Isaiah 53

King James Version · 12 verses · 716 cross-references linking it to 273 other chapters

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1Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the Lord revealed?55 cross-references: John 12:38, Romans 10:16–17, 1 Corinthians 1:18, John 1:12, Matthew 16:17
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.64 cross-references: Philippians 2:6–7, Isaiah 52:14, John 1:10–14, Isaiah 11:1, Jeremiah 23:5
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.94 cross-references: Matthew 26:67, John 1:10–11, Isaiah 53:10, Hebrews 12:2–3, Isaiah 49:7
4Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.38 cross-references: 1 Peter 2:24, Matthew 8:17, Galatians 3:13, 1 John 2:2, 1 Peter 3:18
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.39 cross-references: 1 Peter 2:24–25, 1 Peter 3:18, Matthew 20:28, 2 Corinthians 5:21, Romans 5:6–10
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.67 cross-references: 1 Peter 2:25, 1 Peter 3:18, Psalms 119:176, Romans 4:25, Isaiah 55:7
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.35 cross-references: Acts 8:32–33, Matthew 26:63, 1 Peter 2:23, Mark 14:61, John 19:9
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.31 cross-references: 1 Peter 3:18, Acts 8:33, Matthew 26:65–66, John 19:7, John 11:49–52
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.24 cross-references: 1 Peter 2:22, Matthew 27:57–60, 1 John 3:5, 2 Corinthians 5:21, Mark 15:43–46
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.141 cross-references: Romans 8:32, 2 Corinthians 5:21, Galatians 3:13, Zechariah 13:7, Hebrews 10:6–12
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.91 cross-references: Romans 5:18–19, 1 Peter 2:24, Revelation 5:9–10, Isaiah 53:4–6, John 12:27–32
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.71 cross-references: Luke 22:37, Hebrews 9:28, Colossians 1:13–14, Luke 23:32–34, Mark 15:27

Explained connections

Who has believed our report? Isaiah 53:1 and John 12:38
Isaiah 53 opens with surprise that so few believed the message about the servant. John quotes it to explain why many still did not believe despite Jesus' signs; the unbelief itself was foreseen.
Not all obeyed the gospel Isaiah 53:1 and Romans 10:16
Paul quotes the same opening line in his discussion of Israel's response to the gospel. Isaiah had already lamented that the message was not believed, so present unbelief does not mean the message failed.
Despised and set at nought Isaiah 53:3 and Mark 9:12
Isaiah's servant is despised and rejected, a man of sorrows. Jesus tells his disciples it is written that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be treated with contempt — very likely alluding to this verse.
He took our infirmities Isaiah 53:4 and Matthew 8:17
Isaiah says the servant bore our griefs and carried our sorrows. Matthew applies it surprisingly to Jesus' healing ministry: in curing the sick, Jesus was already carrying human weakness, a foretaste of the cross.
By his stripes we are healed Isaiah 53:5 and 1 Peter 2:24
Isaiah describes the servant wounded for our transgressions, his punishment bringing us peace and healing. Peter weaves these words into his teaching on the cross, telling believers that Christ bore their sins in his body on the tree.
Sheep gone astray Isaiah 53:6 and 1 Peter 2:25
Isaiah confesses that we all like sheep have gone astray and the LORD laid our iniquity on the servant. Peter finishes his passage the same way: you were straying sheep but have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.
Like a lamb led to the slaughter Isaiah 53:7 and Acts 8:32
The Ethiopian official is reading this exact passage in his chariot when Philip meets him. He asks whom the prophet means; beginning from this Scripture Philip tells him about Jesus, and the man is baptised — Isaiah 53 as a door into the gospel.
Silent before his accusers Isaiah 53:7 and Matthew 26:63
The servant does not open his mouth, like a sheep before its shearers. Before the high priest's false witnesses Jesus holds his peace, a silence the Gospels repeatedly note, including before Pilate and Herod.
With the rich in his death Isaiah 53:9 and Matthew 27:57
Isaiah says the servant's grave was assigned with the wicked and with a rich man in his death. Matthew notes that a rich man, Joseph of Arimathea, laid Jesus in his own new tomb after he was executed among criminals.
No deceit in his mouth Isaiah 53:9 and 1 Peter 2:22
The servant suffers though he did no violence and spoke no deceit. Peter quotes it word for word to present Jesus as the sinless example for believers who suffer unjustly.
Numbered with the transgressors Isaiah 53:12 and Luke 22:37
On his last night Jesus himself quotes this line and says it must be fulfilled in him. Hours later he is arrested like a criminal and crucified between two thieves.
He made intercession for the transgressors Isaiah 53:12 and Luke 23:34
The servant's final act in Isaiah 53 is praying for the transgressors. On the cross Jesus prays 'Father, forgive them' for his executioners — the song's last line enacted.
The Lamb as though slain Isaiah 53:7 and Revelation 5:6
Isaiah's servant goes like a lamb to the slaughter. In heaven's throne room John turns to see the Lion of Judah and sees a Lamb standing as though slain — Christ's victory comes through sacrifice.

Chapters most linked to Isaiah 53

People in Isaiah 53

God

Hard questions about Isaiah 53

Did Jesus give his life as a ransom for many or for all?

Archaeology

Great Isaiah Scroll c. 125 BC