoil”, in later times!
My Closing Message:
Chapter 53 is a difficult text because it demands we look at the “pains" of our history. Yet, it concludes with a promise of “prolonged days” and “spoil”. It teaches us that the suffering of the righteous is never in vain; it is a catalyst for the world’s ultimate recognition of the Truth.
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He, said the following via several of our prophets...
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שָׁלוֹם
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Rabbi, Dr. Reuven Ben Avraham-Goossens, PhD.
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