Who is the Suffering Servant in Isaiah 53?
First and foremost, let us examine the very word, servant. It is translated into English as slave, but its proper context is indentured servant. Remember, every seven years the indentured servant is to be released from bondage, since by Mosaic law his debt has been cancelled (Exodus 21:2, Jeremiah 34:14). Not only is the slave to be freed, but the master must provide goods to help him along, as specified in Deuteronomy 15:12-15. This has been adopted by many cultures throughout world history, is still used among Chinese immigrants and is even the basis for credit/debt in the U.S.

In certain instances, the servant will choose to serve indefinitely. It may be difficult to understand from our western perspective, but it was quite common in ancient Israel. It is very clearly explained in Exodus 21:2-5; if while in service the slave marries and has a family, he must leave them behind. However, if he chooses to stay with his wife and children, then he must serve his master for the remainder of his life. If that is the case, then the slave and the master perform a ritual as described in Exodus 21:6 and repeated in Deuteronomy 15:17. The master pierces the ear of the slave and presses the awl into a door, thereby symbolically attaching the slave to the home and marking him as a servant for life. In much the same way, the Suffering Servant was pierced for our transgressions (Isaiah 53:5) and pressed not onto a door but to a stake (1 Peter 2:24). We ourselves become bondservants to Christ (Galatians 1:10) and live out our own Exodus (deliverance) 21:6 under our divine Door (John 10:9).

Exodus 21:32 demands that the recompense for a slave’s death was 30 pieces of silver. Interestingly enough, in Hosea 3:1-2 YHVH instructs the prophet Hosea to marry an adulterous woman, as a symbol of His love for adulterous Israel, who kept returning to pagan worship. So Hosea took Gomer for a wife: the exact word used is bought, but it also infers trade, or perhaps a form of dowry. Hosea offers a payment of 15 pieces of silver and an homer and a half of barley, which bible scholars believer to equate to another 15 pieces of silver. Keep in mind, the barley infers to the redemption of an adulterous wife, as stated in Numbers 5:15. So in effect, Hosea redeems his wife with thirty pieces of silver. I don’t believe it’s coincidental that Jesus was betrayed for 30 pieces of silver (Matthew 26:15). It makes perfect sense that the Lord Jesus Christ redeemed mankind from adultery to YHVH and that His earthly death as a servant was paid for with the exact amount decreed in Mosaic law.

While not prophetic (or at least not very obviously so) I find Genesis 24 to be a foreshadow of Christ’s gift to His bride, the Church. A “bride payment” is very common in the Middle East. It is the opposite of a dowry, which is the gift from the bride to the groom. A bride payment is a gift given to the bride as proof that the groom will be able to provide for the bride. As a matter of fact, Deuteronomy 24:5 stipulates that the groom must be able to spend the first year of marriage at home with his bride, meaning he must be able to provide financially for her without needing to work for a year. The Lord Jesus Christ paid the ultimate price for His bride: His shed blood and the finished work on the cross. We wait in joyful anticipation for the Groom and His marriage supper.

Isaiah 53:7 foreshadowed Christ standing before Pontius Pilate, who offered Him a chance to defend Himself as Jesus answered not a word (Mark 15:3-5). Isaiah 53:10 may be confusing when read with the natural eye, but when read in its spiritual context it makes perfect sense and I for one am grateful for this prophecy. I’ll break down verse 10 using the HalleluYah Scriptures version. “He would see a seed” refers to the birth of Christianity. “He would prolong His days” may seem to contradict the preceding verse, but it simply refers to the Lord’s resurrection and return to eternity, where He is now seated at the right hand of the Father. And “the pleasure of YHVH prosper in His hand” means that the goal was accomplished: mankind was offered redemption through the sacrifice of Christ. The very last verse is another prophetic gem, which parallels Philippians 2:9, Luke 23 verses 34 and 43, Romans 8:34 and Hebrews 7:25.

There are verses scattered throughout the Old Testament that prophesy the birth, ministry, death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. Isaiah 53 is but one chapter. I chose to do this bible study first and foremost because the Holy Spirit pressed it upon me, but also because I believe every Christian should study Scripture: to show myself approved to God, a believer that needs not be ashamed because she rightly dissects and interprets the Word (2 Timothy 2:15). We are to be ready at all times to defend the gospel (1 Peter 3:15), in and out of season (2 Timothy 4:2). The only way to do so is through daily prayer and study. I pray this blesses you.

Jesus, our Deliverer, the One who calms the tempest.

God’s Word Translation Psalm 18:16 He reached down from high above and took hold of me. He pulled me out of the raging water.

NASB Psalm 69:1 Save me, O God, For the waters have threatened my life.

Holman Christian Standard Psalm 144:7 Reach down from heaven; rescue me from deep water, and set me free from the grasp of foreigners.

