The suffering servant by marshall roth the 53rd chapter of isaiah is a beautiful, poetic song, one of the four servant songs in which the prophet describes the climactic period of world history when the messiah will arrive and the jewish people assume the role as the spiritual leaders of humanity. Chapters 4253 of the book of isaiah contain four servant songs. Throughout the book style and language of isaiah are very expressive. Introduction for this important chapter it will be helpful to work through the passage first and observe the material to be interpreted. We can interpret these as foreshadowing for the coming of jesus christ. The key to understanding this chapter lies in correctly identifying who is speaking. Rather, the servant will carry away the infirmities and diseases of the people. Is isaiah 53 the suffering servant a prophecy about jesus. But the first 39 chapters of the book, generally carry the message of judgment to judah, israel the northern kingdom, and the surrounding pagan nations to repent of their sins. Mar 26, 2005 the suffering servant is an enigmatic figure described in the book of the prophet isaiah. Isaiah 53 nasb the suffering servant who has bible gateway. This is what he says in his book the earlyfirstcentury targum of jonathan ben uzziel on isaiah 53 a kind of paraphrastic commentary in aramaic. Isaiah 53 nasb the suffering servant who has bible. Isaiah is not saying that the servant will bear anything in his body.
George buchanan gray, a critical and exegetical commentary on the book of. As the house of israel looked to him during many days, because their countenance was darkened among the peoples, and their complexion darkened beyond the sons of men. Isaiah told the exiles this would happen through the work of the suffering servant 52. He was despised and forsaken of men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. This is one of the most thorough examinations of this most significant chapter in the entire book of isaiah.
The chapters 58 66 contain a summary of thoughts and ways of god with his earthly people israel. The suffering servant of isaiah 53 is introduced by isaiah 52. He has no stately form or majesty that we should look upon him, nor appearance that we should be attracted to him. It increases faith in jesus as the messiah, as one reads the messianic prophecies that were fulfilled in him. Philip identified the servant in isaiah 53 as jesus.
The servant songs also called the servant poems or the songs of the suffering servant are four songs in the book of isaiah in the hebrew bible, which include isaiah 42. This is, according to rabbinic interpretation, the pshat, or the plain meaning of the text in isaiah 52. What is described here is the ideal sufferer, the suffering servant. But ultimately, isaiahs portrait of the suffering servant king as the true victor over human evil didnt come from nowhere. The servant embodied the exiles hope that, though they are broken and rejected now, they would. Some recent representatives of this trend are muilenburg, 4068. The servant will be marred, beaten, and wounded for the transgressions of his people. Isaiah 53 is one of a series of several passages in isaiah 4055 and, perhaps, isaiah 60 that are referred to as the servant songs because they present the servant of yahweh or the. In preparation for communion, i would like to lead you in a brief study in the servant song in isaiah 42. Apr 25, 2010 not until the twelfth century was it suggested that the servant of isaiah 53 was the nation of israel. The first section, chapters 5, deals with isaiahs times. The book of isaiah is the first of the writings of the prophets in the bible, and isaiah, the author, is generally considered to be the greatest prophet.
The book of isaiah was foundational for the early followers of jesus and helped motivate their mission to bring good news to the nations see acts. But the suffering servant figure of the lamb in isaiah 53 deals with sin on a universal basis the sins of the nations, the sins of the whole world. The suffering servant is an enigmatic figure described in the book of the prophet isaiah. Protoisaiah chapters 9, deuteroisaiah chapters 4055 and tritoisaiah chapters 5666. It was the understanding of the early church that the suffering servant described in isaiah 52. The songs are four poems written about a certain servant of yhwh hebrew. A free bible version and commentary on the old testament book of isaiah in easy english. The designation servant is attributed to israel several times in the book isaiah 41. Isaiah 53, known as the song of the suffering servant, has powerfully inspired christians and jews alike, and is a subject of instense investigation by academics. There are technically three separate parts to the book of isaiah. As the house of israel looked to him during many days, because their countenance was darkened among the peoples, and. Commentary on isaiah 5253 the suffering servant isaiah 52. And in addition to providing unparalleled help in preparing bible studies and sermons, the book is bound to prove useful as supplemental. This climactic fourth servant song describes the suffering and triumph of the servant of the lord.
