Isaiah 53:5

Old Testament Major Prophet ASV (1901)

What does Isaiah 53:5 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “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.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

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 53:5 — American Standard Version

Context — Isaiah 53

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
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.

What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“But he was wounded for our transgressions, &c.] Not for any sins of his own, but for ours, for our rebellions against God, and transgressions of his law, in order to make atonement and satisfaction for them; these were the procuring and meritorious causes of his sufferings and death, as they were taken upon him by him to answer for them to divine justice, which are meant by his being wounded; for not merely the wounds he received in his hands, feet, and side, made by the nails and spear, are meant, but the whole of his sufferings, and especially his being wounded to death, and which was occasionally by bearing the sins of his people; and hereby he removed the guilt from them, and freed them…”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“wounded--a bodily wound; not mere mental sorrow; literally, "pierced"; minutely appropriate to Messiah, whose hands, feet, and side were pierced (Psa 22:16). The Margin, wrongly, from a Hebrew root, translates, "tormented." for . . . for-- (Rom 4:25; Co2 5:21; Heb 9:28; Pe1 2:24; Pe1 3:18) --the cause for which He suffered not His own, but our sins. bruised--crushing inward and outward suffering (see on Isa 53:10). chastisement--literally, the correction inflicted by a parent on children for their good (Heb 12:5-8, Heb 12:10-11). Not punishment strictly; for this can have place only where there is guilt, which He had not; but He took on Himself the chastisement whereby the peace…”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“But he was wounded - Margin, ‘Tormented.’ Jerome and the Septuagint also render this, ‘He was wounded.’ Junius and Tremellius, ‘He was affected with grief.’ The Chaldee has given a singular paraphrase of it, showing how confused was the view of the whole passage in the mind of that interpreter. ‘And he shall build the house of the sanctuary which was defiled on account of our sins, and which was delivered on account of our iniquities. And in his doctrine, peace shall be multiplied to us. And when we obey his words, our sins shall be remitted to us.’ The Syriac renders it in a remarkable manner, ‘He is slain on account of our sins,’ thus showing that it was a common belief that the Messiah…”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“Wounded - Which word comprehends all his pains and punishments. For our iniquities - For the guilt of their sins, which he had voluntarily taken upon himself, and for the expiation of their sins, which was hereby purchased. The chastisement - Those punishments by which our peace, our reconciliation to God, was to be purchased, were laid upon him by God's justice with his own consent. Healed - By his sufferings we are saved from our sins. Isaiah 53:6”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · Modern study notes
“53:5 he was pierced: See also Zech 12:10. • crushed . . . beaten . . . whipped: These were typically punishments for crimes. Sin is a crime against God. • be whole: Hebrew shalom, usually translated “peace.” Shalom means to experience wholeness in body, in mind, and in relationships with others. The servant would be injured so that humanity can be whole and healthy in all aspects of life (see also Isa 57:18). We do not need to suffer divine condemnation for our sins because the servant has already done so (see Gal 1:4).”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“But he was: Isa 53:6-8, Isa 53:11, Isa 53:12; Dan 9:24; Zac 13:7; Mat 20:28; Rom 3:24-26, Rom 4:25; Rom 5:6-10, Rom 5:15-21; Co1 15:3; Co2 5:21; Eph 5:2; Heb 9:12-15; Heb 10:10, Heb 10:14; Pe1 3:18 wounded: or, tormented bruised: Isa 53:10; Gen 3:15 the chastisement: Pe1 2:24 stripes: Heb. bruise Isaiah 53:6”
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Keil & Delitzsch
C. F. Keil & F. Delitzsch · Commentary on the Old Testament · 19th-century historical commentary
“In Isa 53:5, והוּא, as contrasted with ואנחנוּ, continues the true state of the case as contrasted with their false judgment. "Whereas He was pierced for our sins, bruised for our iniquities: the punishment was laid upon Him for our peace; and through His stripes we were healed." The question is, whether Isa 53:5 describes what He was during His life, or what He was in His death. The words decide in favour of the latter. For although châlâl is applied to a person mortally wounded but not yet dead ( Jer 51:52; Psa 69:27), and châlal to a heart wounded to death ( Psa 109:22); the pure passives used here, which denote a calamity inflicted by violence from without, more especially mechōlâl,…”
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Related study paths

Sources and verification