Isaiah 53:6
What does Isaiah 53:6 mean?
A plain-English look at Isaiah 53:6 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Isaiah 53:6 means
This verse powerfully articulates humanity's universal sinfulness and God's solution through the Servant. All people, likened to wandering sheep, have strayed from God's path, pursuing their own self-serving directions. In response to this pervasive iniquity, the Lord sovereignly orchestrated that the collective guilt and spiritual consequences of *all* humanity's sins would be placed upon the Servant. This emphasizes both the totality of human rebellion and the comprehensive nature of the Servant's redemptive work as a sin-bearer.
Isaiah 53:6 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 · 2000All 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.
KJV
King James Version · 1611All 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.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901All 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.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949We all went wandering like sheep; going every one of us after his desire; and the Lord put on him the punishment of us all.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862All of us like sheep have wandered, Each to his own way we have turned, And Jehovah hath caused to meet on him, The punishment of us all.
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752All we like sheep have gone astray, every one hath turned aside into his own way: and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890All we like sheep have gone astray, we have turned every one to his own way; and Jehovah hath laid upon him the iniquity of us all.
Context
After detailing the specific nature of the Servant's corrective suffering, this verse broadens the scope to include all humanity. It provides the crucial context of universal human sinfulness, explaining *why* such a sacrifice was necessary. By declaring that all have gone astray, it highlights the desperate need for a sin-bearer, reinforcing the profound significance of God laying the iniquity of all upon the Servant and setting up His silent submission in the subsequent verse.
v.5But 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.
v.6This passage
v.7He was oppressed, yet when he was afflicted he opened not his mouth; as a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and as a sheep that before its shearers is dumb, so he opened not his mouth.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Psalms 69:4
They that hate me without a cause are more than the hairs of my head: They that would cut me off, being mine enemies wrongfully, are mighty: That which I took not away I have to restore.
- Isaiah 56:11
Yea, the dogs are greedy, they can never have enough; and these are shepherds that cannot understand: they have all turned to their own way, each one to his gain, from every quarter.
- 1 Peter 3:18
Because Christ also suffered for sins once, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God; being put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit;
- Romans 3:10
as it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one;
- Psalms 119:176
I have gone astray like a lost sheep; seek thy servant; For I do not forget thy commandments.
- 1 Peter 2:25
For ye were going astray like sheep; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.
Sermon ideas from Isaiah 53:6
Angles a pastor or small-group leader might preach or teach from this passage, drawn from the chapter's main themes.
What Isaiah 53:6 teaches us about substitutionary atonement
What Isaiah 53:6 teaches us about messianic prophecy
What Isaiah 53:6 teaches us about the lamb of god
What Isaiah 53:6 teaches us about justification
Related questions readers ask
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Want to dig deeper? Explore Isaiah 53
Hand-picked devotionals, topical studies, and pastoral answers that draw on Isaiah 53.
Topics that quote it
Topic
Bible Verses About Atonement
Atonement, a central doctrine of Christianity, describes how humanity is reconciled to God through Jesus Christ.
Topic
Bible Verses About Intercession
Intercession is prayer offered on behalf of another, a selfless act of love and faith that demonstrates our care for others.
Topic
Bible Verses About Propitiation
Propitiation refers to the appeasement of God's wrath through the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ, making reconciliation possible.
What the Bible says about…
Answer
What does the Bible say about healing?
He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.
Answer
What does the Bible say about suffering?
Our light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory.
Answer
What does the Bible say about anxiety?
Cast your worries on him, because he cares for you.
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