Isaiah 53:4

¶ Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.

Surely {H403} he hath borne {H5375} our griefs {H2483}, and carried {H5445} our sorrows {H4341}: yet we did esteem {H2803} him stricken {H5060}, smitten {H5221} of God {H430}, and afflicted {H6031}.

In fact, it was our diseases he bore, our pains from which he suffered; yet we regarded him as punished, stricken and afflicted by God.

Surely He took on our infirmities and carried our sorrows; yet we considered Him stricken by God, struck down and afflicted.

Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows; yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.

Isaiah 53:4 is a profoundly significant verse within the "Servant Songs" of Isaiah, offering a powerful prophetic glimpse into the suffering and redemptive work of the Messiah. It introduces the astonishing truth that the Servant's suffering was not for His own wrongdoing, but for the burdens and pain of humanity.

Context

This verse is part of the fourth and most detailed of Isaiah's "Servant Songs" (Isaiah 52:13-53:12), which describe a mysterious figure who suffers unjustly yet brings about salvation. Written centuries before Christ, this passage vividly foreshadows the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. The preceding verses (Isaiah 52:13-15) highlight the Servant's eventual exaltation after His disfigurement, setting the stage for the explanation of His suffering in chapter 53.

Key Themes

  • Substitutionary Atonement: The core message is that the Servant (understood by Christians as Jesus Christ) bore the griefs and sorrows of others, taking upon Himself what rightfully belonged to humanity. This concept of substitution is central to the Christian understanding of salvation.
  • Misunderstanding and Rejection: The verse sharply contrasts the Servant's true purpose with the human perception of His suffering. People "did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted," believing His pain was divine punishment for His own sins, rather than a voluntary sacrifice for theirs. This highlights the blindness of those who witnessed His suffering.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew words illuminate the depth of the Servant's burden:

  • "Griefs" comes from the Hebrew word choli (חֳלִי), which often refers to sickness, disease, or infirmity. This suggests not only emotional pain but also physical ailments and the consequences of sin. Matthew 8:17 explicitly applies this aspect of the prophecy to Jesus' healing ministry, stating He "took our infirmities, and bare our sicknesses."
  • "Sorrows" is from mak'ob (מַכְאֹב), meaning pain, anguish, or suffering. Together, these terms convey the totality of human suffering—physical, emotional, and spiritual—that the Servant willingly carried.
  • The phrase "stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted" emphasizes the human perception that God Himself was punishing the Servant. This reflects the common ancient Near Eastern belief that great suffering was direct evidence of divine wrath for personal sin, a misconception later addressed in books like Job.

Related Scriptures

This verse sets the stage for the more explicit declaration in Isaiah 53:5, "But 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." The New Testament frequently references this prophecy, particularly in relation to Christ's atoning work on the cross. His voluntary suffering is a fulfillment of this ancient word, demonstrating His immense love and commitment to redemption.

Practical Application

Isaiah 53:4 offers profound comfort and a call to reflection. It reminds us that Jesus understood and bore the weight of human suffering, including our griefs and sorrows. When we face pain, sickness, or emotional distress, we can find solace in knowing that Christ has already carried these burdens. It also challenges us to recognize the true nature of Christ's sacrifice, moving beyond superficial judgments to appreciate the depth of His love and selflessness. This verse invites us to bring our burdens to Him, trusting in His ability to bear them and offering us rest.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • 1 Peter 2:24

    Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.

  • Matthew 8:17

    That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, Himself took our infirmities, and bare [our] sicknesses.

  • Galatians 3:13

    Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed [is] every one that hangeth on a tree:

  • 1 John 2:2

    And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for [the sins of] the whole world.

  • 1 Peter 3:18

    ¶ For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:

  • Isaiah 53:5

    But 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.

  • Isaiah 53:6

    All 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.
← Back