Isaiah 53

Isaiah 53:1-2

Isa. 53:1, 2: “To whom hath the arm of the Lord been revealed? for he shall grow up before him as a tender plant,” etc. That HE that the prophet speaks of, as it is most natural to understand, is the arm of the Lord, spoken of in the first verse, and in the two foregoing chapters, as in the 5th and 9th verses of the 51st chap. (Isaiah 51:5; Isaiah 51:9) and in the 10th verse of the 52nd (Isaiah 52:10), who is the same as his servant spoken of in the three last verses of that chapter (Isaiah 52:13-15). Hereby two things are evident:

1. That He is the subject of this chapter, is no mere man, as the Jews suppose: this is evident by the 9th and 10th verses of the 51st chapter (Isaiah 51:9-10); and,
2. By the same verse it is evident that it was Christ, the second person of the Trinity, that went before Israel when they came out of Egypt. God calls his son his arm, as Jacob calls his son his right hand. Genesis 35:18. Isa. 53:2

Isaiah 53:2

Isa. 53:2. This verse has respect to Christ’s appearance in mean and low circumstances, without outward pomp and splendor. Great outward glory is in Scripture often compared to a tree growing high and large, and flourishing in its pride, Psalms 37:35; Daniel 4:10, etc. Isaiah 10:33; Isaiah 10:34; Ezekiel 31:3; Ezekiel 31:4, etc.; Isaiah 2:13 with context, and Job 29:19; Job 29:20; and therefore Christ’s being destitute of earthly glory, is [represented] by His being “a root out of a dry ground,” not like a tree planted on a fat soil or by streams of water, that flourishes and grows large, and makes a great show. Christ is in Scripture often compared to a root, plant, or branch. The Jews expected such a branch as this; but, on the contrary, He is a root out of a dry ground, that grows low and spreads but little and makes no gay appearance.

It was a low bush, and not a mighty tree, that was seen burning on Mount Sinai and was not consumed, which was a type of Jesus Christ. The same thing is signified by His being “without form, or comeliness, or beauty.” Earthly pomp and glory of wealth, power, and magnificence is called ‘comeliness’ in Scripture, as Ezekiel 27:10, and so it is called ‘beauty,’ 2 Samuel 1:19; Isaiah 13:19; Isaiah 28:1; Ezekiel 27:3; Ezekiel 27:4; Ezekiel 27:11; Ezekiel 28:12; Ezekiel 28:17. Addition to Isaiah 53:2. Particularly we find the pomp and magnificence of great earthly princes is compared to the stateliness and beauty of a great, tall, spreading, flourishing tree in a fruitful soil, with a multitude of waters at the root, Ezekiel 31:2-10; compare Deuteronomy 4:12; Isaiah 10:33; Psalms 37:35, and this stately flourishing appearance of such a tree, called its beauty or comeliness, Isaiah 53:3; Isaiah 53:7-9; and therefore here, when the Messiah is spoken of as being not like such a stately flourishing tree, with many waters at the root, but as a low tree or bush, and weak tender plant, and root out of a dry ground, or having no waters at the root, it is natural that we should understand that the Messiah should come without this pomp and glory of earthly princes; yea, in a state and with an appearance that should be the reverse of it.

Isa. 53:11

Isaiah 53:11

Isa. 53:11. “By His knowledge.” The word for ‘knowledge’ here is very often used for ‘righteousness,’ ‘holiness,’ and ‘piety.’ See Job 21:22; Job 33:3; Job 36:12; Psalms 119:66; Proverbs 1:4; Proverbs 1:7; Proverbs 1:22; Proverbs 1:29; Proverbs 2:5; Proverbs 2:6; Proverbs 2:10; and Job 5:2; Job 8:9; Job 8:10; Job 9:10; Job 10:14; Job 11:9; Job 12:1; and Job 13:15; Job 13:16; Job 14:7; Job 14:18; Job 15:7; Job 15:14; Job 18:15; Job 19:25; Job 19:27; Job 20:15; Job 21:11; Job 22:12; Job 23:12; Job 24:5; Job 30:3; Ecclesiastes 2:21; Ecclesiastes 7:12; Isaiah 5:13; Isaiah 11:2; Isaiah 28:9; Isaiah 33:6; Jeremiah 3:15; Jeremiah 22:16; Hosea 4:1; Hosea 4:6; Hosea 6:6. Besides, many places where the verb this noun comes from, is used in an agreeable sense, concerning which I have not examined the Concordance; and other words of like signification. But Isaiah 42:19-21, is particularly worthy of observation.

Isa. 53:12

Isaiah 53:12

Isa. 53:12. “Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong.” Intending at least partly that Christ’s portion should be the most perfect and glorious kingdom of the earth, the most wise, opulent, and learned nations of the world. Psalms 45:12, “And the daughter of Tyre shall be there with a gift, even the rich among the people shall entreat thy favour.” Isaiah 60:13, “The glory of Lebanon shall come unto thee, the fir-tree, the pine-tree, and the box together, to beautify the place of my sanctuary; and I will make the place of my feet glorious.” Psalms 72:10, “The kings of Tarshish and of the isles shall bring presents: the kings of Sheba and Seba shall offer gifts.”

Isa. 56:3-4