JudaismDraft · awaiting advisor review
Is Isaiah 53 about Israel or about Jesus?
In short
Many Jewish readers since the Middle Ages have read the suffering servant as the people of Israel. Christians, following the New Testament, read him as the Messiah, Jesus. The passage describes an innocent person who suffers for the sins of “my people”, dies and is then vindicated, which Christians see fulfilled in Jesus.
The Objection
Isaiah calls Israel the servant (Isaiah 41:8, 49:3). Isaiah 53 describes the suffering of the Jewish people among the nations, not a Messiah who dies for sins. Christians read Jesus back into a text about Israel.
Put as its strongest advocates would put it.
The Christian Case
- Scripture
Isaiah does call Israel the servant. But in chapter 49 the servant has a mission to bring Israel back to God, which sets him apart from the nation he restores.
- Scripture
In chapter 53 the servant is innocent, goes silently to death, and is “stricken for the transgression of my people”: someone distinct from the people he suffers for.
- Historical evidence
Some ancient Jewish interpreters read the passage of the Messiah: the Aramaic Targum of Isaiah calls the servant “the Messiah” at 52:13, though it applies the suffering differently. The reading of the servant as Israel became prominent with Rashi in the eleventh century.
- Scripture
Philip explained this passage to the Ethiopian official as the good news about Jesus, and Peter echoes it of Christ’s death.
- Christians differ
Many Christian scholars see both: the Messiah as the true and faithful Israel, who does for the people what the people could not do.
Where the Evidence Is Weaker
Reading prophecy involves interpretation, and Jewish readers have serious reasons for their reading. Christians should listen to them carefully.
Arguments to Avoid
- Speaking of Jewish readers with contempt.
- Saying Jews are forbidden to read the passage.
Read for Yourself
Isaiah 52:13–53:12
13Behold, my servant shall deal prudently, he shall be exalted and extolled, and be very high. 14As many were astonied at thee; his visage was so marred more than any man, and his form more than the sons of men: 15So shall he sprinkle many nations; the kings shall shut their mouths at him: for that which had not been told them shall they see; and that which they had not heard shall they consider. 1Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the LORD revealed? 2For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him. 3He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not. 4Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. 5But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. 6All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. 7He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth. 8He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken. 9And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth. 10Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand. 11He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities. 12Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.
Acts 8:30–35
30And Philip ran thither to him, and heard him read the prophet Esaias, and said, Understandest thou what thou readest? 31And he said, How can I, except some man should guide me? And he desired Philip that he would come up and sit with him. 32The place of the scripture which he read was this, He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and like a lamb dumb before his shearer, so opened he not his mouth: 33In his humiliation his judgment was taken away: and who shall declare his generation? for his life is taken from the earth. 34And the eunuch answered Philip, and said, I pray thee, of whom speaketh the prophet this? of himself, or of some other man? 35Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus.
Further Reading
- The Jewish Gospels · Daniel Boyarin (2012)By a Jewish scholar of the Talmud.
- Answering Jewish Objections to Jesus, Volume 3 · Michael L. Brown (2003)
Drafted with Opened AI and awaiting review by Opened’s apologetics advisors. Labels show the kind of support each point has: Scripture is what the Bible says; historical evidence and philosophical arguments can be checked by anyone; “Christians differ” marks questions on which faithful Christians disagree.
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