
Text -- Isaiah 53:7 (NET)




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collapse allCommentary -- Word/Phrase Notes (per phrase)
Wesley -> Isa 53:7
He neither murmured against God, nor reviled men.
JFB: Isa 53:7 - -- LOWTH translates, "It was exacted, and He was made answerable." The verb means, "to have payment of a debt sternly exacted" (Deu 15:2-3), and so to be...
LOWTH translates, "It was exacted, and He was made answerable." The verb means, "to have payment of a debt sternly exacted" (Deu 15:2-3), and so to be oppressed in general; the exaction of the full penalty for our sins in His sufferings is probably alluded to.

JFB: Isa 53:7 - -- Or, and yet He suffered, or bore Himself patiently, &c. [HENGSTENBERG and MAURER]. LOWTH'S translation, "He was made answerable," is hardly admitted b...
Or, and yet He suffered, or bore Himself patiently, &c. [HENGSTENBERG and MAURER]. LOWTH'S translation, "He was made answerable," is hardly admitted by the Hebrew.
Calvin -> Isa 53:7
Calvin: Isa 53:7 - -- 7.He was punished Here the Prophet applauds the obedience of Christ in suffering death; for if his death had not been voluntary, he would not have be...
7.He was punished Here the Prophet applauds the obedience of Christ in suffering death; for if his death had not been voluntary, he would not have been regarded as having satisfied for our disobedience. “As by one man’s disobedience,” says Paul, “all became sinners, so by one man’s obedience many were made righteous. (Rom 5:19) And elsewhere, “He became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.” (Phi 2:8) This was the reason of his silence at the judgmentseat of Pilate, though he had a just defense to offer; for, having become answerable for our guilt, he wished to submit silently to the sentence, that we might loudly glory in the righteousness of faith obtained through free grace.
As a lamb shall he be led to the slaughter We are here exhorted to patience and meekness, that, following the example of Christ, we may be ready to endure reproaches and cruel assaults, distress and torture. In this sense Peter quotes this passage, showing that we ought to become like Christ our Head, that we may imitate his patience and submissiveness. (1Pe 2:23) In the word lamb there is probably an allusion to the sacrifices under the Law; and in this sense he is elsewhere called “the Lamb of God.” (Joh 1:29)
Defender: Isa 53:7 - -- "Afflicted" means "bowed Himself" - that is, willingly submitted to all the humiliation and suffering - for us.
"Afflicted" means "bowed Himself" - that is, willingly submitted to all the humiliation and suffering - for us.

Defender: Isa 53:7 - -- Here lies the basis for the many New Testament references to Christ as "the Lamb."
Here lies the basis for the many New Testament references to Christ as "the Lamb."
TSK -> Isa 53:7

