WHO HATH BELIEVED OUR REPORT? - The main design of the prophet in all this portion of his prophecy is, undoubtedly, to state the fact that the Redeemer would be greatly exalted (see Isaiah 52:13; Isaiah 53:12). But in order to furnish a fair view of his exaltation, it was necessary also to exhibit t... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR HE SHALL GROW UP BEFORE HIM - In this verse, the prophet describes the humble appearance of the Messiah, and the fact that there was nothing in his personal aspect that corresponded to the expectations that bad been formed of him; nothing that should lead them to desire him as their expected del... [ Continue Reading ]
HE IS DESPISED - This requires no explanation; and it needs no comment to show that it was fulfilled. The Redeemer was eminently the object of contempt and scorn alike by the Pharisees, the Sadducees, and the Romans. In his life on earth it was so; in his death it was still so; and since then, his n... [ Continue Reading ]
SURELY - This is an exceedingly important verse, and is one that is attended with considerable difficulty, from the manner in which it is quoted in the New Testament. The general sense, as it stands in the Hebrew, is not indeed difficult. It is immediately connected in signification with the previou... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT HE WAS WOUNDED - Margin, ‘Tormented.’ Jerome and the Septuagint also render this, ‘He was wounded.’ Junius and Tremellius, ‘He was affected with grief.’ The Chaldee has given a singular paraphrase of it, showing how confused was the view of the whole passage in the mind of that interpreter. ‘And... [ Continue Reading ]
ALL WE, LIKE SHEEP, HAVE GONE ASTRAY - This is the penitent confession of those for whom he suffered. It is an acknowledgment that they were going astray from God; and the reason why the Redeemer suffered was, that the race had wandered away, and that Yahweh had laid on him the iniquity of all. Calv... [ Continue Reading ]
HE WAS OPPRESSED - (נגשׂ _niggas'_). Lowth renders this, ‘It was exacted.’ Hengstenberg, ‘He was abased.’ Jerome (the Vulgate), ‘He was offered because he was willing.’ The Septuagint ‘He, on account of his affliction, opened not his mouth,’ implying that his silence arose from the extremity of his... [ Continue Reading ]
HE WAS TAKEN FROM PRISON - Margin, ‘Away by distress and judgment.’ The general idea in this verse is, that the sufferings which he endured for his people were terminated by his being, after some form of trial, cut off out of the land of the living. Lowth renders this, ‘By an oppressive judgment he... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HE MADE HIS GRAVE WITH THE WICKED - Jerome renders this, _Et dabit impios pro sepultura et divitem pro morte sua_. The Septuagint renders it, ‘I will give the wicked instead of his burial (ἀντὶ τῆς ταφῆς _anti_ _tēs_ _taphēs_), and the rich in the place, or instead of his death’ (ἀντὶ το... [ Continue Reading ]
YET IT PLEASED THE LORD TO BRUISE HIM - In this verse, the prediction respecting the final glory and triumph of the Messiah commences. The design of the whole prophecy is to state, that in consequence of his great sufferings, he would be exalted to the highest honor (see the notes at Isaiah 52:13).... [ Continue Reading ]
HE SHALL SEE OF THE TRAVAIL OF HIS SOUL - This is the language of Yahweh, who is again introduced as speaking. The sense is, he shall see the fruit, or the result of his sufferings, and shall be satisfied. He shall see so much good resulting from his great sorrows; so much happiness, and so many sav... [ Continue Reading ]
THEREFORE WILL I DIVIDE HIM - I will divide for him (לו _lô_). This verse is designed to predict the triumphs of the Messiah. It is language appropriate to him as a prince, and designed to celebrate his glorious victories on earth. The words here used are taken from the custom of distributing the s... [ Continue Reading ]