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The Truth About Isaiah 53


Every year, the rabbis tell us to skip over the 53rd chapter of Isaiah. This chapter describes God's Anointed Servant. It says that He would be despised by men but accomplish God's will.


Man was created by God to perfectly reflect the glory of God, but man chose to rebel against his Maker. This sin resulted in mankind's separation from God — the Source of Life — and man was doomed to death.


Ezekiel 18:4 - Behold, all souls are Mine; the soul of the father as well as the soul of the son is Mine. The soul who sins will die.

Isaiah 53 describes God's Anointed Servant (The Messiah) as the One who would receive the deadly punishment that should have fallen on mankind.


God gave Moses and the prophets His Word. Heroes of our faith lived and died to copy, preserve, and teach God's Word. Shouldn’t we at least know what it says?


Consider this chapter from the prophet Isaiah. Who "took off the sin of many?" Who was "wounded through our transgressions?" Through whose wounds were we healed? Who is “we" when Isaiah said, “All we like sheep have turned astray?" Who is “him” when Isaiah said, "the Lord hath caused the iniquity of us all to fall on him.” Someone Else paid the price for our sins. The God of Israel is the God of Truth, and He makes His Truth clear to those who want to listen to Him. If you want God's Truth, ask Him who Isaiah described in Isaiah 53.


This English translation is found in many traditional synagogues.


The Twenty-four Books of the Old Testament

Translation Revised by Alexander Harkavy

Hebrew Publishing Company, New York


Isaiah 53


Who would have believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the Lord revealed?


For he grew up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he had no form nor comeliness; and when we see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him.


He was despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and as one from whom men hide their face he was despised, and we esteemed him not.


Surely he hath borne griefs inflected by us, and suffered sorrows we have caused: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.


But he was wounded through our transgressions, bruised through our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him, and with his wounds we were healed.


All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath caused the iniquity of us all to fall upon him.


He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: as a lamb which is brought to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he opened not his mouth.


He was taken away from rule and from judgment; and his life who shall recount? for he was cut off out of the land of the living; through the transgressions of my people was he stricken.


And one made his grave among the wicked, and his tomb among the rich; although he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth.


But it pleased the Lord to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: if his soul shall consider it a recompense for guilt, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his hand.


He shall see the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my servant justify the righteous before many, and he shall bear their iniquities.


Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath laid open his soul unto death, and was numbered with transgressors; and he took off the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.


Download our amplified version of Isaiah 53 (PDF).

Download our Isaiah 53 tract (PDF).