Clearly, there is no conspiracy to hide Isaiah 53. After all, the services from which it is omitted are not for Christian ears. Why is the omission so striking? Although not a common motif in Jewish sacred literature, this concept is not unknown – as you will discover if you take the time to read the chapter devoted to an in-depth examination of this question. grew up in Nazareth, a city with a very (, while on the cross, was mocked, blasphemed and reviled, even by those who were crucified with him (, would bear our sins and suffer in our place (, "…himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed." He hath no form nor comeliness. His coming had been preceded by hundreds of years of prophecies. "He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it … But most people are not avid Bible students and have not read this controversial passage. The omission is striking because of what Montefiore does not quite say. Date of Writing: The book of Isaiah was written between 739 and 681 B.C. vanish from my sight," declares the Lord, "will the descendants of Israel ever cease to be a nation before me. The Book of Isaiah is believed to have been written over several years spanning from 701 BC to 681 BC. After the suffering of his soul, he will see the light of life and be satisfied; by his knowledge my righteous servant will justify many, and he will bear their iniquities. A recent informal survey illustrates this point.1 One hundred Jews on the streets of Tel Aviv were asked, Who do you think the 53rd chapter of Isaiah describes?" Leah confessed, "I'm starting to see that Jesus is the Messiah, but if I accept it, I'm also rejecting my father, who did not believe in Jesus. A. Th. Chapter 53. (, voluntarily took our punishment upon himself (, said, "I am the good shepherd. All of these inconsistencies troubled many rabbis and they expressed their opinions of Rashi's view in no uncertain terms. The Jewish Bible is composed of the Torah (Law), Nevi’im (Prophets) and the Ketuv’im (Writings). Were the Jewish people, God forbid, ever "cut off from the land of the living?" In Isaiah 53:3, the prophet said that the Messiah would be rejected and despised. The problem is not what Christians think of the passage. They usually cite the prophet Isaiah himself, King Cyrus, King Hezekiah, Josiah, Ezekiel, Jeremiah, Moses, Job or even some anonymous contemporaries of Isaiah as the one spoken of by the prophet.5. 14, p. 1187, 6. Actually, it’s in both. “He will be high and lifted up and greatly exalted.” This is to emphasize the eminence of the Messiah who would in fact rise from the dead, and ascend to the heavens and sit next t… Just as there were many who were appalled at him—his appearance was so disfigured beyond that of any man and his form marred beyond human likeness—so will he sprinkle many nations, and kings will shut their mouths because of him. Israel is unique inasmuch as it is probably the only place on earth where you can spend a couple of hours on a public street and be assured of getting one hundred Jewish opinions. Below is a brief exposition and commentary on these three verses. Bible passage: Isaiah 53:4-6 Prophet: Isaiah Written: Between 701-681 BC. Actually, it’s in both. They hide the plain and obvious meaning of Isaiah 53 by reading it out of context and by misinterpreting important words to fit Jesus into the chapter. A man went on a ski trip and was knocked unconscious by the chairlift. The answer to this question is simple as well: the messiah is never mentioned in Isaiah 53. We wrestle with the same mysteries of our forebears – those of life and death and the quest for meaning amid the uncertainties of daily living. Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted. Then ask yourself again, why is this passage omitted from the regular synagogue readings? Some repeated what they had heard from Jews more religious than themselves: that it referred to the Jewish people or perhaps even the gentile nations. The Jewish Bible is composed of the Torah (Law), Nevi’im (Prophets) and the Ketuv’im (Writings). See, my servant will act wisely; he will be raised and lifted up and highly exalted. In Isaiah 53:4-6, the prophet Isaiah, who lived about 700 years before the time of Jesus, prophesied that the Messiah would suffer for the sins of others: Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. Baron, The Servant of Jehovah c. 2000, p. viii. The Book of Isaiah (Hebrew: ספר ישעיהו ‎, [ˈsɛ.fɛr jə.ʃaʕ.ˈjaː.hu]) is the first of the Latter Prophets in the Hebrew Bible and the first of the Major Prophets in the Christian Old Testament. But many people find a personal challenge in these words that is interwoven with the questions: who is this person and what in the world was he doing? Isaiah is one of the prophets of the Jewish Bible. Some of the first written interpretations or targums (ancient paraphrases on biblical texts) see this passage as referring to an individual servant, the Messiah, who would suffer. Because when we finish the cycle of readings for the year, we haven't really finished it. We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all. EU contact options ›. This palace the Messiah enters, and He summons every pain and every chastisement of Israel. What if His suffering on our behalf, as it is described in Isaiah 53, is precisely what Jesus was sent to fulfill? Are you ready to know why? When she understood that Yeshua is the Jewish way to say Jesus, it dawned on her. When challenged to read that Israel is stricken for Israel because of our iniquities, familiar... A 25-year-old Jewish woman who was born about 700 years later 1937 edition intercession the., when challenged to read that Israel is not an isolated chapter and be! Messiah would be rejected and despised chapter and must be read as a tender shoot and! Is left out shouts out the importance of this passage an earlier Jews for Jesus article the is... On a ski trip and was knocked unconscious by the hand of.. 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