Devine Scripture

Isaiah 53:12

What does Isaiah 53:12 mean?

A plain-English look at Isaiah 53:12 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Isaiah 53:12 means

This concluding verse declares the ultimate exaltation and reward of the Suffering Servant. Because He willingly poured out His life unto death, even being numbered among transgressors while bearing the sins of many, God will grant Him a supreme inheritance and victory. He will conquer and share the spoils of triumph with the mighty, signifying His ultimate authority and triumph over sin and death. His final act mentioned is His ongoing intercession for the transgressors, a continuous work on behalf of those for whom He died.

Isaiah 53:12 in context

Isaiah 53 — The Suffering Servant

Seven hundred years before Calvary, Isaiah describes a servant despised and rejected of men, a man of sorrows acquainted with grief, who is wounded for our transgressions and bruised for our iniquities. The chastisement of our peace is upon him, and with his stripes we are healed. He is led as a lamb to the slaughter and yet by his knowledge shall justify many. No other Old Testament passage so clearly anticipates the cross. The New Testament writers quote it again and again as the master-key to the meaning of Christ's death.

  • Substitutionary atonement
  • Messianic prophecy
  • The Lamb of God
  • Justification

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

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

KJV

King James Version · 1611

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.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

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

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

For this cause he will have a heritage with the great, and he will have a part in the goods of war with the strong, because he gave up his life, and was numbered with the evil-doers; taking on himself the sins of the people, and making prayer for the wrongdoers.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

Therefore I give a portion to him among the many, And with the mighty he apportioneth spoil, Because that he exposed to death his soul, And with transgressors he was numbered, And he the sin of many hath borne, And for transgressors he intercedeth.

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

Therefore will I distribute to him very many, and he shall divide the spoils of the strong, because he hath delivered his soul unto death, and was reputed with the wicked: and he hath borne the sins of many, and hath prayed for the transgressors.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

Therefore will I assign 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 was reckoned with the transgressors; and he bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.

Context

This verse serves as the powerful conclusion to the chapter, summarizing the Servant's ultimate triumph and glorious reward, which flows directly from His self-sacrificial work. It brings together the themes of His suffering, substitutionary death, and justification of many, culminating in a declaration of His exalted status and ongoing redemptive activity. This final proclamation solidifies His role as both the Suffering Servant and the Triumphant Redeemer.

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

v.12This passage

Cross references

Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  • Philippians 2:17

    Yea, and if I am offered upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I joy, and rejoice with you all:

  • 1 John 2:12

    I write unto you, my little children, because your sins are forgiven you for his name’s sake.

  • Isaiah 53:6

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

  • Psalms 22:14

    I am poured out like water, And all my bones are out of joint: My heart is like wax; It is melted within me.

  • Isaiah 52:15

    so shall he sprinkle many nations; kings shall shut their mouths at him: for that which had not been told them shall they see; and that which they had not heard shall they understand.

  • Colossians 2:15

    having despoiled the principalities and the powers, he made a show of them openly, triumphing over them in it.

Sermon ideas from Isaiah 53:12

Angles a pastor or small-group leader might preach or teach from this passage, drawn from the chapter's main themes.

  • What Isaiah 53:12 teaches us about substitutionary atonement

  • What Isaiah 53:12 teaches us about messianic prophecy

  • What Isaiah 53:12 teaches us about the lamb of god

  • What Isaiah 53:12 teaches us about justification

Related questions readers ask

Keep reading

Want to dig deeper? Explore Isaiah 53

Hand-picked devotionals, topical studies, and pastoral answers that draw on Isaiah 53.

Keep exploring

Follow this verse across Scripture

Topics, devotionals, original-language word studies, and figures connected to Isaiah 53:12.

Browse every hub

BibleTopicsBible answersDevotionalsFamous passagesWord studiesPeoplePlacesVerses for…Reading plansCommentary