Isaiah 53 9

Isaiah 53:9 kjv

And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth.

Isaiah 53:9 nkjv

And they made His grave with the wicked? But with the rich at His death, Because He had done no violence, Nor was any deceit in His mouth.

Isaiah 53:9 niv

He was assigned a grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death, though he had done no violence, nor was any deceit in his mouth.

Isaiah 53:9 esv

And they made his grave with the wicked and with a rich man in his death, although he had done no violence, and there was no deceit in his mouth.

Isaiah 53:9 nlt

He had done no wrong
and had never deceived anyone.
But he was buried like a criminal;
he was put in a rich man's grave.

Isaiah 53 verses

Isaiah 53 9 meaning

Isaiah 53:9 prophetically describes the Servant's unique and paradoxical burial. Despite being condemned and executed with the wicked, thereby designating his grave to be among them, divine providence arranged for his actual interment in the tomb of a rich man. This remarkable destiny directly follows a profound declaration of his absolute moral purity: he committed no violent deeds and uttered no deceit, highlighting the grave injustice of his suffering and death. The verse thus sets his innocent character against the criminal associations of his crucifixion and the eventual honor of his burial place.

Isaiah 53 9 Context

Isaiah chapter 53 is the culminating prophecy in the "Servant Songs" (Is 42:1-9, 49:1-13, 50:4-11, 52:13-53:12), depicting a mysterious Servant of the Lord. The surrounding verses in chapter 53 portray this Servant as one who is deeply humiliated and suffers extensively (Is 53:1-3), yet his suffering is vicarious – borne for the transgressions and iniquities of others (Is 53:4-6). He is unjustly condemned and "cut off from the land of the living" (Is 53:8), leading directly to the events described in verse 9 concerning his burial. This immediate context amplifies the injustice of his fate given his unparalleled innocence, which is precisely detailed in the latter half of the verse. Historically, these prophecies prepared God's people for a suffering Messiah whose ministry would confound their expectations of a triumphant king, revealing a deeper redemptive purpose.

Isaiah 53 9 Word analysis

• And they made: The Hebrew wiy-ye-ten (וַיִּתֵּן) literally means "and he gave" or "and it was given." The subject "they" is implicit in many translations, often suggesting human agency in the immediate disposition of the body after execution. However, the passive sense of "it was appointed" or "was given him" by divine permission is also significant.
• his grave: Hebrew qiv'ro (קִבְרוֹ) refers specifically to his burial place, signifying the physical location for his interment. In ancient Near Eastern cultures, burial practices indicated social status and judicial standing.
• with the wicked: Hebrew rəsha'im (רְשָׁעִים), meaning "evil, unrighteous, or guilty ones." This indicates a death and initial disposition that categorized him as a common criminal, subject to a dishonorable burial typically reserved for those condemned by law.
• and with a rich man: Hebrew wə'et-ashir (וְאֶת-עָשִׁיר), refers to a singular wealthy individual. This phrase introduces a profound contrast and an unexpected element to the Servant's burial. Criminals were rarely buried in designated, private, or well-maintained tombs.
• in his death: Hebrew bəmōṯāw (בְּמֹתָיו), the plural form of "death" (literally "in his deaths" or "at his deaths"). This intensifies the impact, signifying the state of death and its attendant circumstances. It can emphasize the totality or gravity of his demise, or the period following his death encompassing his burial. It does not imply multiple physical deaths.
• although he had done no violence: Hebrew lo'-ḥāmās ʿāśā́ (לֹא-חָמָס עָשָׂה), emphatically states "no injustice/violence he did." Ḥāmās refers to active wrongdoing, injury, or oppression. This negates any external actions of sin.
• and there was no deceit in his mouth: Hebrew wəlō' mirmāh bəp̄īw (וְלֹא מִרְמָה בְּפִיו), meaning "and no treachery/falsehood in his mouth." Mirmāh refers to internal guile, fraud, or verbal deception. This negates any internal or verbal sins, completing the picture of perfect moral integrity.
• "with the wicked and with a rich man": This juxtaposed pairing of social destinies for his grave presents a deliberate paradox. He was legally condemned with the wicked but ultimately laid to rest with a rich man, illustrating how divine will works through and often against human plans.
• "he had done no violence, and there was no deceit in his mouth": This strong dual negation provides an unassailable declaration of the Servant's sinless perfection. It confirms both his outward conduct and inner character were entirely pure, laying the theological groundwork for his role as a flawless atoning sacrifice.

Isaiah 53 9 Bonus section

The seemingly contradictory nature of "with the wicked and with a rich man" often puzzled early Jewish interpreters, with some Rabbinic traditions suggesting interpretations that divided the Servant's death and burial into two phases or two separate sets of individuals. However, the New Testament's account of Jesus' crucifixion between two criminals (Mark 15:27-28) and His burial in the tomb of Joseph of Arimathea (Matt 27:57-60) provides a singular, compelling fulfillment that harmonizes these two elements into one comprehensive event. This dual prophetic precision is often cited by scholars as one of the strongest proofs for the divine inspiration of Isaiah and its direct fulfillment in Jesus. The "rich man" specified in Isaiah points to an individual of means, signifying a carefully prepared, possibly personal tomb, in contrast to the mass graves or abandoned sites where common criminals were typically interred. This meticulous detail showcases the precise fulfillment of the Servant's prophetic destiny.

Isaiah 53 9 Commentary

Isaiah 53:9 stands as a pinnacle of messianic prophecy, offering extraordinary predictive detail concerning the burial of the Suffering Servant. The first part, "And they made his grave with the wicked," highlights the judicial decree and public perception of his execution. He was legally designated as a common criminal, warranting a burial typically reserved for societal outcasts. This speaks to his profound identification with humanity's sin, taking on the shame and legal consequences that rightfully belonged to others.

However, the addition "and with a rich man in his death" introduces an astonishing and precise paradox. While destined for a criminal's grave, an intervening divine provision ensured he was not abandoned in ignominy. This prophecy found its exact fulfillment in Jesus Christ, who, crucified between two criminals, was taken down and buried by Joseph of Arimathea, a rich and prominent man, in his own new tomb (Matt 27:57-60). This was not a compromise, but a deliberate arrangement orchestrated by God to honor His perfect Servant and validate the truth of Isaiah's words. It demonstrated God's sovereign control over even the most minute details surrounding His Servant's ultimate act of redemption.

The latter half of the verse, "although he had done no violence, and there was no deceit in his mouth," provides the profound theological foundation for his unique fate. It emphatically declares the Servant's absolute innocence, both in outward action and inward motive. He committed no physical harm, nor did he utter any falsehoods. This perfect righteousness distinguishes him as the unblemished Lamb, capable of bearing the sins of many because he had no sin of his own to atone for. His suffering and ignominious death were thus entirely undeserved personally, yet purposefully vicarious for humanity's sake, culminating in a burial that simultaneously honored his person and affirmed the unjust nature of his end.

• Example (Reflection): This verse reminds believers that God's plans are often worked out in unexpected ways, even through injustice, ultimately bringing forth good. We can trust His providence even when circumstances seem contradictory.