Devine Scripture

Isaiah 53:8

What does Isaiah 53:8 mean?

A plain-English look at Isaiah 53:8 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Isaiah 53:8 means

This verse continues to describe the Servant's unjust suffering and death, emphasizing that He was taken away through an oppressive and unfair legal process. The prophet laments that His generation failed to comprehend the true significance of His being cut off from life. His execution was not for His own crimes but occurred "for the transgression of my people," making explicit that His death was a substitutionary punishment meant for others. This highlights the blindness of those who executed Him, failing to see the divine plan unfolding.

Isaiah 53:8 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

By oppression and judgment he was taken away; and as for his generation, who among them considered that he was cut off out of the land of the living for the transgression of my people to whom the stroke was due?

KJV

King James Version · 1611

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.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

By oppression and judgment he was taken away; and as for his generation, who among them considered that he was cut off out of the land of the living for the transgression of my people to whom the stroke was due?

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

They took away from him help and right, and who gave a thought to his fate? for he was cut off from the land of the living: he came to his death for the sin of my people.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

By restraint and by judgment he hath been taken, And of his generation who doth meditate, That he hath been cut off from the land of the living? By the transgression of My people he is plagued,

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

He was taken away from distress, and from judgment: who shall declare his generation? because he is cut off out of the land of the living: for the wickedness of my people have I struck him.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

He was taken from oppression 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.

Context

Building on the Servant's silent submission, this verse details the specific circumstances of His unjust trial and execution, revealing that He was *cut off* from life. It explains the immediate outcome of His suffering, attributing His death to the transgressions of "my people." This provides a critical bridge between His humble endurance and the ultimate purpose of His death, setting up the description of His burial and subsequent divine reasons for His suffering.

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.

v.8This passage

v.9And they made his grave with the wicked, and with a rich man in his death; although he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth.

Cross references

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

  • Isaiah 53:12

    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.

  • Psalms 69:12

    They that sit in the gate talk of me; AndI amthe song of the drunkards.

  • Romans 1:4

    who was declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead; even Jesus Christ our Lord,

  • Matthew 26:65

    Then the high priest rent his garments, saying, He hath spoken blasphemy: what further need have we of witnesses? behold, now ye have heard the blasphemy:

  • 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.

  • Psalms 22:12

    Many bulls have compassed me; Strong bulls of Bashan have beset me round.

Sermon ideas from Isaiah 53:8

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

  • What Isaiah 53:8 teaches us about substitutionary atonement

  • What Isaiah 53:8 teaches us about messianic prophecy

  • What Isaiah 53:8 teaches us about the lamb of god

  • What Isaiah 53:8 teaches us about justification

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