For isaiah s original audience, likely living in exile in babylon, the suffering servant may have carried, metaphorically, israels suffering. In other words, it was about a real person who existed at the time the book of isaiah was written. He then built on isaiahs messianic words, testifying that god. But the nation of israel has not suffered innocently 53. Each of these oracular poems concerns a mysterious figure called the lords servant. Proto isaiah chapters 9, deutero isaiah chapters 4055 and trito isaiah chapters 5666. Suffering servant, songs of the title generally applied to certain prophecies in deuteroisaiah, that is, the second part of the book of isaiah ch.
Beyond doubt, the suffering servant of isaiah 53 refers to messiah. Isaiah song category the isaiah song category is a great starting point for searching the songs which make up this music category. One cannot say enough about the importance of this inspired book. Jun 25, 2019 chapter 53 of the book of isaiah may be the most hotly disputed passage in all of scripture with good reason. Messiah is the shoot who sprung up from the fallen davidic dynasty. Apr 29, 2017 the book of isaiah was foundational for the early followers of jesus and helped motivate their mission to bring good news to the nations see acts. The messiah will be despised and rejected by mankind. While the suffering servant passage is commonly associated with isaiah 53, it begins at the end of isaiah 52. He was called from the womb, so this was not an afterthought. He shows that the renewed and deepened spiritual understanding of the priesthood found in john 17 is already prefigured in isaiahs suffering servant songs, especially in isaiah 53. Pdf was the suffering servant of isaiah 53 an individual or a. The suffering servant of isaiah a rabbinic anthology. Apr 20, 2017 he shows that the renewed and deepened spiritual understanding of the priesthood found in john 17 is already prefigured in isaiahs suffering servant songs, especially in isaiah 53.
Chapter 53 of the book of isaiah may be the most hotly disputed passage in all of scripture with good reason. Christianity claims that these verses in isaiah 53 foretell a specific, individual person as the messiah, or savior of the world from sin, while judaism maintains they point instead to a faithful remnant group of the jewish people. It was the understanding of the early church that the suffering servant described in isaiah. Isaiah overview james burton coffman commentaries on the bible. Many scholars today challenge the claim that isaiah wrote the entire book that bears his name. For he grew up before him like a tender shoot, and like a root out of parched ground. The big dream that animates the book of isaiah is the dream of a future time of perfect peacebasically the exact opposite of whats been going on throughout the course of the book, what with all its examples of annihilation and total war. May 23, 2016 commentary on isaiah 5253 the suffering servant may 23, 2016 bill pratt leave a comment isaiah 52.
Though isaiah 53 is quoted most often in the new testament, the section about the suffering servant actually starts in isaiah 52. Isaiah, author of the longest book of prophecy in the old testament, clearly foretells christs suffering and death at the hands of his own people. Commentary on isaiah 5253 the suffering servant may 23, 2016 bill pratt leave a comment isaiah 52. It is also one of the most detailed passages in the old testament concerning the death and resurrection of the messiah. Jonathan ben uzziel was traditionally a student of hillel, who died c.
Isaiah 53 must be understood as referring to the coming davidic king, the. Isaiah 49 to 57 free bible commentary in easy english. Therefore, when both ancient and modern rabbinic commentators expound on the clear meaning of the text, they ascribe the suffering servant in isaiah 53 to the nation of israel. Christians have long insisted that this suffering servant is jesus, while jews contend that he is the nation of israel. The wolf and the lamb are able snuggle together, hang out, watch friends rerunswhatever. This book contains the prophecies attributed to the prophet isaiah, and is one of the neviim. Chapters 4055 are known as deuteroisaiah and date from the time of the israelites exile in babylon. Its also the fourth time isaiah speaks of a servant see isaiah 42, 49, and 50. For isaiahs original audience, likely living in exile in babylon, the suffering servant may have carried, metaphorically, israels suffering.