NASB Matthew 14:24-25 the boat was already a long distance from the land, battered by the waves; for the wind was contrary. And in the fourth watch of the night He came to them, walking on the sea. When the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were terrified, and said, “It is a ghost!” And they cried out in fear. But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid.”

Jesus is the Key

NASB Isaiah 22:22 “Then I will set the key of the house of David on his shoulder, When he opens no one will shut, When he shuts no one will open.” (parallels Isaiah 9:6)

Holman Christian Standard Bible Matthew 16:19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth is already bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth is already loosed in heaven.”

NASB Revelation 1:17-18 When I saw Him, I fell at His feet like a dead man. And He placed His right hand on me, saying, “Do not be afraid; I am the first and the last, and the living One; and I was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of death and of Hades.

Aramaic Bible Revelation 3:7 And to The Messenger of the assembly in Philadelphia write: ‘Thus says The Holy One, The True One, he who has the key of David, The One who opens and there is none who shuts, and he shuts and there is none who opens”

Jesus is the Rock

God’s Word Translation Genesis 31:45 Jacob took a stone and set it up as a marker. (the Israelites often set up altars to YHVH with stones)

New Living Translation Exodus 20:25 If you use stones to build my altar, use only natural, uncut stones. Do not shape the stones with a tool, for that would make the altar unfit for holy use.

NASB Exodus 24:12 Now the Lord said to Moses, “Come up to Me on the mountain and remain there, and I will give you the stone tablets with the law and the commandment which I have written for their instruction.” (the Living Word, written on tablets of stone)

NASB Numbers 20:8-12 (Moses struck the Rock before its time)

NASB Joshua 24:27 Joshua said to all the people, “Behold, this stone shall be for a witness against us, for it has heard all the words of the LORD which He spoke to us; thus it shall be for a witness against you, so that you do not deny your God.”

Aramaic Bible Psalm 61:2 From the ends of the Earth I call to you! In the agitation of my heart you have raised me up upon a rock and you have comforted me.

NASB Psalm 118:22 The stone which the builders rejected Has become the chief corner stone.

NASB Isaiah 26:4 Trust in the Lord forever, For in God the Lord we have an everlasting Rock.

NASB Isaiah 28:16 Therefore thus says the Lord God, “Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone, a tested stone, A costly cornerstone for the foundation, firmly placed. He who believes in it will not be disturbed.

NASB Habakkuk 2:11 Surely the stone will cry out from the wall, And the rafter will answer it from the framework.

NASB Matthew 16:18 I also say to you that you are Peter (Cephas), and upon this rock (Petra) I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it.

NASB Luke 19:40 Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Him, “Teacher, rebuke Your disciples.” But Jesus answered, “I tell you, if these become silent, the stones will cry out!

NASB Acts 4:11 He is the stone which was rejected by you, the builders, but which became the chief corner stone.

NASB Revelation 2:17 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, to him I will give some of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, and a new name written on the stone which no one knows but he who receives it (parallels Isaiah 62:2 and 65:15).

John 5:6-8 This is the One who came by water and blood, Jesus Christ; not with the water only, but with the water and with the blood. It is the Spirit who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth. For there are three that testify: the Spirit and the water and the blood; and these three are in agreement.

Hebrews 10:19-24 Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that He opened for us through the curtain, that is, through His flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.

Blood
Gen 3:21 The Lord God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife, and clothed them. (He shed the animals’ blood to cover their sin)

Exodus 12:5-7 Your lamb must be an unblemished year-old male, and you may take it from the sheep or the goats. You must care for it until the fourteenth day of the month, when the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel will slaughter the animals at twilight. They are to take some of the blood and put it on the two sideposts and tops of the doorframes of the houses in which they eat the lambs. (a shadow of the crucifixion)

Leviticus 16:14-16 He is to take blood from the ox and sprinkle it with his forefinger toward the surface of the Mercy Seat. Then he is to sprinkle the blood on the surface of the Mercy Seat with his forefinger seven times. He is to slaughter the male goat as a sin offering for the people and bring its blood beyond the curtain and do with its blood as he did with the blood of the bull: He is to sprinkle it on the Mercy Seat—that is, over the surface of the Mercy Seat. Then he is to make atonement on the sacred place on account of the uncleanness of the Israelites, their transgressions, and all their sins. This is how he is to act in the Tent of Meeting, which will remain with them in the middle of their uncleanness. (today the Sacrificial Lamb lives to intercede for us at the right hand of the Father, as stated in Romans 8:34, Revelation 5:9, 12)

Leviticus 17:11 For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to you on the altar to make atonement for your souls; for it is the blood by reason of the life that makes atonement.

Zechariah 9:11 As for you also, because of the blood of my covenant with you, I will set your prisoners free from the waterless pit.

