Isaiah 53

Arm of the LORD

Arm of the LORD — God's saving power made visible, here identified with the suffering Servant

Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the LORD revealed? Isaiah 53:1

Isaiah foresees that few will believe the message about the Messiah. John says this was fulfilled when people saw Jesus' miracles and still did not believe on Him.

How we know: the chapter heading names Him

• fulfilled by John 12:37-38 — John quotes the verse for those who did not believe on Jesus.
• quoted by Romans 10:16 — Paul quotes it about not all obeying the gospel.
• a parallel account in Mosiah 14:1 — Abinadi's quotation.

The Branch (Tender Plant, Root out of Dry Ground)

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. Isaiah 53:2

The Messiah would grow up quietly before the Father like a small shoot from dry, barren soil, with no outward glamour to attract people. Jesus grew up in humble Nazareth, and many overlooked Him.

How we know: the chapter heading names Him · a footnote points to Him · a Church study aid lists it

• a parallel account in Mosiah 14:2 — Abinadi's quotation.
• alludes to Isaiah 11:1 — The rod and Branch growing out of the roots of Jesse.

Man of Sorrows

Man of Sorrows — one who knows grief and pain from the inside

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

This prophetic title describes Jesus, who was rejected by His own people and personally knew sorrow and grief. Because He knows it, He can comfort ours.

How we know: the chapter heading names Him

• fulfilled by John 1:11 — He came unto His own, and His own received Him not.
• alluded to by Mark 9:12 — Jesus says it is written that the Son of Man must suffer and be set at nought.
• a parallel account in Mosiah 14:3 — Abinadi's quotation.

Atonement

Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. Isaiah 53:4–5

Christ carried our griefs and sorrows and was wounded for sins that were ours, not His. Alma teaches He took on our pains, sicknesses, and infirmities so He could heal and help us.

How we know: the chapter heading names Him · a footnote points to Him · a Church study aid lists it

• fulfilled by Matthew 8:16-17 — Jesus heals the sick 'that it might be fulfilled ... Himself took our infirmities.'
• quoted by 1 Peter 2:24 — 'By whose stripes ye were healed.'
• alluded to by Alma 7:11-12 — He takes upon Him the pains, sicknesses, and infirmities of His people.
• a parallel account in Mosiah 14:4-5 — Abinadi's quotation.

Atonement

All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. Isaiah 53:6

Every one of us has wandered like a lost sheep, and the Father placed the weight of all our sins on His Son. Peter says we have now returned to the Shepherd of our souls.

How we know: the chapter heading names Him · a footnote points to Him · a Church study aid lists it

• alluded to by 1 Peter 2:25 — 'Ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd.'
• a parallel account in Mosiah 14:6 — Abinadi's quotation.

Lamb of God

He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth. Isaiah 53:7

Like a sacrificial lamb, Christ went silently to His death and did not defend Himself before His accusers. Philip read this very verse with the Ethiopian and 'preached unto him Jesus.'

How we know: the verse itself names Him · the chapter heading names Him · a footnote points to Him · a Church study aid lists it

• interpreted by Acts 8:32-35 — Philip explains the passage as Jesus.
• fulfilled by Matthew 27:12-14 — Jesus answered nothing before the chief priests and Pilate.
• the same title in John 1:29 — 'Behold the Lamb of God.'
• a parallel account in Mosiah 14:7 — Abinadi's quotation.

Crucifixion

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

After an unjust arrest and trial, the Messiah would be 'cut off' in death for the sins of His people. Abinadi asks who His 'generation' will be and answers that His seed are those who believe and are redeemed.

How we know: the chapter heading names Him

• quoted by Acts 8:33 — Part of the passage the Ethiopian was reading.
• interpreted by Mosiah 15:10-13 — Abinadi explains 'who shall declare his generation' and who are His seed.
• a parallel account in Mosiah 14:8 — Abinadi's quotation.

Crucifixion and Burial

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

Jesus died between two criminals yet was laid in the new tomb of a rich man, Joseph of Arimathaea. He was completely sinless, as Peter testifies.

How we know: the chapter heading names Him · a footnote points to Him · a Church study aid lists it

• fulfilled by Matthew 27:57-60 — The rich man Joseph of Arimathaea lays Jesus in his own new tomb.
• quoted by 1 Peter 2:22 — 'Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth.'
• a parallel account in Mosiah 14:9 — Abinadi's quotation.

Atonement (Offering for Sin)

Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand. Isaiah 53:10

The Father's plan required His Son to be bruised and to become an offering for sin, like the sin offerings of the law of Moses. Yet He would 'prolong his days' in the Resurrection and 'see his seed,' whom Abinadi identifies as all who follow Him.

How we know: the chapter heading names Him

• interpreted by Mosiah 15:10-12 — Abinadi: His seed are those who hearken to the prophets and look forward to redemption.
• alludes to Genesis 3:15 — The promised Seed whose heel would be bruised.
• a parallel account in Mosiah 14:10 — Abinadi's quotation.

My Righteous Servant

He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities. Isaiah 53:11

The Father calls Christ 'my righteous servant.' Because Christ bore our sins, He can justify many, making them right before God, and He is satisfied to see the fruit of His suffering.

How we know: the chapter heading names Him · a Church study aid lists it

• alluded to by Romans 5:19 — By the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.
• a parallel account in Mosiah 14:11 — Abinadi's quotation.

Atonement (Intercession)

Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors. Isaiah 53:12

Christ poured out His life, was counted among criminals at His crucifixion, and prayed for those who wronged Him. Jesus Himself said this verse must be fulfilled in Him.

How we know: the chapter heading names Him · a footnote points to Him · a Church study aid lists it

• quoted by Luke 22:37 — Jesus: 'this that is written must yet be accomplished in me, And he was reckoned among the transgressors.'
• fulfilled by Mark 15:27-28 — Crucified between two thieves.
• fulfilled by Luke 23:34 — 'Father, forgive them' — intercession for transgressors.
• alluded to by Hebrews 9:28 — Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many.
• a parallel account in Mosiah 14:12 — Abinadi's quotation.