Isaiah 53:3 kjv
He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.
Isaiah 53:3 nkjv
He is despised and rejected by men, A Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. And we hid, as it were, our faces from Him; He was despised, and we did not esteem Him.
Isaiah 53:3 niv
He was despised and rejected by mankind, a man of suffering, and familiar with pain. Like one from whom people hide their faces he was despised, and we held him in low esteem.
Isaiah 53:3 esv
He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not.
Isaiah 53:3 nlt
He was despised and rejected ?
a man of sorrows, acquainted with deepest grief.
We turned our backs on him and looked the other way.
He was despised, and we did not care.
Isaiah 53 3 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Isaiah 53:3 | He was despised and rejected by mankind, a man of suffering, and familiar with pain. | Suffering Servant prophecy |
| John 1:11 | He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. | Rejection of Christ |
| Luke 4:29 | Then they got up and drove him out of the town and took him to the brow of the hill on which their town was built, intending to throw him down. | Attempted stoning in Nazareth |
| Acts 4:11 | ‘He is “the stone you builders rejected, which has become the cornerstone.”’ | Peter quoting Ps 118:22 |
| Philippians 2:7 | rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, by being made in human likeness. | Humiliation of Christ |
| Hebrews 12:3 | Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful individuals, so that you do not grow weary and faint. | Endurance through suffering |
| 1 Peter 2:22 | “He committed no sin, and in his mouth no deceit was found.” | Sinlessness of Christ |
| Mark 10:45 | For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many. | Service and sacrifice |
| Matthew 8:17 | This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah: “He took up our infirmities and carried our diseases.” | Fulfillment of Isaiah 53 |
| Isaiah 53:4 | Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered him punished by God, stricken by him and afflicted. | His suffering for us |
| Psalm 22:6 | But I am a worm and not a man, scorned by everyone, despised by the people. | David's experience echoed in Christ |
| Isaiah 52:14 | 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— | Precedes suffering description |
| John 18:33-38 | Pilate's interrogation of Jesus, questioning kingship and truth. | Jesus' passive endurance |
| 2 Corinthians 5:21 | For he made him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in him. | Vicarious atonement |
| 1 Peter 4:14 | If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of God rests on you. | Blessing in suffering for Christ |
| Galatians 3:13 | Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written: “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a pole.” | Redemption from the curse |
| Matthew 27:27-31 | The soldiers mock and abuse Jesus before crucifixion. | Mockery and rejection |
| John 19:2-5 | Jesus is presented to the people, still bloody and with a crown of thorns. | Display of suffering |
| Acts 2:22-23 | Peter explains Jesus' suffering and death as God's plan. | God's foreknowledge and plan |
| 1 Peter 2:4 | As you come to him, the living Stone—rejected by humans but chosen by God and precious to him— | Christ as the rejected stone |
Isaiah 53 verses
Isaiah 53 3 Meaning
He was despised and rejected by mankind, a man of suffering, and familiar with pain. Like one from whom people hide their faces he was despised, and we paid him no regard.
Isaiah 53 3 Context
Isaiah chapter 53 is a profound prophetic passage often referred to as the "Suffering Servant" song. It vividly portrays a figure who will bear the suffering and transgressions of his people. This specific verse, the third in the chapter, focuses on the rejection and despised nature of this servant. The historical context for Isaiah would have been the divided kingdom of Israel, addressing themes of exile and restoration. The prophecy is understood by Christians to foreshadow the suffering, rejection, crucifixion, and atonement of Jesus Christ.
Isaiah 53 3 Word Analysis
Was (היה - hayah): This is a common Hebrew verb indicating existence or state of being. It establishes the servant's condition.
Despised (מָּאֳס from מָאַס - ma'os from ma'as): The root meaning is to reject with contempt, to abhor, to despise. It implies a deep-seated and active disdain.
Rejected (נִמְאָס - nim'as): This is the passive form of the same verb, emphasizing that the action of despising is done to him. It suggests being cast out and not wanted.
By (מֵאֵת - me'et): Indicates the agent or source of the action.
Mankind (אָדָם - 'adam): Refers to humanity in general.
A Man (אִישׁ - ish): Specifically denotes a male person, emphasizing his humanity.
Of Sorrows (מַכְאֹב֭וֹת - mak'ovot): Plural of mak'ob, meaning pain, grief, or sorrow. It signifies not just occasional sadness but a habitual state of deep suffering.
Familiar with Pain (וּמַשָּׂ֫א — וּכְמַ֫וּא – veyuda mikuim vemusasim – v’shodedum): While "familiar with pain" captures the sense, the Hebrew is more layered. Yada (יָדַע) means to know, but can also imply experiencing or being intimately acquainted with. The suffering described is not foreign but deeply known by the servant.
Like one (כִּגְבוּר – ki gboor): This simile compares him to someone whose appearance is marred.
From whom (מִמֶּנּוּ – mimmennu): "From him."
Hide their Faces (סָתְר֯וּ - satro): Literally "turned away the face," implying disgust, shame, or aversion. They refused to look upon him.
He was despised (וַּנִבְזֶה – vanivzeh): Again, the passive voice. He was held in contempt. This reiterates and reinforces the opening statement.
We paid him no regard (וְלֹא נְחַלּוּהוּ – v’lo nehaluhu): This phrase signifies a lack of appreciation, value, or esteem. It implies he was overlooked and considered insignificant, someone not worth noticing or valuing.
Isaiah 53 3 Bonus Section
This verse is a critical prophetic declaration about the Messiah's experience before his redemptive work. The active rejection described in the verse is a key theme throughout the Gospel accounts, where Jesus was often scorned by religious leaders and the populace, leading to his crucifixion. The prophecy here highlights the internal emotional and experiential aspect of his suffering – it wasn't just physical, but deeply relational and societal, stemming from human aversion. The turning away of faces speaks to a refusal to see him, to acknowledge his worth, and by extension, to acknowledge God's appointed way of salvation. This anticipated human response underscores the paradoxical nature of God's plan: to bring salvation through one whom His own creation would scorn.
Isaiah 53 3 Commentary
Isaiah 53:3 reveals the profound rejection and suffering the Messiah would endure. He was not merely disliked, but actively despised and avoided by humanity. His humanity meant he experienced deep sorrow and was intimately acquainted with pain, not as an outsider, but as a part of his being. The verse emphasizes a willful ignorance and aversion from mankind; they turned their faces away, unwilling to acknowledge or value him. This sets the stage for understanding his sacrificial work not as something universally embraced, but as an act of profound love towards a world that would cast him out. It speaks to his vulnerability and the depth of his submission for our sake.