Matthew 26:27-28 And when He had taken a cup and given thanks, He gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you; for this is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for forgiveness of sins.

Romans 3:25 whom God displayed publicly as a propitiation in His blood through faith This was to demonstrate His righteousness, because in the forbearance of God He passed over the sins previously committed;

Ephesians 1:7 In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace.

1 Peter 1:18-19 knowing that you were not redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold from your futile way of life inherited from your forefathers, but with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ.

Revelation 7:14 I said to him, “My lord, you know.” And he said to me, “These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb (parallels Rev 22:14).

Water
Gen 2:10 Now a river flowed out of Eden to water the garden; and from there it divided and became four rivers.
Gen 16:7 Now the angel of the Lord found her by a spring of water in the wilderness, by the spring on the way to Shur.

Genesis 16:13-14 Then she called the name of the Lord who spoke to her, “You are a God who sees”; for she said, “Have I even remained alive here after seeing Him?” Therefore the well was called Beer-lahai-roi; behold, it is between Kadesh and Bered.

Genesis 21:19 Then God opened her eyes and she saw a well of water; and she went and filled the skin with water and gave the lad a drink.

Genesis 21:30-31 He said, “You shall take these seven ewe lambs from my hand so that it may be a witness to me, that I dug this well.” Therefore he called that place Beersheba, because there the two of them took an oath.
Genesis 26:18 Then Isaac dug again the wells of water which had been dug in the days of his father Abraham, for the Philistines had stopped them up after the death of Abraham; and he gave them the same names which his father had given them. (YHVH is a covenant God)

Ezekiel 47:1-12 Then he brought me back to the door of the house; and behold, water was flowing from under the threshold of the house toward the east, for the house faced east. And the water was flowing down from under, from the right side of the house, from south of the altar. He brought me out by way of the north gate and led me around on the outside to the outer gate by way of the gate that faces east. And behold, water was trickling from the south side. When the man went out toward the east with a line in his hand, he measured a thousand cubits, and he led me through the water, water reaching the ankles. Again he measured a thousand and led me through the water, water reaching the knees. Again he measured a thousand and led me through the water, water reaching the loins. Again he measured a thousand; and it was a river that I could not ford, for the water had risen, enough water to swim in, a river that could not be forded. He said to me, “Son of man, have you seen this?” Then he brought me back to the bank of the river. Now when I had returned, behold, on the bank of the river there were very many trees on the one side and on the other. Then he said to me, “These waters go out toward the eastern region and go down into the Arabah; then they go toward the sea, being made to flow into the sea, and the waters of the sea become fresh. It will come about that every living creature which swarms in every place where the river goes, will live. And there will be very many fish, for these waters go there and the others become fresh; so everything will live where the river goes. And it will come about that fishermen will stand beside it; from Engedi to Eneglaim there will be a place for the spreading of nets. Their fish will be according to their kinds, like the fish of the Great Sea, very many. But its swamps and marshes will not become fresh; they will be left for salt. By the river on its bank, on one side and on the other, will grow all kinds of trees for food. Their leaves will not wither and their fruit will not fail. They will bear every month because their water flows from the sanctuary, and their fruit will be for food and their leaves for healing.”

Zechariah 14:8 And in that day living waters will flow out of Jerusalem, half of them toward the eastern sea and the other half toward the western sea; it will be in summer as well as in winter.

Psalm 23:2 He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters.

Psalm 36:8 They drink their fill of the abundance of Your house; And You give them to drink of the river of Your delights.

Psalm 46:4 There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, The holy dwelling places of the Most High.

Isaiah 41:18 I will open rivers on the bare heights And springs in the midst of the valleys; I will make the wilderness a pool of water and the dry land fountains of water.

Isaiah 66:12 For thus says the Lord, “Behold, I extend peace to her like a river, And the glory of the nations like an overflowing stream; And you will be nursed, you will be carried on the hip and fondled on the knees.

Matthew 3:6 and they were being baptized by him in the Jordan River, as they confessed their sins.

Matthew 17:15 “Lord, have mercy on my son, for he is a lunatic and is very ill; for he often falls into the fire and often into the water.” (A brother in the faith shared his perspective during a bible study, saying he see this as symbolic of intercession; the father prays for his son, who falls into the fire, and through his father’s prayers the boy falls into the Living Waters of mercy)

John 7:37-39 Now on the last day, the great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, ‘From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water.’” But this He spoke of the Spirit, whom those who believed in Him were to receive; for the Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.

John 4:10 And in that day living waters will flow out of Jerusalem, half of them toward the eastern sea and the other half toward the western sea; it will be in summer as well as in winter.

Rev 7:17 For the Lamb in the center of the throne will be their shepherd. He will lead them to fountains of living water, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.

Rev 22:1 Then he showed me a river of the water of life, clear as crystal, coming from the throne of God and of the Lamb.