Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The verse highlights a profound disconnect: while the Suffering Servant "bore our griefs and carried our sorrows," humanity saw only a man cursed and punished by God. This emphasizes that our immediate, superficial judgment of suffering often misses the deeper, redemptive purpose at work.
Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The prophet is speaking about a suffering servant, one who will bear the pain and sorrow of others. This servant's suffering is presented as undeserved, as the people will wrongly perceive him as being punished by God for his own sins. The text emphasizes the contrast between the servant's true role of bearing the people's burdens and the people's mistaken, judgmental view of him.
When we see someone suffering, our first thought is often about why they're suffering. Did they do something wrong? Were they just unlucky? This verse challenges that assumption.
Isaiah 53:4 begins with a powerful statement: "Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows." The Hebrew words for "borne" and "carried" suggest more than just enduring or experiencing. They imply a deep, active engagement – taking on something heavy and removing it.
Not for Himself
The crucial point is that these griefs and sorrows were not his own. The prophet makes it clear that this suffering was for us. Think of it like this: Imagine a friend carrying a massive, crushing load that was meant for you. That's the picture here.
This wasn't random misfortune. It was a purposeful act of substitution. He stepped into our place, taking upon himself the weight of our pain and suffering, whether physical, emotional, or spiritual.
When Jesus appeared to be suffering the most, the world's reaction was harsh judgment. What does this reveal about human perception versus divine purpose?
The second half of the verse presents a stark contrast: "yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted." This was the common, surface-level view.
The Error of Human Judgment
People looked at his suffering and concluded he was being punished by God. This was a fundamental misunderstanding of what was actually happening.
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But the prophet reveals the truth: this was not for his own sins. The very suffering that led people to condemn him was, in fact, the means by which he was saving them. Their judgment was a tragic misinterpretation of his redemptive mission.
Understand the original words
nakah · Hebrew Verb (Passive Participle)
To be struck down, beaten, or scourged. In a theological context, it is often used to describe divine judgment or the severe punishment inflicted upon an offender.
anah · Hebrew Verb (Passive Participle)
To be humbled, bowed down, or oppressed. It describes a state of suffering, whether physical, emotional, or situational, often under the heavy hand of external circumstances or judgment.
choli · Hebrew Noun
Literally 'sickness' or 'illness,' but used metaphorically to describe the frailty, pain, and suffering inherent in human life, especially as linked to the effects of sin.
This passage directly quotes Isaiah 53:4 and applies it to Jesus' healing of various diseases, highlighting the theme of Christ bearing human suffering and infirmities.
1 Peter 2:24Peter echoes the concept of bearing sins, stating that Christ 'bore our sins in his body on the tree,' which powerfully connects to the idea of Christ carrying our sorrows and transgressions as described in Isaiah.
John 1:29John the Baptist's declaration that Jesus is the 'Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world' resonates with the suffering servant's role of bearing and removing the people's iniquities and sorrows.
Romans 4:25Paul's explanation that Jesus 'was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification' directly links Christ's suffering and death (his bearing of our griefs) to the atonement for our sins.
Galatians 3:13This verse states that Christ 'redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us,' which powerfully illustrates the profound way Jesus bore our afflictions and was 'smitten by God' in our place.
bensonIsaiah 53:4: "Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted."
Isaiah 53:4-5 . Surely he hath borne our griefs — Whereas it may seem an incredible thing, that so excellent and glorious, and so innocent and holy a person should meet with this usage, it must be known that his griefs and miseries were not laid upon him for his own sake, but wholly for the sake of sinful men, in whose stead he stood, and for whose sins he suff…
clarkeIsaiah 53:4: "Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted."
Surely he Bath borne our griefs "Surely our infirmities he hath borne" - Seven MSS. (two ancient) and three editions have חליינו cholayeynu in the plural number. And carried our sorrows "And our sorrows, he hath carried them" - Seventeen MSS. (two ancient) of Dr. Kennicott's, two of De Rossi's, and two editions have the word הוא hu, he, before סבלם sebalam,…
The verse highlights a profound disconnect: while the Suffering Servant "bore our griefs and carried our sorrows," humanity saw only a man cursed and punished by God. This emphasizes that our immediate, superficial judgment of suffering often misses the deeper, redemptive purpose at work.
The prophet is speaking about a suffering servant, one who will bear the pain and sorrow of others. This servant's suffering is presented as undeserved, as the people will wrongly perceive him as being punished by God for his own sins. The text emphasizes the contrast between the servant's true role of bearing the people's burdens and the people's mistaken, judgmental view of him.
The prophet is speaking about a suffering servant, one who will bear the pain and sorrow of others. This servant's suffering is presented as undeserved, as the people will wrongly perceive him as being punished by God for his own sins. The text emphasizes the contrast between the servant's true role of bearing the people's burdens and the people's mistaken, judgmental view of him.
"Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted." — The verse highlights a profound disconnect: while the Suffering Servant "bore our griefs and carried our sorrows," humanity saw only a man cursed and punished by God. This emphasizes that our immedia…
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Last reviewed October 2026