Does Isaiah 53 Refer to Jesus

7/26/2019 Does Isaiah 53 Refer to Jesus

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Is Isaiah 53: refering to Jesus ?

PRELIMINARY ISSUE

Before we ea!ine Isaiah 53 "erse #$ "erse so!e %re&i!inar$ issues !ust #e 'onsi(ere( ) Isaiah 53 ison&$ un(erstoo( %ro%er&$ when rea( in the 'ontet of the Jewish Bi#&e as a who&e )

Ear&ier on in the #oo* of Isaiah+ ,o( ha( %re(i'te( ei&e an( 'a&a!it$ for the Jewish %eo%&e) -ha%ter53+ howe"er+ o''urs in the !i(st of Isaiah.s /Messages of -onso&ation/+ whi'h te&& of the su%%ose(

restoration of Israe& to a %osition of %ro!inen'e an( a "in(i'ation of their status as ,o(.s /'hosen

%eo%&e/)

In 'ha%ter 50+ for ea!%&e+ Israe& is (es'ri#e( as /o%%resse( without 'ause/ 1")2 an( /ta*en awa$/

1")5+ $et ,o( %ro!ises a #righter future ahea(+ one in whi'h Israe& wi&& again %ros%er an( #e re(ee!e(

in the sight of a&& the nations 1")43+ 640)

-ha%ter 52 further e&a#orates u%on the re(e!%tion whi'h awaits the nation of Israe&) S%ea*ing '&ear&$of the Jewish %eo%&e an( their status 1e"en a''or(ing to a&& -hristian 'o!!entaries+ 'ha%ter 52 en(s as

fo&&ows:

/78his is the heritage of the ser"ants of the Lor( an( their "in(i'ation is fro! Me+.(e'&ares the Lor()

In the origina& 9e#rew tets+ there are no 'ha%ter (i"isions+ an( Jewish an( -hristian s'ho&ars agree

that 'ha%ter 53 is a'tua&&$ a 'ontinuation of the %ro%he'$ whi'h #egins at 50:43) A''or(ing&$+ ourana&$sis !ust #egin at that "erse)

50:43 /Beho&(+ M$ ser"ant wi&& %ros%er)/

Israe& in the singu&ar is 'a&&e( ,o(.s ser"ant throughout Isaiah+ #oth e%&i'it&$ 1Isa) 24:6; 22:40;

25:2; 26:0<; 2:3 an( i!%&i'it&$ 1Isa) 20:40<; 23:4< =ther referen'es to Israe& as ,o(.s ser"antin'&u(e Jer) 3<:4< 1note that in Jer) 3<:4>+ the ser"ant Israe& is regar(e( #$ the nations as an out'ast+forsa*en #$ ,o( + as in Isa) 53:2; Jer) 2:0>06; Ps) 43:00; L*) 4:52)

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50:45 53:4 /So sha&& he 1the ser"ant start&e !an$ nations+ the *ings wi&& stan( s%ee'h&ess; or that

whi'h ha( not #een to&( the! the$ sha&& see an( that whi'h the$ ha( not hear( sha&& the$ %on(er) howou&( #e&ie"e what we ha"e hear(?/

Cuite '&ear&$+ the nations an( their *ings wi&& #e a!aDe( at what ha%%ens to the /ser"ant of the Lr(+/

an( the$ wi&& sa$ /who wou&( #e&ie"e what we ha"e hear(?/)

@@@@@@50:45 te&&s us e%&i'it&$ that it is the nations of the wor&(+ the genti&es+ who are (oing the ta&*ing in

Isaiah 53)

@@@@@

53:4 /An( to who! has the ar! of the Lor( #een re"ea&e(?/

In Isaiah+ an( throughout the Jewish Bi#&e + ,o(.s /ar!/ refers to the %h$si'a& re(e!%tion of Israe&

fro! the o%%ression of other nations 1see+ e)g)+ Isa) 50:640; Isa) 3:40; eut) 2:32; eut) >:4; Ps)



22:3)

@@@@@@

53:3 /es%ise( an( reFe'te( of !en)/

hi&e this is '&ear&$ a%%&i'a#&e to Israe& 1see Isa) <:45; Ps) 22:4342+ it 'annot #e re'on'i&e( with the

-hristian Bi#&e a''ount of Jesus+ a !an who was su%%ose(&$ /%raise( #$ a&&/ 1L*) 2:4245 an(fo&&owe( #$ !u&titu(es 1Matt) 2:05+ who wou&( &ater a''&ai! hi! as a %ro%het u%on his triu!%ha&

entr$ into Jerusa&e! 1Matt) 04:44)

