Isaiah 53:7
He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so he opened not his mouth.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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The phrase "he opened not his mouth" isn't just about being quiet; it speaks to a profound, voluntary submission to suffering without complaint or resistance. This silence, compared to the meekness of a lamb or a sheep, highlights his deliberate acceptance of an unjust fate, driven by a deeper purpose.
This passage continues the prophetic description of the Suffering Servant, who is presented as taking on the burdens and sins of humanity. Following the declaration that the Servant's iniquity was laid upon him for transgressions, this verse emphasizes his profound suffering and silent endurance. The text vividly portrays him as a sacrificial lamb led to slaughter and a sheep being shorn, highlighting his meekness and passive acceptance of his fate, which ultimately paves the way for reconciliation and healing for others.
Understand the original words
śeh · Hebrew Noun
Refers to a sacrificial animal brought to the altar to atone for sin, symbolizing innocence, submission, and the substitutionary death required to appease God’s justice.
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Written during the Babylonian Exile, Isaiah 53 reflects on suffering and redemption. The text gained new resonance as a prophecy of a future, innocent sufferer who would bear the sins of his people, a concept Christians believe was fulfilled in Jesus.
c. 740 BC
Prophecy of Isaiah
Isaiah delivers prophecies in Judah, including chapters 40-55, which contain the Suffering Servant passages. These are delivered during a period of Assyrian imperial dominance.
597 BC
First Deportation to Babylon
Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon deports Judeans, including the prophet Ezekiel and members of the royal family, to Babylon. This marks the beginning of the Babylonian Exile.
586 BC
Destruction of Jerusalem
Nebuchadnezzar destroys Jerusalem and the First Temple, deporting most of the remaining population to Babylon. The prophecies of Isaiah about a suffering servant take on new meaning for a people in exile.
c. 540 BC— this verse
Composition of Isaiah 53
The 'Deutero-Isaiah' (Second Isaiah) section, including chapter 53, is written. This is likely during the latter part of the Babylonian Exile, perhaps as Cyrus of Persia begins his rise to power.
539 BC
Fall of Babylon
Cyrus the Great of Persia conquers Babylon, allowing Jewish exiles to return to Jerusalem and rebuild their Temple.
c. AD 30-33
Crucifixion of Jesus
Jesus of Nazareth is crucified in Jerusalem. Christian tradition identifies Jesus as the Suffering Servant foretold in Isaiah 53, pointing to his silent suffering as a fulfillment of this prophecy.
This passage directly parallels Isaiah's prophecy by describing Jesus' silence before Pontius Pilate, who was astonished that Jesus offered no defense, echoing the 'opened not his mouth' imagery.
1 Peter 2:23Peter explicitly connects Jesus' suffering to Isaiah's prophecy, stating that 'when he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly.'
John 1:29John the Baptist's declaration of Jesus as the 'Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world' directly links to the imagery of Jesus as a silent, sacrificial lamb, ready for slaughter.
Jeremiah 11:19Jeremiah uses similar imagery of being brought as a lamb to slaughter and his own silence, showing a prophetic lineage that culminates in Jesus' suffering as described by Isaiah.
barnesIsaiah 53:7: "He 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."
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 s…
wesleyIsaiah 53:7: "He 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."
53:7 He opened not - He neither murmured against God, nor reviled men.
The phrase "he opened not his mouth" isn't just about being quiet; it speaks to a profound, voluntary submission to suffering without complaint or resistance. This silence, compared to the meekness of a lamb or a sheep, highlights his deliberate acceptance of an unjust fate, driven by a deeper purpose.
This passage continues the prophetic description of the Suffering Servant, who is presented as taking on the burdens and sins of humanity. Following the declaration that the Servant's iniquity was laid upon him for transgressions, this verse emphasizes his profound suffering and silent endurance. The text vividly portrays him as a sacrificial lamb led to slaughter and a sheep being shorn, highlighting his meekness and passive acceptance of his fate, which ultimately paves the way for reconciliation and healing for others.
This passage continues the prophetic description of the Suffering Servant, who is presented as taking on the burdens and sins of humanity. Following the declaration that the Servant's iniquity was laid upon him for transgressions, this verse emphasizes his profound suffering and silent endurance. The text vividly portrays him as a sacrificial lamb led to slaughter and a sheep being shorn, highlighting his meekness and passive acceptance of his fate, which ultimately paves the way for reconciliation and healing for others.
"He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so he opened not his mouth." — The phrase "he opened not his mouth" isn't just about being quiet; it speaks to a profound, voluntary submission to suffering without complaint or resistance. This silence, compared to the meekness o…
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