Isaiah 53:4-5
Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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What's easy to miss here is that the Hebrew words for "griefs" and "sorrows" can refer to both physical ailments and emotional distress. This isn't just about Jesus feeling sad; it’s a profound statement that He took on the very sickness and pain that plague humanity, not just as a demonstration of empathy, but as a substitutionary act.
This passage appears in Isaiah's prophecy, a sweeping look at the suffering servant who would one day redeem God's people. In the verses immediately preceding, the prophet describes how this servant would be seen as unappealing and unremarkable, leading people to reject him. This verse, and those that follow, reveal the profound misunderstanding the people have about the servant's suffering.
When we see someone suffer, our first thought is often, 'What did they do to deserve this?' But the prophet Isaiah flips this entirely.
The verse begins with a powerful affirmation: 'Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows.' The Hebrew words for 'borne' and 'carried' suggest not just enduring, but actively taking something upon oneself and removing it.
Not Just Empathy, But Substitution
This wasn't merely a passive empathy, where the Servant felt for us. The scholars point out this language implies he took our griefs and our sorrows upon himself. Think of it like this: your burden was too heavy, so he lifted it and carried it for you.
From Disease to Distress
The 'griefs' and 'sorrows' mentioned can refer to physical ailments and emotional pains. The New Testament application in Matthew 8:17 connects this directly to Jesus healing the sick, seeing his miracles as a demonstration of him bearing these afflictions. But it also encompasses the deeper emotional and spiritual anguish that comes from sin.
The Servant's suffering was meant for our benefit, yet our initial reaction was to condemn him. What does this say about us?
The second half of the verse throws a stark contrast into relief: 'yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted.' This reveals a profound misunderstanding and misjudgment on our part.
A Divine Misinterpretation
The people's view was that his suffering was a divine punishment for his own wrongdoing. The terms 'stricken,' 'smitten by God,' and 'afflicted' were often associated with a clear mark of God's judgment, like leprosy or a curse. They saw his pain not as a sacrifice for us, but as a consequence of his own supposed wickedness.
The Scandal of the Cross
Understand the original words
pesha' · Hebrew Noun
A term denoting a failure to observe the law, a violation of a trust, or an act of rebellion against God’s authority. It implies a conscious breach of the covenant relationship.
avon · Hebrew Noun
A moral term referring to twistedness, perversity, or guilt. It signifies an act that deviates from the moral standard established by God, often carrying the idea of associated guilt and the need for punishment.
musar · Hebrew Noun
Discipline, correction, or punishment intended to bring about repentance or restoration. In a substitutionary context, it refers to the penalty suffered by one party to secure the welfare or peace of another.
shalom · Hebrew Noun
This Gospel passage directly quotes Isaiah 53:4 and applies it to Jesus healing people's physical ailments, highlighting the Servant's suffering as encompassing human sickness and pain.
1 Peter 2:24Peter echoes the concept of bearing sins, drawing a clear parallel between Christ's suffering on the cross and the Isaiah passage, emphasizing the substitutionary nature of his atonement for our transgressions.
Romans 15:3This verse references Christ not pleasing himself, but bearing the insults of those who railed against God, which aligns with the 'yet we esteemed him...' part of Isaiah 53:4, showing the contrast between external perception and internal reality.
Galatians 3:13Paul explains that Christ became a curse for us, being made sin for us, which directly relates to the 'smitten by God' aspect in Isaiah 53:4, showing that the affliction was a penal substitution for our sins.
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,…
What's easy to miss here is that the Hebrew words for "griefs" and "sorrows" can refer to both physical ailments and emotional distress. This isn't just about Jesus feeling sad; it’s a profound statement that He took on the very sickness and pain that plague humanity, not just as a demonstration of empathy, but as a substitutionary act.
This passage appears in Isaiah's prophecy, a sweeping look at the suffering servant who would one day redeem God's people. In the verses immediately preceding, the prophet describes how this servant would be seen as unappealing and unremarkable, leading people to reject him. This verse, and those that follow, reveal the profound misunderstanding the people have about the servant's suffering.
This passage appears in Isaiah's prophecy, a sweeping look at the suffering servant who would one day redeem God's people. In the verses immediately preceding, the prophet describes how this servant would be seen as unappealing and unremarkable, leading people to reject him. This verse, and those that follow, reveal the profound misunderstanding the people have about the servant's suffering.
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This highlights the scandal of the cross. When Jesus appeared weak, suffering, and seemingly abandoned, it was hard for people to see the divine purpose. They couldn't grasp that his humiliation was the very path to our salvation. They looked at the outward appearance and made a wrong, even blasphemous, conclusion about God's dealings with him.
A state of wholeness, completeness, or reconciliation with God. It encompasses not just the absence of conflict, but the presence of divine well-being and covenantal harmony.
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.
"Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was…" — What's easy to miss here is that the Hebrew words for "griefs" and "sorrows" can refer to both physical ailments and emotional distress. This isn't just about Jesus feeling sad; it’s a profound state…
