1.
Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the LORD revealed?
Who. ? Figure of speech Erotesis . The questions are asked by the prophet, and the answer is "no one" or few. Quoted in John 12:38 and Romans 10:16 .
hath believed = put faith in. Hebrew ' aman . App-69 . The tenses are Past (the prophetic Perfect).
report = hearing. Put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Adjunct), for the subject-matter, which was heard.
arm. Put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Cause), for what was wrought by it. Compare Isaiah 51:9 ; Isaiah 52:10 .
the Lord. Hebrew. Jehovah. App-4 .
revealed = made bare: i.e. revealed.
2.
For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him.
Him: i.e. Jehovah.
tender plant = a sapling.
a root = a root-sprout.
dry ground. The "root" (David) of which He was the offspring was well nigh extinct.
we: i.e. the people who saw Him. The interpretation is for the Jews of our Lord's day. The application is for us. The nation will yet say it in their confession and weeping.
3.
He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.
despised and rejected. Fulfilled in John 1:10 , John 1:11 ; John 8:48 ; John 10:20 .
men. Hebrew, plural of 'ish. App-14 . = the chief men. Compare John 7:48 , John 7:49 .
man. Hebrew. 'ish . App-14 .
we hid. Compare Isaiah 50:6 . Psalms 22:6 , Psalms 22:7 ; and John 8:48 ; Mark 3:21 , Mark 3:30 . John 18:40 .
4.
Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.
He [and no one else]. Emphatic. Quoted in Matthew 8:17 .
borne . . . carried = borne the punishment for. See note on Ezekiel 4:4 .Matthew 8:17 . Compare verses: Isaiah 53:11 , Isaiah 53:12
griefs . . . sorrows. Put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Cause), for the judgment which was brought about by their sins.
of = by. Genitive of Agent. App-17 .
God. Hebrew. Elohim. App-4 .
afflicted = humbled.
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.
wounded = pierced.
transgressions . Hebrew. pasha'.
of = which procured. Genitive of Cause. App-17 .
with, &c. Quoted in 1 Peter 2:24 .
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.
All . . . all. Note the Figure of speech Epanadiplosis ( App-6 ), by which the statement is emphasized as containing the essence of the whole chapter. More noticeable in Hebrew. killdnu . . . killanu. Quoted in 1 Peter 2:22 .
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.
oppressed: or, hard pressed.
opened not His mouth. Idiom for silence and submission. Compare 1 Peter 2:22 , 1 Peter 2:23 .
He is brought. Quoted in Acts 8:32 , Acts 8:33 .
a lamb. Compare John 1:36 .
8.
He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken.
from prison and from judgment, &c. = by constraint and by sentence He was taken away.
who shall declare His generation? = as to the men of His age [i.e. His contemporaries!, who ponders, or considers as to this seed, seeing He is to be "cut off"? Compare Isaiah 53:10 .
cutoff. Compare Daniel 9:26 . Thus the climax of this prophecy is reached: (1) a hint (Isaiah 42:4 ); (2) open lament (Isaiah 49:4 ); (3) personal suffering (Isaiah 50:6 ); now (4) a violent death (Isaiah 53:8 ).
9.
And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth.
He made, &c. = one [or they] appointed, or assigned [His grave]; or, it [His grave] was appointed.
made. Hebrew Nathan (to give) is rendered "appoint" in Exodus 30:16 . Numbers 35:6 . Joshua 20:7 . 2 Kings 8:6 , &c. Even where it is rendered "to make", it has the force of "appoint" (Genesis 9:12 .Numbers 14:4 , &c.)
grave. Hebrew. keber .
the wicked = the criminals (plural) These have a separate part assigned in all Jewish cemeteries.
the rich = a rich [man] (singular) Compare Matthew 27:59 , Matthew 27:60 . Mark 15:43 , Mark 15:46 . Luke 23:53 , John 19:40-42 .
in His death = when He was dead. Compare Mark 15:42-47 . John 19:38 , John 19:39 .
He had done, &c. Quoted in 1 Peter 2:22 .
10.
Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand.
it pleased the LORD = Jehovah purposed. when thou shalt make, &c. This introduces the break in the Dispensations, which is the subject of the rest of the chapter: the "glory which shall follow" the sufferings. See App-71 and App-72 .
His soul = Himself. Hebrew. nephesh. App-13 = life. Compare John 10:11 , John 10:15 , John 10:17 , John 10:18 .
an offering for sin. Hebrew. 'aham = the trespass offering. See App-43 and App-44 . Ref to Pentateuch, for this is a peculiarly Levitical word (Leviticus 14:12 , Leviticus 14:21 ), and cannot be understood apart from it. In Psalms 40 it is the aspect of the whole burnt offering.
He shall see His seed: "see" "see" in Isaiah 52:15 , i.e. the result, issue, and reward of His sufferings. Compare Psalms 22:30 ; Psalms 24:6 ; Psalms 25:13 . The Chaldee Targum reads, "they (His seed) shall see the kingdom of their Messiah".
pleasure = purpose.
11.
He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities.
satisfied. Not disappointed. We have not an impotent Father, or a disappointed Christ, or a defeated Holy Spirit, as is so commonly preached; but an omnipotent Father, an all-victorious Christ, and an almighty Holy Spirit, able to break the hardest heart and subdue the stoutest will.
by His knowledge, &c. Punctuate: "Satisfied by His knowledge, My righteous Servant shall justify many, for He shall bear", &c.
12.
Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.
divide = apportion, or assign.
with = among.
poured out. Only here (in the "latter" portion); and Isaiah 32:15 (the "former" portion). App-79 .
an He was numbered. Quoted in Mark 15:28 . Luke 22:37 . App-79 .
bare the sin. Reference to Pentateuch (Leviticus 10:17 . Numbers 9:13 ; Numbers 18:32 ). Compare verses: Isaiah 53:4 , Isaiah 53:11 . See App-92 .
sin. Not the same word as in Isaiah 53:10 . Hebrew. chata .
made intercession = interposed.