Isaiah 53:2

Translations

Modern

He grew up before Him like a tender shoot, and like a root out of dry ground. He had no stately form or majesty to attract us, no beauty that we should desire Him.

Traditional

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.

Literal

For He grew up as a tender shoot before His face, and as a root out of a dry land. No form was unto Him, and no splendor that we should see Him, and no appearance that we should desire him.

Latin

Et ascendet sicut virgultum coram eo, et sicut radix de terra sitienti. Non est species ei, neque decor, et vidimus eum, et non erat aspectus, et desideravimus eum:

Original

Hebrew

English

He grew up before Him like a tender shoot, and like a root out of dry ground. He had no stately form or majesty to attract us, no beauty that we should desire Him.

Notes

Isaiah 53:2

a tender shoot … out of dry ground: Such a plant is at risk of dying out (compare Isaiah 37:27). It struggles to survive, much less offer anything to others.
no stately form or majesty: The servant seemed to lack greatness or obvious royal splendor (see Isaiah 52:13–15).
to attract us: People prefer leaders who are good-looking and charismatic. The servant would be neither.

Isaiah 52:13–53:12

This is the fourth of four passages that speak about the promised servant (see study note on Isaiah 42:1–4). The Hebrew poem is carefully constructed in five three-line stanzas.It begins with the servant’s exaltation (52:13), proceeds to his humiliation (52:14–53:9), and ends with his exaltation (53:10–12).

The faithful servant’s suffering would bring reconciliation between God and humans. The Lord Jesus perfectly fulfilled this prophecy (see Isaiah 40; Matthew 8:17; Acts 8:30–35; Romans 10:15–17; 15:21; 1 Peter 2:24–25).

Theme notes and profiles

Isaiah Philip Christian Suffering God’s Servant Making Sense of the Exile Psalms of Suffering Salvation in Isaiah The Messiah The Servant-Leader The Son of Man

Events

Prophecies of Isaiah

Related verses

Philippians 2:6–7
Who, existing in the form of God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,
Isaiah 52:14
Just as many were appalled at Him—His appearance was disfigured beyond that of any man, and His form was marred beyond human likeness—
Isaiah 11:1
Then a shoot will spring up from the stump of Jesse, and a Branch from his roots will bear fruit.
John 1:10–14
He was in the world, and though the world was made through Him, the world did not recognize Him.
Mark 6:3
Isn’t this the carpenter, the son of Mary and the brother of James, Joses, Judas, and Simon? Aren’t His sisters here with us as well?” And they took offense at Him.
Jeremiah 23:5
Behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, and He will reign wisely as King and will administer justice and righteousness in the land.
Ezekiel 17:22–24
This is what the Lord GOD says: ‘I will take a shoot from the lofty top of the cedar, and I will set it out. I will pluck a tender sprig from its topmost shoots, and I will plant it on a high and lofty mountain.
John 19:14–15
It was the day of Preparation for the Passover, about the sixth hour. And Pilate said to the Jews, “Here is your King!”
Mark 9:12
He replied, “Elijah does indeed come first, and he restores all things. Why then is it written that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected?
Romans 8:3
For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful man, as an offering for sin. He thus condemned sin in the flesh,
John 18:40
“Not this man,” they shouted, “but Barabbas!” (Now Barabbas was an insurrectionist.)
John 19:5
When Jesus came out wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe, Pilate said to them, “Here is the man!”

Isaiah 53:2

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