Devine Scripture

Isaiah 53:9

What does Isaiah 53:9 mean?

A plain-English look at Isaiah 53:9 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Isaiah 53:9 means

This verse describes the Servant's burial arrangements, emphasizing the injustice and paradox surrounding His death. He was given a grave alongside common criminals, indicating His identification with the wicked in His public execution. Yet, surprisingly, He was also buried "with a rich man in his death," a detail that points towards a divine intervention in fulfillment of prophecy. Crucially, the verse reaffirms His absolute innocence: He had committed no violent acts, nor had He spoken any deceit, underscoring the profound injustice of His fate.

Isaiah 53:9 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

And 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.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

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.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

And 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.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

And they put his body into the earth with sinners, and his last resting-place was with the evil-doers, though he had done no wrong, and no deceit was in his mouth.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

And it appointeth with the wicked his grave, And with the rich <FI>are<Fi> his high places, Because he hath done no violence, Nor <FI>is<Fi> deceit in his mouth.

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

And he shall give the ungodly for his burial, and the rich for his death: because he hath done no iniquity, neither was there deceit in his mouth.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

And [men] appointed his grave with the wicked, but he was with the rich in his death, because he had done no violence, neither was there guile in his mouth.

Context

Following the description of the Servant being cut off from the land of the living, this verse details the unusual circumstances surrounding His burial. It highlights the stark contrast between His innocent character and the company He kept in death. This detail prepares the reader for the dramatic shift in perspective in the next verse, where God's sovereign plan behind His suffering is finally revealed, moving beyond human perception of injustice to divine intentionality.

v.8By 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?

v.9This passage

v.10Yet it pleased Jehovah to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of Jehovah shall prosper in his hand.

Cross references

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

  • Hebrews 7:26

    For such a high priest became us, holy, guileless, undefiled, separated from sinners, and made higher than the heavens;

  • 2 Corinthians 5:21

    Him who knew no sin he made to be sin on our behalf; that we might become the righteousness of God in him.

  • Luke 23:50

    And behold, a man named Joseph, who was a councillor, a good and righteous man

  • Matthew 27:57

    And when even was come, there came a rich man from Arimathæa, named Joseph, who also himself was Jesus’ disciple:

  • Isaiah 42:1

    Behold, my servant, whom I uphold; my chosen, in whom my soul delighteth: I have put my Spirit upon him; he will bring forth justice to the Gentiles.

  • 1 Corinthians 15:4

    and that he was buried; and that he hath been raised on the third day according to the scriptures;

Sermon ideas from Isaiah 53:9

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

  • What Isaiah 53:9 teaches us about substitutionary atonement

  • What Isaiah 53:9 teaches us about messianic prophecy

  • What Isaiah 53:9 teaches us about the lamb of god

  • What Isaiah 53:9 teaches us about justification

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