E"en as he was su%%ose(&$ ta*en to #e 'ru'ifie(+ a !u&titu(e #e!oane( his fate 1L*) 03:0>) Jesus ha(

to #e ta*en #$ stea&th+ as the ru&ers feare( /a riot of the %eo%&e/ 1M*) 42:40)

@@@@@@

53:3 /A !an of %ains an( a'Guainte( with (isease)/

Israe&.s a("ersities are freGuent&$ &i*ene( to si'*ness see+ e)g)+ Isa) 4:5; Jer) 4<:4; Jer 3<:40)

@@@@@@

53:2 /Sure&$ our (iseases he 'arrie( an( our %ains he #ore)/

In Matt) 6:4>+ this is in'orre't&$ trans&ate(+ an( sai( to #e &itera&&$ 1not s%iritua&&$ fu&fi&&e( in Jesus.

hea&ing of the si'*+ a rea(ing in'onsistent with the -hristian !istrans&ation of 53:2 itse&f)

53:2 /Yet we ourse&"es estee!e( hi! stri'*en+ s!itten of ,o( an( aff&i'te()/

See Jer) 3<:4> of ,o(.s ser"ant Israe& 13<:4<+ it is sai( #$ the nations+ /It is Hion; no one 'ares forher)/

@@@@@@

53:5 /But he was woun(e( R=M 1N=8E: not =R our transgressions+ he was 'rushe( R=M

1A,AIN: not =R our iniGuities)/

Noti'e a#o"e how the -hristians !istrans&ate an( write /=R our transgressions / rather than / R=Mour transgressions / )

hereas the nations ha( thought the Ser"ant 1Israe& was un(ergoing i"ine retri#ution for its sins

153:2+ the$ now rea&iDe that the Ser"ant.s sufferings ste!!e( fro! their a'tions an( sinfu&ness) 8his

the!e is further (e"e&o%e( throughout the Jewish Bi#&e see+ e)g)+ Jer) 5<:>; Jer) 4<:05) ALS=: Notethat the a"i(i' Messiah a''or(ing to the Jews /sha&& not fai& nor #e 'rushe( ti&& he has set the right in

the earth/ 1Isa) 20:2)@@@@@@

53:> /9e was o%%resse( an( he was aff&i'te(+ $et he (i( not o%en his !outh) Li*e a &a!# that is &e( to

s&aughter+ an( &i*e a shee% that is si&ent #efore its shearers+ so he (i( not o%en his !outh)/

Note that in the %rior 'ha%ter 1Isa) 50+ Israe& is sai( to ha"e #een o%%resse( an( ta*en awa$ without'ause 150:25) A si!i&ar the!e is (e"e&o%e( in Psa&! 22+ wherein ing a"i( s%ea*s of Israe&.s

faithfu&ness e"en in the fa'e of genti&e o%%ression 122:4> 46 an( (es'ri#es Israe& as /shee% to #e

s&aughtere(/ in the !i(st of the unfaithfu& genti&e nations 122:00+44)



Regar(ing the '&ai! that Jesus /(i( not o%en his !outh/ when fa'e( with o%%ression an( aff&i'tion+ see

Matt) 0>:2+ Jn) 46:03+ 33>)

@@@@@@

53:6 /ro! (o!inion an( Fu(g!ent he was ta*en awa$)/

Note the 'orre't trans&ation of the 9e#rew) 8he -hristians are for'e( to !istrans&ate+ sin'e #$ Jesus.

own testi!on$ he ne"er ha( an$ rights to ru&ershi% or Fu(g!ent+ at &east not on the /first 'o!ing)/See+ e)g)+ Jn) 3:4>; Jn) 6:45; Jn) 40:2>; Jn) 46:3)

@@@@@@

53:6 /9e was 'ut off out of the &an( of the &i"ing/ an( 53: /9is gra"e was assigne( with wi'*e( !en)/

See ED) 3>:4442+ wherein Israe& is (es'ri#e( as /'ut off/ an( ,o( %ro!ises to o%en its /gra"es/ an(

#ring Israe& #a'* into its own &an() =ther ea!%&es of figurati"e (eaths in'&u(e E) 4<:4>; 0 Sa!) :6;0 Sa!) 4:)

8he Jewish Bi#&e re%eate(&$ sa$s that if a (es'en(ant of a"i( is righteous+ he wi&& not #e /'ut off /

1*aret) or ea!%&e+ see 4ings 0:2+ 6:05+ :25; Jere!iah 33:4>; 0-hroni'&es :4+ >:46) But if a

