What does Isaiah 53:7 mean?
"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
Isaiah 53:7 - "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 (KJV) reads, "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."
This verse from the book of Isaiah is part of the Servant Songs, a collection of prophecies about a suffering servant who will redeem Israel. This particular verse describes the servant's quiet and passive response to his oppression and affliction, likening him to a lamb being led to the slaughter or a sheep before her shearers.
The theme of the suffering servant is a central one in the book of Isaiah and is a recurring theme throughout the Bible, particularly in the New Testament where it is associated with Jesus Christ. The prophecy in Isaiah 53:7 is often interpreted as a foreshadowing of Jesus' own suffering and sacrifice. The New Testament writers frequently reference this verse in connection with Christ's silent submission to his captors and executioners.
The imagery of the lamb being led to the slaughter is rich with symbolism. In the Old Testament, the sacrificial lamb was a central element of the Jewish religious rituals, symbolizing atonement for sins. When applied to Jesus, this imagery takes on a deeper significance, as he is seen as the ultimate sacrificial lamb whose death atones for the sins of all humanity. The association of Jesus with the suffering servant of Isaiah 53 also underscores the idea of vicarious atonement, in which one person suffers in place of others to bring about their redemption.
The silence of the suffering servant in the face of oppression and affliction is also a significant aspect of this verse. It signifies his willingness to endure suffering for the greater good, without protest or resistance. This silence conveys a sense of humility, obedience, and submission to the will of God. It also reflects a deep trust in the divine purpose behind the suffering, understanding that it serves a higher, redemptive end.
The verse in Isaiah 53:7 is also rich with historical and cultural context. In the ancient Near East, sheep were a crucial part of the economy, providing wool, milk, and meat for sustenance. The image of a sheep being sheared without protest underscores the servant's passive acceptance of suffering, adding a layer of relatability for the original audience who would have been familiar with this practice.
Overall, the verse in Isaiah 53:7 holds deep theological and spiritual significance, pointing to the redemptive work of the suffering servant, which culminates in the person of Jesus Christ. It speaks to the themes of sacrifice, atonement, obedience, and submission to the divine will. It also serves as a potent reminder of the transformative power of suffering and the hope it offers for redemption and renewal. When viewed through the lens of the New Testament, this verse takes on a new depth of meaning, highlighting the fulfillment of this prophecy in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Isaiah 53:7 Artwork
Isaiah 53:7 - "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
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Isaiah 53:5
Isaiah 53 3 illustration
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Nehemiah 7:53 - "The children of Bakbuk, the children of Hakupha, the children of Harhur,"
Isaiah 53:1 - "Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the LORD revealed?"
John 7:53 - "And every man went unto his own house."
Acts 7:53 - "Who have received the law by the disposition of angels, and have not kept it."
Isaiah 53:5
Isaiah 53:5
Isaiah 53:5 - "But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed."
Isaiah 53:9 - "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 53:4 - "¶ Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted."
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.”
Isaiah 53:11 - "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 53:3 - "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 53:5 “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.”
isaiah 6:7
Isaiah 53:6 - "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 53:5 “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.”
Numbers 7:53 - "And for a sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five he goats, five lambs of the first year: this was the offering of Elishama the son of Ammihud."
Isaiah 53:8 - "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 53:12 - "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 6:4-7
Isaiah 53:2 - "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."