Isaiah 53:4

"He was despised and rejected by men, a man of suffering and acquainted with disease. He was despised as one from whom men hide their face; and we didn’t respect him."

Key Reflection

In first-century Israel, the imagery of being "despised and rejected" by men would resonate deeply with the social and political dynamics of the time. The term "men" (עָם ʿām) likely referred to the broader population including common people and leaders alike. This verse paints a picture of societal rejection and misunderstanding, portraying the Messiah as one who suffered unjustly, not for his own sins but because he bore the sicknesses and sorrows of others. The image of "hiding their face" (עָמַד ʿāmad) from him would have evoked the shame and revulsion associated with leprosy or other severe diseases, highlighting how even those who should have shown respect instead turned away in horror and disgust.

From the Scholars: Barnes' Notes

Surely -This is an exceedingly important verse, and is one that is attended with considerable difficulty, from the manner in which it is quoted in the New Testament. The general sense, as it stands in the Hebrew, is not indeed difficult. It is immediately connected in signification with the previous verse. The meaning is, that those who had despised and rejected the Messiah, had greatly erred in condemning him on account of his sufferings and humiliation. ‘We turned away from him in horror and contempt. We supposed that he was suffering on account of some great sin of his own. But in this we erred. It was not for his sins but for ours.

More from Isaiah 53

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13

Go deeper with Bible.talk - your AI Bible study companion