The Suffering Servant

(Acts 8:26–40; 1 Peter 2:21–25)

1Who has believed our message?

And to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed?53:1 Cited in John 12:38 and Romans 10:16

2He grew up before Him like a tender shoot,

and like a root out of dry ground.

He had no stately form or majesty to attract us,

no beauty that we should desire Him.

3He was despised and rejected by men,

a man of sorrows, acquainted with grief.

Like one from whom men hide their faces,

He was despised, and we esteemed Him not.

4Surely He took on our infirmities

and carried our sorrows;53:4 LXX This One bears our sins and is pained for us; cited in Matthew 8:17 and 1 Peter 2:24

yet we considered Him stricken by God,

struck down and afflicted.

5But He was pierced for our transgressions,

He was crushed for our iniquities;

the punishment that brought us peace was upon Him,

and by His stripes we are healed.53:5 Cited in 1 Peter 2:24

6We all like sheep have gone astray,53:6 Cited in 1 Peter 2:25

each one has turned to his own way;

and the LORD has laid upon Him

the iniquity of us all.

7He was oppressed and afflicted,

yet He did not open His mouth.

He was led like a lamb to the slaughter,

and as a sheep before her shearers is silent,

so He did not open His mouth.

8By oppression and judgment He was taken away,

and who can recount His descendants?

For He was cut off from the land of the living;53:8 LXX In humiliation He was deprived of justice. Who can recount His descendants? For His life was removed from the earth; cited in Acts 8:32–33.

He was stricken for the transgression of My people.

A Grave Assigned

(Matthew 27:57–61; Mark 15:42–47; Luke 23:50–56; John 19:38–42)

9He was assigned a grave with the wicked,

and with a rich man in His death,

although He had done no violence,

nor was any deceit in His mouth.53:9 Cited in 1 Peter 2:22

10Yet it was the LORD’s will to crush Him

and to cause Him to suffer;

and when His soul is made a guilt offering,53:10 Or and though He makes His life a guilt offering

He will see His offspring, He will prolong His days,

and the good pleasure of the LORD will prosper in His hand.

11After the anguish of His soul,

He will see the light of life 53:11 DSS (see also LXX); MT does not include the light of life. and be satisfied.

By His knowledge My righteous Servant will justify many,

and He will bear their iniquities.

12Therefore I will allot Him a portion with the great,53:12 Or many

and He will divide the spoils with the strong,53:12 Or numerous

because He has poured out His life unto death,

and He was numbered with the transgressors.53:12 Cited in Luke 22:37

Yet He bore the sin of many

and made intercession for the transgressors.