All of God’s Word is precious, however, certain books of the Bible hold different keys to unlocking spiritual treasures of the past, the present, and the future. The book of Genesis is a key to understanding creation and the formation of the universe. The book of Proverbs is a key to understanding wisdom in daily life. The book of Isaiah is a key to understanding prophecy, the coming Messiah, and the Kingdom of God.
Over the past year I’ve been studying the book of Isaiah in a more detailed manner with some others and have been discovering afresh the value of studying the Word of God in the Hebrew language and in the context which it was written. The scroll of the book of Isaiah is one of the most valuable discoveries of ancient Biblical texts in our modern day:
The Great Isaiah Scroll (1QIsaa) is one of the original seven Dead Sea Scrolls discovered in Qumran in 1947. It is the largest (734 cm) and best preserved of all the biblical scrolls, and the only one that is almost complete. The 54 columns contain all 66 chapters of the Hebrew version of the biblical Book of Isaiah. Dating from ca. 125 BCE, it is also one of the oldest of the Dead Sea Scrolls, some one thousand years older than the oldest manuscripts of the Hebrew Bible known to us before the scrolls’ discovery. – taken from the website: http://dss.collections.imj.org.il/isaiah
The Isaiah Scroll which was found at Qumran was an amazing discovery because it not only confirms the accuracy of the Bible that we have today but it also reminds us of the intrinsic value of the prophecies which are found within it.
Although I generally focus my commentaries on the text of the weekly Torah Portion, this week I have chosen to focus on a well-known messianic prophecy in the book of Isaiah, the Suffering Servant of Isaiah 53. Although I will not go into great detail in studying the text of Isaiah 53 itself, I will answer the question, Who is the Servant of Isaiah 53?
Watch this video for a brief overview of this week’s Commentary
A Prophet Like Moses
In this week’s Torah Portion we read the famous verse from Deuteronomy 18 regarding the prophet like Moses whom God would raise up: “The LORD your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your countrymen, you shall listen to him.” (Deut. 18:15) This promise is repeated in verse 18 of this same chapter with a few additional words.
Both of these promises in Deuteronomy 18 are uniquely Messianic in nature and are ultimately fulfilled in the life of Yeshua (Acts. 3:19-21). For a more thorough study on this topic of the “prophet like Moses,” I recommend the following article: Prophet, Priest, King, & Servant
The Seven Weeks of Comfort
This week’s corresponding reading from the prophets continues to follow the theme of the “Seven Weeks of Comfort” which began after Tisha Be’Av and will conclude at Rosh HaShanah. The weekly readings from the prophets during these seven weeks focus on the topic of God’s comfort of Israel and it just so happens that each of the seven readings from the prophets is taken from the prophet Isaiah. This week’s selected Scriptures is Isaiah 51:12 – Isaiah 52:12.
If you have been reading my commentaries for any length of time, you know that I do my best to highlight the messianic prophecies in the Torah as well as in the prophets. This week’s selected Scriptures in Isaiah not only provide verses of comfort for Israel but they are also part of a broader theme in the book of Isaiah, the servant of the LORD.
The Servant of the LORD
This subject of “the servant of the LORD” spans thirteen chapters from Isaiah chapter 41 to the end of Isaiah chapter 53, which is often considered the climax of messianic prophecies in regard to the suffering of the Messiah. This section of Scripture has been labeled problematic by rabbis and scholars in Orthodox Judaism because of the identity of this one who is called the servant of the LORD.
The term “servant of the LORD” – “עבד יהוה” – “eved Adonai” is actually only used once (Is. 42:19) in the entire book of Isaiah. The more common term used in the book of Isaiah is the phrase “My servant” – “עבדי” – “avdi,” which is also found in Isaiah 42:19:
Who is blind but My servant, or so deaf as My messenger whom I send? Who is so blind as he that is at peace with Me, or so blind as the servant of the LORD?
The phrase “My servant” specifically refers to “the servant of the LORD.” We see both of these phrases used in this one verse.
