David guzik commentary on isaiah 53 describes the atoning suffering and the. Although im somewhat familiar with this chapter, i gained a lot of insight by reading glasers book. The centerpiece is isaiah s unrivaled chapter 53, portraying christ as the slain lamb of god. Messiah is the shoot who sprung up from the fallen davidic dynasty. He also foretold the coming of the messiah and the salvation of the lord. When isaiah uses the phrase he was led as a lamb to the slaughter, we should not take this as indicating that jesus was a helpless victim of circumstances, and was helpless as a lamb. Now you can have your questions answered with this great resource, isaiah 53 explained. This commentary echoes the prophecy recorded in psalm 22 see psalm 22 commentary.
And to whom if not us has the arm and infinite power of. That he bore his sufferings with an invincible and exemplary, isaiah 53. Isaiah 53 is the fiftythird chapter of the book of isaiah in the hebrew bible or the old testament of the christian bible. There are technically three separate parts to the book of isaiah. Clicking on a chapter will show you the text of that chapter of isaiah in the bible new international version. He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him. Many people are amazed that people especially jewish people can read a chapter like this and miss jesus. Isaiah chapter 53 vividly describes the messiah suffering for sin.
The book of isaiah covers the most turbulent period in israels history, all the way from the time of assyrias conquest of israel to the babylonian exile of the jews, and beyond. Isaiah 53 is the fiftythird chapter of the book of isaiah in the hebrew bible. Glaser explains isaiah 53 as it fits in with the rest of the bible, covering such topics as biblical relevance and accuracy, as well as biblical prophecy in general and the specific prophecies given in isaiah 53. Isaiah with book summary versebyverse bible commentary. Isaiah 53 is the prophecy about jesus or is it all coincidence. The man, isaiah, was a prophet and preacher at the time he wrote this book. Isaiah 53 commentary isaiah 53 is a prophetic commentary on how jesus engineers his own death on the cross to pay the death penalty due for our sins. While the last 27 chapters of isaiah focus on comfort and the coming of the messiah, bearing a likeness to the themes of the 27 new testament books. And that which christ himself, when he expounded moses and all the prophets, showed to be the drift and scope of them all was that christ ought to suffer and then to enter into his glory, lu. Yet, when i first read this passage, my mind was filled with questions. This passage, the commentators explain, speaks of the. In that case, isaiah 53 could be applied not only to the people of israel in the days of isaiah, but also throughout history. Chapter 53 the two great things which the spirit of christ in the oldtestament prophets testified beforehand were the sufferings of christ and the glory that should follow, 1 pt. The first 39 chapters of isaiah contain strong themes of gods judgment, resembling the 39 old testament books.
To read through the entire book of isaiah, please click through the chapter links below. Chapters 2427, known as the isaiah apocalypse, are thought to be the work of an author who lived long after isaiah. Isaiah 53 commentary matthew henry commentary on the whole. Is isaiah 53 the suffering servant a prophecy about jesus. Isaiah 53 refers to jesus christ because thats the only meaning the most ancient. Isaiahs point is that jesus was silent, not helpless. Try rereading the isaiah passage, but think of the jewish victims of the holocaust, the pogroms, the inquisition, the crusades, or other christian persecutions of jews, as you read it. It is through his suffering that our iniquities are taken away. Chapter 53 of the bibles book of isaiah and some surrounding verses contain one of the most direct prophecies about the ministry of the jewish messiah.
Isaiah s point is that jesus was silent, not helpless. This is a good introduction for anyone interested in messianic prophecies that jesus has fulfilled. May 25, 2017 the book of isaiah covers the most turbulent period in israels history, all the way from the time of assyrias conquest of israel to the babylonian exile of the jews, and beyond. Isaiah 53 commentary commentary critical and explanatory. The book is a collection of oracles, prophecies, and reports. Protoisaiah chapters 9, deuteroisaiah chapters 4055 and tritoisaiah chapters 5666. Jesus kept silent before herod, before caiphas until the high priest put him on oath and before pilate when the leaders. The suffering servant who has believed confidently trusted in, relied on, and adhered to our message of salvation. In a seeming paradox, the book of isaiah also presents the messiah as one who will suffer. The speaker, according to horsley, personates the repenting jews in the latter ages of the world coming over to the faith of the redeemer. And to whom if not us has the arm and infinite power of the lord been revealed. He is the one highly exalted before whom kings shut their mouths. Further clear testimonies to the unity of isaiah are the scrolls found at the dead sea.
Isaiah 53 is a prophetic commentary on how jesus engineers his own death on the cross to pay the death penalty due for our sins. Chapters 4055 are known as deuteroisaiah and date from the time of the israelites exile in babylon. Isaiah 53 commentary matthew henry commentary on the. But to this day few discern, or will acknowledge, that divine power which goes with the word.
Early in the book of isaiah, god predicts the long and difficult exile of the jewish. Isaiah 58 niv true fasting shout it aloud, do bible. The story of the bible explained in a practical and easytounderstand way. The centerpiece is isaiahs unrivaled chapter 53, portraying christ as the slain lamb of god. The new testament quotes isaiah 66 times, surpassed only by the psalms. Isaiah bible book with full chapters new international. That thereby he made atonement for the sin of man isaiah 53. Although im somewhat familiar with this chapter, i. Isaiahs calling as a prophet was primarily to the nation of judah the southern kingdom and to jerusalem, urging the people to repent from their sins and return to god. Check our website for the prophetic connection show schedules. The picture of the suffering of our lord is nowhere more poignantly displayed than in the prophecy of isaiah, chapter 52. Request your free copy of isaiah 53 explained today.