collapse allCommentary -- Word/Phrase Notes (per Verse)
Barnes -> Isa 53:7
Barnes: Isa 53:7 - -- He was oppressed - ( נגשׂ niggas' ). Lowth renders this, ‘ It was exacted.’ Hengstenberg, ‘ He was abased.’ Jerom...
He was oppressed - (
And he was afflicted - Jahn and Steudel propose to render this, ‘ He suffered himself to be afflicted.’ Hengstenberg renders it, ‘ He suffered patiently, and opened not his mouth.’ Lowth, ‘ He was made answerable; and he opened not his mouth.’ According to this, the idea is, that he had voluntarily taken upon himself the sins of people, and that having done so, he was held answerable as a surety. But it is doubtful whether the Hebrew will bear this construction. According to Jerome, the idea is that he voluntarily submitted, and that this was the cause of his sufferings. Hensler renders it, ‘ God demands the debt, and he the great and righteous one suffers.’ It is probable, however, that our translation has retained the correct sense. The word
Yet he opened not his mouth - This means that he was perfectly quiet, meek, submissive, patient, He did not open his mouth to complain of God on account of the great sorrows which he had appointed to him; nor to God on account of his being ill-treated by man. He did not use the language of reviling when he was reviled, nor return upon people the evils which they were inflicting on him (compare Psa 39:9). How strikingly and literally was this fulfilled in the life of the Lord Jesus! It would seem almost as if it had been written after he lived, and was history rather than prophecy. In no other instance was there ever so striking an example of perfect patience; no other person ever so entirely accorded with the description of the prophet.
He is brought as a lamb to the slaughter - This does not mean that he was led to the slaughter as a lamb is, but that as a lamb which is led to be killed is patient and silent, so was he. He made no resistance. He uttered no complaint. He suffered himself to be led quietly along to be put to death. What a striking and beautiful description! How tender and how true! We can almost see here the meek and patient Redeemer led along without resistance; and amidst the clamor of the multitude that were assembled with various feelings to conduct him to death, himself perfectly silent and composed. With all power at his disposal, yet as quiet and gentle as though he had no power; and with a perfect consciousness that he was going to die, as calm and as gentle as though he were ignorant of the design for which they were leading him forth. This image occurs also in Jeremiah, Jer 11:19, ‘ But I was like a lamb or an ox that is brought to the slaughter.’
As a sheep - As a sheep submits quietly to the operation of shearing. Compare 1Pe 2:23, ‘ Who when he was reviled, reviled not again.’ Jesus never opened his mouth to revile or complain. It was opened only to bless those that cursed him, and to pray for his enemies and murderers.
Poole -> Isa 53:7
Poole: Isa 53:7 - -- He was oppressed, and he was afflicted he was sorely punished for our sins. But there is another translation, which seems to be more emphatical, and ...
He was oppressed, and he was afflicted he was sorely punished for our sins. But there is another translation, which seems to be more emphatical, and more agreeable to the Hebrew text; It (to wit, our iniquity last mentioned, or the punishment of all our sins) was exacted or required , (as this word most properly and frequently signifies, of which see my Latin Synopsis. God’ s justice expected and required satisfaction from us for our sins; which, alas! we could not make to him,)
and he was afflicted or punished ; he bore the guilt and punishment of our sins in his body upon the tree, as is said, 1Pe 2 24 ; or, as others render this last word, and he answered , i.e. became our surety, or undertook to pay the debt, and to suffer the law in our stead, and for our sake.
Yet he opened not his mouth he neither murmured against God for causing him to suffer for other men’ s sins, nor reviled men for punishing him without cause, nor used apologies or endeavours to save his own life; but willingly and patiently accepted of the punishment of our iniquity.
Is dumb bears the loss of its fleece or life without any such clamour or resistance as other creatures use in such cases.
Haydock -> Isa 53:7
Haydock: Isa 53:7 - -- Will. The pagans were very attentive that the victim should not make much resistance. ( Macrobius iii. 5.)
Will. The pagans were very attentive that the victim should not make much resistance. ( Macrobius iii. 5.)
Gill -> Isa 53:7
Gill: Isa 53:7 - -- He was oppressed, and he was afflicted,.... He was injuriously treated by the Jews; they used him very ill, and handled him very roughly; he was oppre...
He was oppressed, and he was afflicted,.... He was injuriously treated by the Jews; they used him very ill, and handled him very roughly; he was oppressed and afflicted, both in body and mind, with their blows, and with their reproaches; he was afflicted, indeed, both by God and men: or rather it may be rendered, "it was exacted", required, and demanded, "and he answered" u, or "was afflicted"; justice finding the sins of men on him, laid on him by imputation, and voluntarily received by him, as in the preceding verse, demanded satisfaction of him; and he being the surety of his people, was responsible for them, and did answer, and gave the satisfaction demanded: the debt they owed was required, the payment of it was called for, and he accordingly answered, and paid the whole, every farthing, and cancelled the bond; the punishment of the sins of his people was exacted of him, and he submitted to bear it, and did bear it in his own body on the tree; this clearly expresses the doctrine of Christ's satisfaction:
yet he opened not his mouth; against the oppressor that did him the injury, nor murmured at the affliction that was heavy upon him: or, "and he opened not his mouth"; against the justice of God, and the demand that was made upon him, as the surety of his people; he owned the obligation he had laid himself under; he paid the debt, and bore the punishment without any dispute or hesitation: "he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb"; or, "as a sheep to the slaughter, and as an ewe before her shearer" w; these figurative phrases are expressive, not only of the harmlessness and innocence of Christ, as considered in himself, but of his meekness and patience in suffering, and of his readiness and willingness to be sacrificed in the room and stead of his people; he went to the cross without any reluctance, which; when there was any in the sacrifice, it was reckoned a bad omen among the Heathens, yea, such were not admitted to be offered x; but Christ went as willingly to be sacrificed as a lamb goes to the slaughter house, and was as silent under his sufferings as a sheep while under the hands of its shearers; he was willing to be stripped of all he had, as a shorn sheep, and to be slaughtered and sacrificed as a lamb, for the sins of his people:
so he opened not his mouth: not against his enemies, by way of threatening or complaint; nor even in his own defence; nor against the justice of God, as bearing hard upon him, not sparing him, but demanding and having full satisfaction; nor against his people and their sins, for whom he suffered; see 1Pe 2:23.

expand allCommentary -- Verse Notes / Footnotes
NET Notes: Isa 53:7 This verse emphasizes the servant’s silent submission. The comparison to a sheep does not necessarily suggest a sacrificial metaphor. Sheep were...
Geneva Bible -> Isa 53:7
Geneva Bible: Isa 53:7 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he ( k ) opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearer...

expand allCommentary -- Verse Range Notes
TSK Synopsis -> Isa 53:1-12
TSK Synopsis: Isa 53:1-12 - --1 The prophet, complaining of incredulity, excuses the scandal of the cross,4 by the benefit of his passion,10 and the good success thereof.
MHCC -> Isa 53:4-9
MHCC: Isa 53:4-9 - --In these verses is an account of the sufferings of Christ; also of the design of his sufferings. It was for our sins, and in our stead, that our Lord ...
Matthew Henry -> Isa 53:4-9
Matthew Henry: Isa 53:4-9 - -- In these verses we have, I. A further account of the sufferings of Christ. Much was said before, but more is said here, of the very low condition to...
Keil-Delitzsch -> Isa 53:7
Keil-Delitzsch: Isa 53:7 - --
The fourth turn describes how He suffered and died and was buried. "He was ill treated; whilst He suffered willingly, and opened not His mouth, lik...
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