Isaiah 53

Translation Note

The King James reads “wounded for our transgressions” and “with his stripes we are healed.” The 1917 Jewish Publication Society reads “wounded because of our transgressions” and “with his stripes we were healed.” Brenton reads “wounded on account of our sins” and “by his bruises we were healed.” The Hebrew preposition is מִן, “from” or “because of,” on “our transgressions.”

“For” and “because of” are both in the English tradition. The Jewish Publication Society does not say the servant is the Messiah. Christians say the wounded servant is Jesus, who bore sins, and that this servant is God the Son.

King James Version. 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.

Jewish Publication Society (1917). “But he was wounded because of our transgressions, he was crushed because of our iniquities: the chastisement of our welfare was upon him, and with his stripes we were healed.”

Brenton’s Septuagint (1851), English. “But he was wounded on account of our sins, and was bruised because of our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and by his bruises we were healed.”

Septuagint, Brenton’s Greek (1851). Αὐτὸς δὲ ἐτραυματίσθη διὰ τὰς ἁμαρτίας ἡμῶν, καὶ μεμαλάκισται διὰ τὰς ἀνομίας ἡμῶν· παιδεία εἰρήνης ἡμῶν ἐπʼ αὐτὸν, τῷ μώλωπι αὐτοῦ ἡμεῖς ἰάθημεν.

Why don’t Jews believe Jesus is the Messiah? What Does Messiah Mean?

Translation Note

The King James reads “taken from prison and from judgment” and “for the transgression of my people was he stricken.” The 1917 Jewish Publication Society reads “By oppression and judgment he was taken away” and “for the transgression of my people to whom the stroke was due.” Brenton reads “In his humiliation his judgment was taken away” and “because of the iniquities of my people he was led to death.”

The Jewish Publication Society puts the stroke on the people: “to whom the stroke was due.” The King James puts it on the servant: “was he stricken.” Brenton says his life is taken from the earth and he was led to death. Christians read the servant’s death as the death of Jesus for his people’s sins. Jesus is God the Son.

King James Version. 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.

Jewish Publication Society (1917). “By oppression and judgment he was taken away, and with his generation who did reason? for he was cut off out of the land of the living, for the transgression of my people to whom the stroke was due.”

Brenton’s Septuagint (1851), English. “In his humiliation his judgment was taken away: who shall declare his generation? for his life is taken away from the earth: because of the iniquities of my people he was led to death.”

Septuagint, Brenton’s Greek (1851). Ἐν τῇ ταπεινώσει ἡ κρίσις αὐτοῦ ᾔρθη· ὅτι αἴρεται ἀπὸ τῆς γῆς ἡ ζωὴ αὐτοῦ, ἀπὸ τῶν ἀνομιῶν τοῦ λαοῦ μου ἤχθη εἰς θάνατον.

Why don’t Jews believe Jesus is the Messiah?