Israel as the Servant of the LORD
We are introduced to this section on the servant of the LORD (“My servant”) in Isaiah chapter 41:
But you, Israel, My servant, Jacob whom I have chosen, descendant of Abraham My friend, you whom I have taken from the ends of the earth, and called from its remotest parts and said to you, ‘You are My servant, I have chosen you and not rejected you. ‘Do not fear, for I am with you; do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.’ – Isaiah 41:8-10
From the very start of this section in Isaiah about the servant of the LORD, we clearly read that the phrase “My servant” is referring to the nation of Israel. God is reminding Israel that He has not forgotten her as a nation and that He will always be there to uphold her.
It is from this perspective found in Isaiah 41:8-10 that orthodox Judaism generally makes the case that the servant of the LORD mentioned throughout the book of Isaiah (in particular Isaiah 53) can only be Israel, however, as we continue to investigate the Scriptures in Isaiah we will see that the servant’s identity must be understood in the context of the surrounding verses and in the context of these chapters as a whole.
“My Servant”
In the book of Isaiah we read of two other people who are identified as a personal servant of the LORD, “My servant” – “עבדי” – “avdi.” The first instance speaks of Isaiah as the LORD’s servant:
And the LORD said, “Even as My servant Isaiah has gone naked and barefoot three years as a sign and token against Egypt and Cush, … – Isaiah 20:3
The second instance refers to King David as the LORD’s servant: “For I will defend this city to save it for My own sake and for My servant David’s sake.” (Isaiah 37:35) In both of these examples the exact same phrase “My servant” – “עבדי” – “avdi” is used to describe these two men of God.
The context in Isaiah chapters 41-53 is unique because there is a continual story line of this servant who is called “My servant” – “עבדי” – “avdi” and even though this servant is clearly identified as Israel on a few different occasions (Is. 41:9-8. 42:19. 44:1-2, 21. 45:4. 49:3), this servant is also one who is said to redeem Israel. Is it possible that the servant who is ultimately identified in Isaiah 53 is someone other than the nation of Israel?
The Identity of the Servant
In the chapter immediately following the original identification of Israel as the servant of the LORD (Isaiah 41), we read about the servant of the LORD as one who brings justice to the nations and establishes justice on the earth:
Behold, My Servant, whom I uphold; My chosen one in whom My soul delights. I have put My Spirit upon Him; He will bring forth justice to the nations. He will not cry out or raise His voice, nor make His voice heard in the street. A bruised reed He will not break and a dimly burning wick He will not extinguish; He will faithfully bring forth justice. He will not be disheartened or crushed until He has established justice in the earth; and the coastlands will wait expectantly for His law. – Isaiah 42:1-4
These verses identify an individual who operates in the Spirit of the LORD and brings justice to the earth. These verses are directly quoted in the New Testament and are applied to the life of Yeshua the Messiah (Matt. 12:15-21).
It needs to be mentioned, that in the Hebrew language there is no capitalization of letters, for example referring to “He” as God. The capitalization which is prevalent in the verses quoted above are an interpretive translation of the text. Generally translators correctly interpret the text but we need to be careful not to use the capitalization of words in the English Bible, or other languages, as authoritative. For this reason, we need to do our best to understand the original language and the context of the Scriptures.
Just as we see in Isaiah 42:1-4, we will continue to see throughout this section of Isaiah chapters 41-53 that another “servant of the LORD” emerges to save and redeem the nation of Israel and the nations as a whole. Although Israel is often identified as the servant of the LORD in these selected chapters we continue to read again and again how Israel failed as the servant of the LORD and how God Himself is compelled to redeem Israel.
