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Using a literal translation called Young's and the Hebrew text
I did an in-depth study in its context. If this is of any use to
others and you wish (after checking what I have said) to send it
on, please do so.
This chapter has to be read in the context of others such as 52,54
and also 49 to see Isaiah's use of "servant".. The passage
is in the context of apostasy, exile and restoration.. Yerusalayim
is portrayed as the wife loved by God as maker, redeemer, the God
of hosts who fights for her, and a loving husband.(ch.52v3,&9.54v6-8
& v16-17.) Israel is shown as a servant or servants.(ch.49v1-6,ch.52v13,
ch.53v11,ch.54v17)
But there is one servant who personifies the innocent ones who
are punished together with the guilty, not INSTEAD of them. He suffers
the punishment that has come on all for the transgressions of the
majority. This could be Isaiah himself, or Jeremiah, Ezekiel or
Daniel, all of whom suffered with the results of the sins of Judah,
and were despised(not esteemed by their peers}. Although this person
suffers pain and death his bruising brings healing and righteousness.
The prayers and intercessions were not despised by God. It must
be stressed that they still went into exile, and were punished even
so, the innocent who had continued to worship Yahweh alone and in
the way He desired still suffered because of the others. But because
of that many nations were sprinkled with the truth of God's word
that went into the diaspora, and many nations knew what they had
not known before.
In the Hebrew Jerusalem Bible Verse 15 of ch. 52 reads "startle"
many nations – which makes good sense in the context And so
Israel became a witness to the nations. (ch.52v15-53v1,ch.53v11)
and the many references in Isaiah to Jacob being witness for God
especially in ch.43v10,12, ch .44v8. Because of people like the
suffering servant there would be a return and a restoration.
This understanding has helped the Jews to come to terms with the
terrible suffering they have endured as a people through the centuries
just for being Jews. They are to be witnesses to the world and their
suffering brings healing to it. The word holocaust begins with "ha
olo", which means burnt offering, and from that terrible thing
there had to be found a solution for the Jews and the nation and
state of Israel was born again.
If this passage really applies to the work of Yehoshua (Jesus)
as a substitute sacrifice why is there no mention of substitution
in this passage? Why is there very little reference to it in the
gospels? The only ones are: Matt.8v17,Mark 15v28, Luke 22v27 &24v46,
John 1 v36,&12v38. None of these say his death was a substitution,
neither did Yehoshua himself, ever in all the times he warned of
his death says so.
Considering the emphasis placed on it today, it seems the gospel
writers did not understand the passage in the way it is being used
today, especially to evangelise the Jews, who, if they know their
own scriptures, and then read the New testament, must be puzzled
as to why such passages are used to prove Jesus was Messiah. Even
Paul uses it only twice, and both in Romans. The writer to Hebrews
once, James not at all, I Peter three times in ch.2, and John in
Revelation three times as in the gospel as a lamb slain. (But since
seeing that the word used for "lamb" is the same as a
word for "word" in Hebrew that could have a different
meaning now)
Here is an alternative translation of Isaiah 53 by Vadim Cherny:
http://www.Yeshayahu.com
(external link - opens in new window)
next section : Daniel 9 :the 70 weeks
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