(es'en(ant of a"i( or %riests are unrighteous+ the$ wi&& #e 'ut off 1*aret) or ea!%&e+ see Jere!iah33:46; Joe& 4:)

8herefore+ if this "erse is s%ea*ing of Jesus #eing /'ur off/+ then that !ust !ean he was unrighteous

an( was 'ut off fro! his 1su%%ose( ro$a& heritage)

@@@@@@@

53:6 /ro! !$ %eo%&es. sins+ there was inFur$ to 89EM )/

9ere the Pro%het !a*es a#so&ute&$ '&ear+ to an$one fa!i&iar with Bi#&i'a& 9e#rew+ that the o%%resse(Ser"ant is a 'o&&e'ti"e Ser"ant+ not a sing&e in(i"i(ua&)

8he 9e#rew wor( /&a!oh/+ when use( in the Jewish Bi#&e + a&wa$s !eans /to the!/ ne"er /to hi!/

an( !a$ #e foun(+ for ea!%&e+ in Psa&! :> /8he$ *e%t his testi!onies+ an( the statute that 9ega"e to the!)/

@@@@@@@

53: /An( with the ri'h in his EA89S )/

Perha%s ing Ja!es shou&( ha"e 'hange( the origina& 9e#rew+ whi'h again !a*es '&ear that we are

(ea&ing with a 'o&&e'ti"e Ser"ant+ i)e)+ Israe&+ whi'h wi&& /'o!e to &ife/ when the ei&e en(s 1ED) 3>:42)

/EA89S/ 1P&ura&

@@@@@@

53: /9e ha( (one no "io&en'e)/

See Matt) 04:40; M*) 44:454; L*) 4:25; L*) 4:0>; Matt) 4<:32 an( L*) 40:54; then Fu(ge for$ourse&f whether this %assage is tru&$ 'onsistent with the -hristian Bi#&e a''ount of Jesus ) A'tua&&$

this (enotes that the ser"ant is suffering at the han(s of the ,enti&e nations without %ro"o'ation )

@@@@@@@

53:4< /9e sha&& see his see()/

8he 9e#rew wor( for /see(/+ use( in this "erse+ a&wa$s refers to %h$si'a& (es'en(ants in the JewishBi#&e ) See+ e)g)+ ,en) 40:>; ,en) 45:43; ,en) 2:; E) 06:23) A (ifferent wor(+ genera&&$ trans&ate( as

/sons/+ is use( to refer to s%iritua& (es'en(ants 1see eut) 42:4+ e)g))



@@@@@@@

53:4< /9e wi&& %ro&ong his (a$s)/

Not on&$ (i( Jesus (ie $oung+ #ut how 'ou&( the (a$s #e %ro&onge( of so!eone who is a&&ege( to #e

,o( hi!se&f ?

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53:44 /ith his *now&e(ge the righteous one+ !$ Ser"ant+ wi&& 'ause !an$ to #e Fust)/

Note again the 'orre't trans&ation #ase( u%on the 9e#rew trans&ation : /the Ser"ant wi&& 'ause !an$ to #e Fust/ he wi&& not)))) /Fustif$ the !an$)/

Israe& is to ser"e as a /&ight to the nations/ whi'h wi&& u&ti!ate&$ &ea( the wor&( to a *now&e(ge of the

one true ,o( of A#raha!+ this #$ ea!%&e an( %reser"ing the wor( of ,o( 1eut) 2:56; He'h)

6:03 )

@@@@@@@@

53:40 /8herefore+ I wi&& (i"i(e a %ortion to hi! with the great+ an( he sha&& (i"i(e the s%oi& with the!ight$)/

If Jesus is ,o(+ (oes the i(ea of rewar( ha"e an$ !eaning? Is it not rather the Jews righteous&$

suffere( /R=M/ the sins of the wor&( an( $et re!aine( faithfu& to ,o( 1Ps) 22 ?

r)Ra%hae& Patai a note( anthro%o&ogist+Bi#&i'a& s'ho&ar an( author writes in his #oo* / Messiani' 8et/ %age 40 that :

/))) it a&so !ust #e %ointe( out that se"era& of these Bi#&i'a& Messiani' %ro%he'ies are Messiani' on&$ in

the &ight of these &ater inter%retations ) At the ti!e of their 'o!%osition +these %assages !a$ ha"e ha(

other !eanings )8he i!%ortant %ro%he'ies of euteroIsaiah a#out the Suffering Ser"ant forinstan'e+are 'onsi(ere( #$ Jewish as we&& as -hristian s'ho&ars as referring to the %eo%&e of Israe& as a

who&e )

