Isaiah 53 8

Isaiah 53:8 kjv

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.

Isaiah 53:8 nkjv

He was taken from prison and from judgment, And who will declare His generation? For He was cut off from the land of the living; For the transgressions of My people He was stricken.

Isaiah 53:8 niv

By oppression and judgment he was taken away. Yet who of his generation protested? For he was cut off from the land of the living; for the transgression of my people he was punished.

Isaiah 53:8 esv

By oppression and judgment he was taken away; and as for his generation, who considered that he was cut off out of the land of the living, stricken for the transgression of my people?

Isaiah 53:8 nlt

Unjustly condemned,
he was led away.
No one cared that he died without descendants,
that his life was cut short in midstream.
But he was struck down
for the rebellion of my people.

Isaiah 53 verses

Isaiah 53 8 Meaning

He was taken from prison and from judgment, and who will declare his lineage? For he was cut off from the land of the living; for the transgression of my people he was stricken.

Isaiah 53 8 Context

Chapter 53 of Isaiah is a profound prophecy depicting the suffering servant who will bear the sins of many. This verse specifically addresses the servant's unjust removal from life. Historically, it was understood by Jewish interpreters to refer to the nation of Israel or a righteous individual suffering on its behalf. However, the New Testament identifies this suffering servant as Jesus Christ. The verse speaks of his wrongful death, the lack of anyone to claim him as his own after his suffering, and his removal from the community of the living because of the sins of God's people.

Isaiah 53 8 Word Analysis

• וַיֵּעָצֵר (vayye'atser): "and he was arrested/taken" or "held back."
  • This emphasizes being taken into custody or restraint, often illegally.
  • The Niphal stem suggests a passive action.
• וּמִמִּשְׁפָּט (u'mimishpat): "and from judgment."
  • Refers to a legal process, a trial.
  • The implication is that the judgment was unjust or prematurely concluded.
• וּמִי (u'mi): "and who?"
  • A rhetorical question expressing bewilderment at the fate of the servant.
• יְגִּיד (yegid): "will tell" or "declare."
  • To make known, to recount.
• אֶת־ (et): direct object marker.
• דּוֹרוֹ (doro): "his generation" or "his lineage."
  • This word can refer to the people of his time or his descendants.
  • Its ambiguity highlights the lack of proper witnesses or claimants.
  • The Servant's lineage was not accounted for or celebrated due to his ignominious death.
• כִּֽי־ (ki): "for" or "because."
  • Introduces the reason for his suffering.
• נִגְזַר (nigzar): "he was cut off."
  • A strong verb indicating a violent or decisive termination.
  • Implies being removed or exiled.
  • The Niphal stem signifies a passive action.
• מֵאֶרֶץ (me'erets): "from the land."
  • Specifically, from the land of the living, from the realm of human existence.
• חַיִּים (chayyim): "living" or "life."
  • Contrast with death.
• לְפֶשַׁע (le'fesha): "for the transgression" or "rebellion."
  • Highlights the sinfulness of the people, which necessitates the servant's suffering.
• עַמִּי ('ammi): "my people."
  • Indicates a personal connection between the speaker (God) and the transgressors.
• נֻגַּע (nugga'): "he was stricken" or "smitten."
  • Suggests suffering affliction or punishment.
  • The Niphal stem indicates he was acted upon.

Words Group Analysis:

• Taken from prison and from judgment: This phrase vividly portrays an unjust arrest and condemnation. The absence of a proper trial or a just sentence emphasizes the illegitimacy of his suffering.
• Who will declare his lineage?: This questions the legacy and progeny of the one who was so severely treated. His death is so demeaning that his family or posterity cannot be properly acknowledged.
• Cut off from the land of the living: This is a powerful idiom for death, signifying complete removal from existence and the community of people.
• For the transgression of my people he was stricken: This clause clearly establishes the vicarious nature of his suffering. He is punished not for his own wrongdoing, but for the sins of the speaker's people.

Isaiah 53 8 Bonus Section

The rhetorical question, "who will declare his lineage?" speaks to the anonymity and obscurity of the servant's death. It contrasts sharply with the genealogies that are often preserved for kings or prominent figures. In Jesus' case, while his human lineage is documented through the Gospels, his earthly lineage was not publicly celebrated at the moment of his ignominious death on the cross. Furthermore, the phrase "cut off from the land of the living" carries a sense of complete removal, as if erased from existence, underscoring the severity of his fate and the magnitude of the sacrifice. This verse also foreshadows Jesus' burial in a borrowed tomb, highlighting His lack of earthly inheritance and earthly final resting place that was uniquely His own.

Isaiah 53 8 Commentary

Isaiah 53:8 powerfully describes the unparalleled suffering and humiliation of the Servant. He is unjustly apprehended and condemned, deprived of any recognized lineage or proper burial, symbolizing a life so marred by suffering that his identity and place in the community are obscured. The verse’s core message is the vicarious nature of his death. He is "stricken" and "cut off" not for any personal failing, but directly because of the "transgression" of "my people." This points to an atoning sacrifice where his life is forfeited for the sins of others. This profound mystery is understood in Christian theology as the suffering of Jesus Christ, who bore the penalty for humanity's sins, leading to His death and burial without earthly commemoration of His line at that moment, yet demonstrating the ultimate triumph through His resurrection for our justification.