LIII. (1) WHO HATH BELIEVED OUR REPORT?... — The question has been variously interpreted as coming from the lips of the prophet or of Israel. The former view commends itself most, and the unusual plural is explained by his mentally associating with himself the other prophets, probably his own disci... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR HE SHALL GROW UP... — The Hebrew tenses are in the perfect, the future being contemplated as already accomplished. The words present at once a parallel and a contrast to those of Isaiah 11:1. There the picture was that of a strong vigorous shoot coming out of the root of the house of David. Here... [ Continue Reading ]
HE IS DESPISED AND REJECTED. — Better, for the last word, _forsaken._ This had been the crowning sorrow of the righteous sufferer of the Old Testament (Job 17:15; Job 19:14). It was to complete the trial of the perfect sufferer of the New (Matthew 26:56). A MAN OF SORROWS... — The words “sorrow” and... [ Continue Reading ]
SURELY HE HATH BORNE OUR GRIEFS... — The words are spoken as by those who had before despised the Servant of Jehovah, and have learnt the secret of His humiliation. “Grief” and “sorrow,” as before, imply “disease” and “pain,” and St. Matthew’s application of the text (Matthew 8:17) is therefore quit... [ Continue Reading ]
HE WAS WOUNDED..._ — Bruised._ Both words refer to the death which crowned the sufferings of the Servant. That also was vicarious. THE CHASTISEMENT OF OUR PEACE — _i.e.,_ the punishment which leads to peace, that word including, as elsewhere, every form of blessing. (Comp. the “reproof of life” in... [ Continue Reading ]
ALL WE LIKE SHEEP HAVE GONE ASTRAY... — The confession of repentant Israel (Psalms 119:176), of repentant humanity (1 Peter 2:25), was also the thought present to the mind of the Servant, as in Matthew 9:36; John 10:11. HATH LAID ON HIM. — Better, as in the margin, _hath made to light on him._ The w... [ Continue Reading ]
HE WAS AFFLICTED... — More accurately, _He let himself be afflicted,_ as implying the voluntary acceptance of the suffering. OPENED NOT HIS MOUTH. — The silence of absolute acquiescence, as in Psalms 38:14; Psalms 39:9. AS A LAMB TO THE SLAUGHTER. — It is suggestive, as bearing both on the question... [ Continue Reading ]
HE WAS TAKEN FROM PRISON... — The Hebrew preposition admits of this rendering, which is adopted by many commentators, as describing the oppression and iniquitous trial which had preceded the death of the servant. It admits equally of the sense, _through oppression and through judgment;_ and, on the... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HE MADE HIS GRAVE... — Literally, _one_ (or, _they_)_ assigned him a grave ..._ The words are often interpreted as fulfilled in our Lord’s crucifixion between the two robbers and his burial in the tomb of Joseph of Arimathea. It has to be noted, however, (1) that this requires an inversion of th... [ Continue Reading ]
YET IT PLEASED THE LORD... — The sufferings of the Servant are referred not to chance or fate, or even the wickedness of his persecutors, but to the absolute “good-pleasure” of the Father, manifesting itself in its fullest measure in the hour of apparent failure. (Comp. Psalms 22:15.) WHEN THOU SHAL... [ Continue Reading ]
HE SHALL SEE OF THE TRAVAIL... — Better, _On account of the travail of his soul, he shall see, and be refreshed._ We may find the truest explanation in the words, “To-day thou shalt be with me in paradise” (Luke 23:43). The refreshment _after_ travail, _because_ of the travail, was already present t... [ Continue Reading ]
THEREFORE WILL I DIVIDE... — The “great” and the “powerful” are words which describe the kings and rulers of mankind. The Servant, once despised and forsaken, takes his place with them, though not in the same manner, or by the same means. We may have echoes of the words in our Lord’s language as to... [ Continue Reading ]