In Isaiah 2:3 the Suffering Ser"ant is e%&i'it&$ i(entifie( with Israe& ) =n this #asis+as we&& as on the

#asis of 'ertain other features+ a&& the so 'a&&e( /Ser"ant Songs / 1 Isa)20:42 + 2:4 + 5<:2 an( 50:4353:40 ha"e &ong #een ta*en to s%ea* of the sufferings of ei&e( Israe& as %ersonifie( in /8he Ser"ant

of the Lor( /)

Yet these sa!e %assages #e'a!e IN 8ALMUI- 8IMES i(entifie( with the Messiani' the!e + an( so

the$ ha"e re!aine( in Jewish =L -=NS-I=USNESS throughout the ages ) In fa't it is Guite %ro#a#&e that the 'on'e%t of the suffering Messiah+fu&&$ (e"e&o%e( IN 89E 8ALMU + 89E

MIRAS9 + AN 89E H=9AR /

hat r Ra%hae& Patai is te&&ing us is that Isaiah 53 at the ti!e of its 'o!%osition ha( no Messiani''onnotations whatsoe"er )

8he Jewish 'on'e%t of a a"i(i' Messiah who wou&( ru&e the wor&( fro! Jerusa&e! an( suffer with

an( for the Jewish %eo%&e 1not for the sins of the Jewish %eo%&e or for hu!anit$ as a #&oo( sa'rifi'e

#egan to (e"e&o% (uring the Jewish ei&e in Ba#$&on)

8he Jews re!inis'e( of the /#etter (a$s / when the$ were a %owerfu& an( so"ereign nation un(er the



ru&ershi% of a"i( an( So&o!on ) 8he I(ea of a a"i(i' Messiah (e"e&o%e( (ue to the suffering an(

frustration of a nation in ei&e who $earne( for their ho!e&an( an( for a (a$ their ene!ies wou&( #ow

#efore the! an( ser"e the! )

-hristians ha"e ta*en Jewish Messiani' fo&*&ore 'o!%&ete&$ out of 'ontet #$ inter%reting Mi(rashi'ho!i&ies in a &itera& sense )8he resu&t is a nonSe!iti' (istortion of Jewish fo&*&ore wo"en with

,ree*Ro!an M$thos / -hristianit$ / )

Now that !ost nonJewish s'ho&ars 'on'e(e that Isaiah 53 refers to the Jewish %eo%&e))) So!e

-hristians ha"e trie( to fin( su%%ort for their #e&iefs in Ra##ini' writings) 8ra(itiona& Ju(ais! NEKER #e&ie"e( that there wou&( #e a su%ernatura& "irgin#orn Messiah who wou&( #e *i&&e( as an atone!ent

for sin) If this ha( #een the tra(itiona& Jewish #e&ief a&& a&ong+ it 'ertain&$ 'a!e as a sho'* to the Jewish

fo&&owers of Jesus)

hen the NaDerene to&( his fo&&owers that he !ust go to Jerusa&e! to suffer)))Peter %rotests+ /,=for#i( it &or(+ this sha&& ne"er ha%%en to $ou)/ 1Mat) 4:00 Peter (i(n.t Fo$fu&&$ e'&ai!: Praise ,=+

$ou are the suffering ser"ant of Isaiah 53 8he is'i%&es ne"er *new that the Messiah was su%%ose( to

suffer 1Mat) 4>:03+ L*) 46:32+ Jn) 0<:

Jesus. ene!ies+ su'h as 9ero( 1Mat) 0 'ertain&$ (i(n.t thin* that the Messiah was su%%ose( to #e *i&&e( otherwise wh$ he&% his 'ause #$ tr$ing to *i&& hi!?

In rea&it$+ the Jewish %eo%&e e%e'te( the Messiah to ru&e as *ing o"er a restore( Israe& in an age of

uni"ersa& %ea'e an( #e&ief)

1 Jer) 03:5 + Isaiah 44:4+ 0:42+ EDe*ie& 3>:04 06))) 8his ha( a&wa$s #een the Jewish un(erstan(ing

of Messiah+ an( Isaiah 53 was un(erstoo( as referring to the Jewish %eo%&e a&& a&ong) It.s not an i(eain"ente( #$ Rashi in the Mi((&e Ages)

8he 'hur'h father =rigen re%orts that this was the Jewish un(erstan(ing in his ti!e+ hun(re(s of $ears