This section of the prophets, also known as the suffering servant, has been. Commentary on isaiah 5253 the suffering servant may 23, 2016 bill pratt leave a comment. At the end of chapter 52 isaiah writes an introduction to chapter 53. The first part protoisaiah prophesies death and destruction, but keeps lightening it up with cheery prophecies of a good and holy kingdom at the end of time. This book contains the prophecies attributed to the prophet isaiah, and is one of the neviim. Isaiah chapter 53 verse by verse bible commentary matthew. Read revealing and surprising key facts in this popular book. John goldingays isaiah 2001 argues that the poetic sections of protoisaiah represent the prophecies of the original isaiah, while the prose sections were sermons composed at the court of josiah in the seventh century bce. Isaiah 53 commentary commentary critical and explanatory on. Earlier on in isaiah, god had predicted exile and calamity for the jewish people. Many of his prophesies predicted events that occurred in isaiahs near future, yet at the same time they foretold the events of the distant. But to this day few discern, or will acknowledge, that. It is said that the chapter talks about jesus, or does it. These are all of the chapters of the book of isaiah.
The author does begin the book by pointing to other works for other more basic apologetic questions and these books are of classical and evidential. Scripture that has the potential to revolutionize your life. For example, one jewish scholar, claude montefiore, explained. Isaiah, in my opinion, is the most spiritual of the old testament books.
Isaiah 53 since the lord saved me has been memorized little by little, and for me it is the foundational scripture to which i resort every day,my advice to every believer, hide isaiah 53 in your heart, live it daily, you will not sin against god. Isaiah 53 commentary isaiah chapter 53 commentary bible study. To miss the fact that jesus christ is the central figure in this passage is to stumble in unbelief over the cornerstone and foundation of all the gospel. Isaiah chapter 53 explained discover the 66 books of the. Isaiah 53 is better understood when we understand what god has said in the previous chapter. The 53rd chapter of isaiah is a beautiful, poetic song, one of the four servant. Even though the verbs are past tense, they predict happenings future to isaiah s time, i. Jehovah appears to isaiah in the temple and sends him as a prophet to warn of imminent judgments.
The two great things which the spirit of christ in the oldtestament prophets testified beforehand were the sufferings of christ and the glory that should follow, 1 pt. Is the isaiah 53 you read in the jewish bible or christian. Isaiah 53 bible commentary matthew henry concise christianity. This apparent contradiction is solved in the person of jesus christ. The first part proto isaiah prophesies death and destruction, but keeps lightening it up with cheery prophecies of a good and holy kingdom at the end of time.
How you can have a soulsatisfying relationship with god. On each page, you will find a chapter of the book of isaiah that you will be able to read through. The verse continues to explain that the jewish people, who righteously bore the. Isaiah 53 must be understood as referring to the coming davidic king, the. Proto isaiah chapters 9, deutero isaiah chapters 4055 and trito isaiah chapters 5666. This book contains the prophecies spoken by the prophet isaiah, and is a part of the book of the prophets. It is said that the chapter talks about yeshua hamoschaich jesus, or does it. They ask me for just decisions and seem eager for god to.
You can break isaiah down into roughly three parts. Commentary on isaiah 5253 the suffering servant tough. Isaiah 53 the forbidden chapter one for israel ministry. They ask me for just decisions and seem eager for god to come near.
Perhaps the greatest of all messianic prophecies in the tanakh the hebrew scriptures the old testament concerning the advent of the jewish messiah is found in the 53rd chapter of the prophet isaiah. This is incontrovertible evidence that isaiah 53 was written before the time of jesus. Is isaiah 53 the suffering servant a prophecy about. Chapter 53, however, occurs in the midst of isaiah s messages of consolation, which tell of the restoration of israel to a position of prominence and a vindication of their status as gods chosen people. The jewish bible is composed of the torah law, neviim prophets and the ketuvim writings. Hailey gave the same answer to this that kidner gave in the quotation above. In his day of judgment jehovah preserves alive those whose names are inscribed in the book of life. Isaiah 53 is a wellknown passage of scripture to the avid student of the bible. Mar 18, 2011 john goldingays isaiah 2001 argues that the poetic sections of protoisaiah represent the prophecies of the original isaiah, while the prose sections were sermons composed at the court of josiah in the seventh century bce. Behold, my servant shall prosper the term servant is supposed to connect back to sections earlier in the book that speak of the servant of the lord for example, in chapters 42, 49 and 50, where the messiah is described as a servant that suffers. For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground. Declare to my people their rebellion and to the descendants of jacob their sins.
The prophet himself does not identify himthat identification must await the fullness of time when christ came and suffered, the just for the. Book written for a general audience to explain the messianic prophecy as found in isaiah 53. What is described here is the ideal sufferer, the suffering servant. In the rabbinical training i had received, the fiftythird chapter of the book of isaiah had been continually avoided in favor of other, weightier matters to be learned. Apr 09, 2020 beyond doubt, the suffering servant of isaiah 53 refers to messiah. While little is known of the personal life of the prophet, he is considered to be one of the greatest of them all. And that which christ himself, when he expounded moses and all the prophets, showed to be the drift and scope of them all was that christ ought to suffer and. The book of isaiah is one of the most important books of the old testament. I would explain that this was possible because the book of isaiah i. May 02, 2020 in a seeming paradox, the book of isaiah also presents the messiah as one who will suffer. The subject was never discussed in my prewarpoland hebrew school. Chapter 53 occurs in the midst of isaiah s messages of consolation, which tell of the restoration of israel to prominence as gods chosen people. Jun 27, 2014 isaiah 53 is the prophecy about jesus or is it all coincidence. The key to understanding this chapter lies in correctly identifying who is speaking.