God Redeems His Servant Israel
Throughout the book of Isaiah and especially in Isaiah chapters 41-53 we read about the inability of Israel to redeem herself as a nation. We see an example of this in Isaiah 42:
Who is blind but My servant, or so deaf as My messenger whom I send? Who is so blind as he that is at peace with Me, or so blind as the servant of the LORD? You have seen many things, but you do not observe them; your ears are open, but none hears. The LORD was pleased for His righteousness’ sake to make the law great and glorious. But this is a people plundered and despoiled; all of them are trapped in caves, or are hidden away in prisons; they have become a prey with none to deliver them, and a spoil, with none to say, “Give them back!” – Isaiah 42:19-22
Israel, who is identified as the servant of the LORD, is portrayed as one who is deaf and blind and one who is without a deliverer. A few verses later however, God promised that He will redeem her:
But now, thus says the LORD, your Creator, O Jacob, and He who formed you, O Israel, “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name; you are Mine! When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they will not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched, nor will the flame burn you. For I am the LORD your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior;…” – Isaiah 43:1-3
The LORD alone is the Redeemer, Savior, and Deliverer of Israel.
The Servant Redeems Israel
As we continue through the chapters of Isaiah (chapters 41-53) we arrive at a section of Scripture that provides a whole new perspective on this subject of the servant of the LORD:
He said to Me, “You are My Servant, Israel, in Whom I will show My glory.” But I said, “I have toiled in vain, I have spent My strength for nothing and vanity; yet surely the justice due to Me is with the LORD, and My reward with My God.” And now says the LORD, who formed Me from the womb to be His Servant, to bring Jacob back to Him, so that Israel might be gathered to Him (For I am honored in the sight of the LORD, and My God is My strength), – Isaiah 49:3-5
The servant in these verses is called Israel in the beginning but he is also spoken of as one who brings Jacob back to God and gathers Israel to Himself. How can Israel be both the servant of the LORD and the servant of the LORD who brings Israel back to God? Can Israel redeem herself?
These are very important questions because Orthodox Judaism generally believes that the nation of Israel must redeem itself through repentance and keeping of the commandments. The verses quoted above, however, reveal that there is a servant of the LORD who is brought into the world to specifically bring Israel back to God.
The Servant of the LORD Revealed
Just as we saw in Isaiah 42:1-4 we also see in these verses above (Isaiah 49:3-5), that there is an individual person who is appointed by God to bring justice to the nations and to redeem Israel. This individual servant of the LORD can be none other than the Messiah.
The Messiah, as the Servant of the LORD, is appointed to not only be the Redeemer of Israel but also a “light of the nations:”
He says, “It is too small a thing that You should be My Servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob and to restore the preserved ones of Israel; I will also make You a light of the nations so that My salvation may reach to the end of the earth.” – Isaiah 49:6
The Servant of the LORD is to raise up Israel and to be a beacon of light to the nations, to the very ends of the earth. God’s ultimate goal is to cause His salvation to cover the whole earth. The phrase “My salvation” in Hebrew is “ישועתי” – “Yeshua’ti.” The last phrase in the above verse could literally read, “so that My Yeshua may reach to the ends of the earth.”
Towards the end of this section of the servant of the LORD (Isaiah chapters 41-53), we read clearly how this week’s section from the prophets, Isaiah 51:12 – Isaiah 52:12, reveals how Israel was incapable of redeeming herself through the inability of her own sons (Isaiah 51:17-23) and how God alone redeems Israel:
Break forth, shout joyfully together, you waste places of Jerusalem; for the LORD has comforted His people, He has redeemed Jerusalem. The LORD has bared His holy arm in the sight of all the nations, that all the ends of the earth may see the salvation of our God. – Isaiah 52:9-10
The Land and people of Israel are to display God’s glory on this earth but this is only possible through the redemptive power and salvation provided through God’s Messiah, the Servant of the LORD.
The Servant of Isaiah 53
The last section of the servant of the LORD begins at Isaiah 52:13 and ends at Isaiah 53:12. This section of Scripture is probably the most controversial section in all of the Bible between Christians and Jews, or between Jews who believe in Yeshua and Jews who don’t yet believe in Yeshua as the Messiah. In researching these Scriptures I read the following commentary from an Orthodox Jewish Perspective:
One of the most difficult and contested passages in the Bible, these fifteen vv. (Isaiah 52:13. – 53:12) have attracted an enormous amount of attention from ancient, medieval, and modern scholars. In particular the identity of the servant is vigorously debated. Although the servant is spoken of as an individual, the reference may well be to the collective nation (or the remnant). – Adele Berlin & Marc Zvi Bretler. The Jewish Study Bible. Oxford UP. 2014 p. 872
Orthodox Judaism generally teaches that the servant of the LORD mentioned in Isaiah 52:13 – Isaiah 53:12 is referring to the nation of Israel and not to an individual Messiah. If Orthodox Judaism accepts that these Scriptures are referring to an individual, than a Messiah who must suffer and die for the nation of Israel becomes a reality and this gives credence to the life and death of Yeshua as the Messiah.