The strongest argument for the unity of isaiah is the expression the holy one of israel, a title for god that occurs 12 times in chs. Is isaiah 53 the suffering servant a prophecy about. Apr 09, 2020 beyond doubt, the suffering servant of isaiah 53 refers to messiah. The suffering servant of isaiah the bart ehrman blog. For a fuller treatment of the text consider homer haileys a commentary on isaiah with emphasis on the messianic hope religious supply. Aug 08, 2009 no other bible portion has created as much controversy between christian and jewish people as the suffering servant in the book of isaiah 52. Apr 12, 2014 though isaiah 53 is quoted most often in the new testament, the section about the suffering servant actually starts in isaiah 52. Exegetical notes behold, my servant shall prosper. Indeed, its direct and indirect use by our lord jesus christ and its vast role. How can a person possibly miss the vicarious, substitutionary, suffering of this pure and righteous innocent servant.
The future glory for gods people 5466 reasons to study the book there are many reasons why christians should read and study the book of isaiah. The suffering servant of isaiah 53 thinking on scripture. Isaiah overview james burton coffman commentaries on the. According to traditional jewish teaching, the suffering servant is the nation of israel.
Orlinsky, the socalled servant of the lord and suffering servant in second isaiah, in studies on the second part of the book of isaiah, vetus testamentum supplement series leiden. The suffering of our lord corresponds to the letter with the picture isaiah draws. Encountering the suffering servant in jewish and christian theology bock, darrell l. The remarkable suffering servant of isaiah 4055 preaching. In 1892 bernhard duhm published a commentary on isaiah which has profoundly influenced a whole century of scholarly discussion of isaiah. I would recommend it to anyone wanting to know how various people have viewed this chapter and why a messianic personal interpretation far out weighs the commonly held jewish interpretation that it is not messianic but rather refers to the nation of israel as the suffering servant. The suffering servant commentary the ugp curriculum isaiah was gods special messenger to judah, the southern kingdom. He does not identify the servant in his prophecy, but we who know the lord jesus christ can see that it is he. An historical and critical study north, christopher r. The ethiopian understood philips message, believed in jesus, and was baptized as a new christian. Commentary on isaiah 5253 the suffering servant tough.
Isaiah, then, presents us with a picture of the ideal suffering servant. He was despised and forsaken of men, a man of sorrows and. What sets the bible apart from other religious books is that it contains thousands of prophecies. It includes the songs of the suffering servant and four separate passages referring to the nation of israel. Not until the twelfth century was it suggested that the servant of isaiah 53 was the nation of israel. The suffering servant, who has the guilt of all laid upon him 53. Gods prophet of doom and deliverance quality publications. The events given in chapters 9 occurred during isaiahs ministry around 700 b. Isaiah and the suffering servant motif bibleproject. Isaiah 53 is the fiftythird chapter of the book of isaiah in the hebrew bible or the old testament of the christian bible. The key passages regarding jesus are about the virgin birth 7. Mar 03, 2005 the suffering servant in deutero isaiah.
He is the one highly exalted before whom kings shut their mouths. Yet the targums commentary on the following verse, isaiah 52. Nor did israels suffering provide substitutionary atonement 53. This section is set against the backdrop of the assyrian period.
No other bible portion has created as much controversy between christian and jewish people as the suffering servant in the book of isaiah 52. So the notes will first offer the findings of these observations and then draw them together into an exposition. Indeed, its direct and indirect use by our lord jesus christ and its vast role in the life of the church had led the fathers to refer to it. The song pages include interesting background information and commentary about the songs and the bible author. The servant of god has no question about his call from god. The suffering servant who has believed our message. The nt finds these songs fulfilled in jesus christ, the servant of the lord par excellence.
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