✡ Torah

Isaiah 53:5

Isaiah 53 :5

But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed.

— NIV

Context

Part of the "Suffering Servant" passage, describing one who suffers for others.

Isaiah 53:5

Part of the famous “Suffering Servant” passage (Isaiah 52:13-53:12), one of the most debated texts in interfaith dialogue.

The Suffering Servant

This passage describes a figure who:

  • Is despised and rejected
  • Bears the sins of others
  • Suffers silently
  • Brings healing through his wounds

In Jewish Tradition

Jewish interpretation generally sees the Servant as:

  • The nation of Israel collectively
  • The righteous remnant within Israel
  • An individual prophet or future messianic figure

The suffering represents Israel’s exile and persecution among the nations.

In Christian Tradition

Christians see this as a prophecy of Jesus Christ fulfilled in his crucifixion. The New Testament explicitly connects this passage to Jesus (Acts 8:32-35, 1 Peter 2:24).

This is one of the primary texts used to explain the doctrine of substitutionary atonement—that Christ died in the place of sinners.

In Islamic Tradition

Islam honors Isaiah as a prophet but does not accept that Jesus was crucified (Quran 4:157), interpreting events differently.

Related Figures