#efore Rashi) 1-ontra -e&su! A'tua&&$+ there are an'ient sour'es that ha"e e%&i'it referen'e to a

su%ernatura&+ "irgin#orn sa"ior+ who (ies #$ !ur(er to a'hie"e sa&"ation for #e&ie"ers who 'ane%erien'e hi! #$ eating of his f&esh)))You 'an rea( a&& a#out it in the !$tho&ogies of Mithra+ =siris+

rishna+ 8a!!uD+ A(onis+ ion$sus+ Ba''hus+ Isis+ et')

8hose -hristians who (es%erate&$ ransa'*e( the 8a&!u( to fin( su%%ort for their %re'on'ei"e( i(eas are

not stu(ents of the 8a&!u( with an$ interest in the a'tua& tea'hings of Ra##ini' Ju(ais!) 8he$ !ere&$use the 8a&!u( &i*e a (run* uses a &a!% %ost not for i&&u!ination+ #ut for su%%ort)

Most -hristians who rea( the 8a&!u( are not rea&&$ in the %osition to *now what it !eans 1a&though

so!e we&& e(u'ate( honest -hristian s'ho&ars (o !u'h as the$ wou&( '&ai! that a non-hristian 'an.t

rea&&$ un(erstan( the New 8esta!ent) 1I -or) 4:46) So!e ha"e the au(a'it$ to sa$ -hristians *now8ana'h1Jewish Bi#&e #etter than the Jews 1 'o!i'a& to sa$ the &east)

Most of these -hristian 8a&!u(ists (on.t e"en own a 8a&!u( !u'h &ess rea( it the!se&"es ) 8he$ ratherget their infor!ation fro! 'o&&e'tions of se'on(ar$ sour'es %ut together #$ other -hristian

8a&!u(ist )

hen these 'o&&e'tions are 'he'*e(+ the 8a&!u(i' %assages are freGuent&$ in'orre't&$ 'ite(+ usua&&$

Guote( out of 'ontet+ an( o''asiona&&$ 'o!%&ete&$ !anufa'ture()

i( the Ra##is e"er noti'e that there are two (ifferent %i'tures of the Messiah in the Bi#&e? i( the$

reso&"e this tension #$ %ro%osing a theor$ of 0 Messiahs+ a Messiah son of a"i( an( a Messiah son ofJose%h? 8hat (e%en(s on whether $ou rea( what the 8a&!u( a'tua&&$ tea'hes+ or a''e%t the %ro%agan(a



of the so -hristian8a&!u(ists)

R) A&ean(ri sai(: R) Joshua o%%ose( two "erses: it is written+ An( #eho&(+ one &i*e the son of !an

'a!e with the '&ou(s of hea"en; whi&st e&sewhere it is written+ #eho&(+ th$ *ing 'o!eth unto thee)))

&ow&$+ an( ri(ing u%on an ass If the$ are !eritorious+ he wi&& 'o!e with the '&ou(s of hea"en; ifnot+ &ow&$ an( ri(ing u%on an ass) Sanhe(rin 6A

8he !inor figure of a Messiah son of Jose%h has nothing to (o with how 8a&!u(i' sages %er'ei"e(

'ontra(i'tor$ %assages in the Bi#&e) 9e (oes figure into Ra##ini' A%o'a&$%ti'Mi(rashi' s%e'u&ation)

As* a /-hristian8a&!u(ist/ to e%&ain the (ifferen'e #etween /PS9A8/ an( /RAS9/)

As* a /-hristian8a&!u(ist/ a#out wh$ the 8a&!u( a%%&ies Isaiah 53 to Moses+ an$ %ious %erson who

suffers+ an( si'* !en who ha"e ha( an eFa'u&ation 1he wi&& see his see(+ he wi&& %ro&ong his (a$s)))

As* a /-hristian8a&!u(ist/ wh$ !ost nonJewish Bi#&i'a& s'ho&ars+ 1!an$ of the! -hristian a''e%t

the rea& tra(itiona& Jewish un(erstan(ing of Isaiah 53+ anie& :020> + an( Isaiah >:42; without ha"ing

a /Jewish/ a to grin() 8he$ ha"e !ore in 'o!!on with Ra##i A*i#a+ Rashi+ an( Ra!#a! than =ra&

Ro#erts an( Martin Luther)

If $ou wou&( &i*e to &earn the Jewish %ers%e'ti"e on the Issues (ont go to $our -hristian Boo*store or

re&$ on the ><< -&u# an( the /Ho&a Le"ite Show / for $our Infor!ation )

Does Isaiah 53 Refer to Jesus

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