Isaiah 52:13-15
Chapter 52
13
The Fourth Song of the Servant: His Passion and Glory
See, my servant shall prosper; he will be exalted and highly praised.14
Just as many have been horrified at his disfigured appearance: “Is this a man? He does not look like one,”
15
so will nations be astounded, kings will stand speechless, for they will see something never told, they will witness something never heard of.
Commentaries
Fourth Servant Song: His Passion and Glory.
The last song of the servant was regarded by the early Christian community—the Church—as the most significant prophecy of Jesus’ death and exaltation (cf. Acts 8:32-35). At the start of the poem, God introduces his servant, whom he has called for a mission intended for Israel and the nations (42:4; 49:5-6). The Lord also ends the oracle by describing him as the innocent/righteous one who offers himself for the people (11). The “we” in the poem symbolizes Israel, which is redeemed through the suffering of this innocent servant who takes upon himself the punishment that would have fallen on the people (4-5). This is what most surprises the prophet: the pattern of Deuteronomistic history suggests that suffering results from sin (Jn 9:2). Moreover, and this is unprecedented in the Old Testament, the servant’s suffering is redemptive, meaning it justifies the rebellious people (5). This idea is emphasized by comparing the servant to the lamb that is to be sacrificed (cf. Lv 9:3; 14:13, 21, 24; Jn 1:29, 36; 19:33). Between the exaltation of the servant declared by the Lord at the beginning and end of the poem, different stages of his life are shown, from his birth and hidden life (2), suffering (3-7), condemnation and death (8), burial (9), and exaltation (10-11; cf. Phil 2:6-11). The servant’s surrender, wounded/pierced by the sins of the people, leads to their conversion and attitude change (cf. Zec 12:10).