The Identity of the Servant
The last two appearances of the phrase “My servant” – “עבדי” – “avdi” in the book of Isaiah appear in this section; Isaiah 52:13 & Isaiah 53:11. The “Suffering Servant” of Isaiah 53 is introduced by Isaiah 52:13, “Behold, My servant will prosper, He will be high and lifted up and greatly exalted.” The servant of the LORD is exalted above all others.
The servant of the LORD is described as one who is “high and lifted up.” This phrase in Hebrew is “ירום ונשא” – “yarum ve’nisa.” This is a unique phrase in the Bible and is used earlier in the book of Isaiah to describe the LORD Himself:
In the year of King Uzziah’s death I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, lofty and exalted, with the train of His robe filling the temple. – Isaiah 6:1
The phrase used to describe the setting of the throne of the LORD, “lofty and exalted,” is the same phraseology used in Isaiah 52:13. The Hebrew for this phrase in Isaiah 6:1 is “רם ונשא” – “ram ve’nisa,” which is literally “high and lifted up.”
The exalted position of the LORD in Isaiah 6:1 and the exalted position of the Servant of the LORD in Isaiah 52:13 is exactly the same, one that is “high and lifted up.” The Servant of the LORD who redeems Israel from all of her sins in Isaiah 53 is clearly an individual and this individual is also equated with the LORD Himself. The Servant of the LORD as revealed in Isaiah 52:13 – Isaiah 53:12 can be none other than Yehsua the Messiah.
Shabbat Shalom!
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Torah Portion: Deut. 16:18 – Deut. 21:9
Haftara: Isaiah 51:12 – Isaiah 52:12
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53:10 proves you wrong. The word Zera in Hebrew is seed———-physically children. Jesus had 0
Isaiah 53:10 does not work against Yeshua as the Messiah. The word זרע – Zerah in Hebrew can mean seed, descendant, or in a more general way “people” or “nation” as in Esther 10:3 which speaks of the Jewish people of Mordecai.
If one reads the whole of Isaiah and understands the situation and context, and takes no account of anything of the NT, it is apparent that the Suffering Servant story relates to Israel.
It would be odd for the Suffering Servant story to relate to a person who would be born many centuries in the then-future while the remainder of Isaiah refers to Israel. The Jesus claim seems to be a case of retrospective imposition of Christian Theology on this selected story.
So rather than the Suffering Servant story being a prophecy about Jesus, it seems more likely to be a source for Theological Ideas that were appropriated later by Christianity.
Sorry to have to say this, but assertions about Jesus here are made without knowledge of the actual intentions of the author.
Dear Jack, Thank you for your comments, however, the Suffering Servant section of Isaiah demands for an individual who suffers on behalf of the nation of Israel itself. Isaiah 53 specifically speaks of this individual. Isaiah 53:8 details how this individual takes upon himself the judgment due to the people as a whole. The Hebrew text brings this out even more clearly.
Very helpful explanation. Few passages of Scripture carry more weight for understanding the LORD, His purpose, and His glorious grace.
Great job. Thank you!
Daniel, are you willing to allow contrary (but respectful) points to be posted here? Will you delete them if they don’t serve to support your argument?
Jim,
Thank you for your question. Yes, of course I allow contrary but respectful points of view to be shared. I have a few comments as such on various articles. I respect all well-founded and documented perspectives. However, I will not allow pointless perspectives based only on opinion. I’m looking forward to what you have to share.
Regards,
Daniel
Thanks for bringing a deeper understanding of Isaiah 53. It’s very informative.
My pleasure!
Daniel