03-24-2024, 11:35 PM
To me, it doesn’t make sense to focus on one or two verses, we have to look at the whole picture.
We know that most of Isaiah is written in poetic Hebrew, so not all of it will be that easy to understand.
But we can see other references throughout the Hebrew bible that might relate and remember, there are no chapter breaks.
Here are a few for instance –
Isaiah 49 speaks of Israel as “him” who is despised of men, abhorred of nations, one who is afflicted/poor and oppressed.
Isaiah 52 says they were oppressed, 54 says afflicted and oppressed, 56 speaks of Israel as “him”, 60 says afflicted and despised, forsaken and hated.
Jeremiah 11 talks of being a docile lamb that is led to the slaughter, 30 of being hurt and wounded, 50 of Israel as “him” and “his” and being oppressed.
Nehemiah 3 talks about Israel being oppressed.
Psalm 25 talks of Israel as “his”, 44 like a sheep to be eaten, sheep for the slaughter.
Hosea speaks of Israel as “him”
Zephaniah 3 about the remnant of Israel that shall do no iniquity nor speak lies or deceit.
The servant was wounded from the transgressions of others, not died for.
The servant will justify others with knowledge, just as it is mentioned many times throughout the Hebrew bible.
The servant will acknowledge his guilt.
The servant is referred to in the plural.
Isaiah 53 does not mention any spilling or need of blood, a need to believe in a messiah, that the servant is G-d or the son of G-d, or a second coming.
So who does this poetic servant seem to be pointing to?
We know that most of Isaiah is written in poetic Hebrew, so not all of it will be that easy to understand.
But we can see other references throughout the Hebrew bible that might relate and remember, there are no chapter breaks.
Here are a few for instance –
Isaiah 49 speaks of Israel as “him” who is despised of men, abhorred of nations, one who is afflicted/poor and oppressed.
Isaiah 52 says they were oppressed, 54 says afflicted and oppressed, 56 speaks of Israel as “him”, 60 says afflicted and despised, forsaken and hated.
Jeremiah 11 talks of being a docile lamb that is led to the slaughter, 30 of being hurt and wounded, 50 of Israel as “him” and “his” and being oppressed.
Nehemiah 3 talks about Israel being oppressed.
Psalm 25 talks of Israel as “his”, 44 like a sheep to be eaten, sheep for the slaughter.
Hosea speaks of Israel as “him”
Zephaniah 3 about the remnant of Israel that shall do no iniquity nor speak lies or deceit.
The servant was wounded from the transgressions of others, not died for.
The servant will justify others with knowledge, just as it is mentioned many times throughout the Hebrew bible.
The servant will acknowledge his guilt.
The servant is referred to in the plural.
Isaiah 53 does not mention any spilling or need of blood, a need to believe in a messiah, that the servant is G-d or the son of G-d, or a second coming.
So who does this poetic servant seem to be pointing to?