By oppression and judgment He was taken awayThis phrase highlights the unjust treatment and legal proceedings that led to the suffering servant's removal. In the context of Isaiah, this can be seen as a prophecy of the Messiah, who Christians believe is Jesus Christ. The oppression and judgment refer to the trials Jesus faced, including His arrest and the subsequent trials before Jewish and Roman authorities. These events are recorded in the Gospels, where Jesus is subjected to false accusations and an unfair trial, ultimately leading to His crucifixion. The phrase underscores the miscarriage of justice, as Jesus was innocent yet condemned.
and who can recount His descendants?
This phrase suggests the lack of physical descendants or a future generation for the suffering servant. In the historical and cultural context of ancient Israel, having descendants was a sign of blessing and legacy. The question implies that the servant's life was cut short, preventing him from having offspring. For Christians, this is seen as a reference to Jesus, who, according to the New Testament, did not have biological children. However, spiritually, His followers are considered His descendants, as they continue His mission and teachings.
For He was cut off from the land of the living;
The phrase "cut off from the land of the living" indicates a premature and violent death. In biblical terms, being "cut off" often refers to a sudden and untimely end. This is seen as a prophecy of Jesus' crucifixion, where He was executed at a relatively young age. The phrase also connects toDaniel 9:26, which speaks of the Messiah being "cut off." The imagery of being removed from the land of the living emphasizes the finality and severity of His death.
He was stricken for the transgression of My people.
This phrase reveals the purpose behind the suffering servant's affliction: it was for the transgressions of others. In the context of Isaiah, this is a substitutionary atonement, where the servant bears the punishment deserved by others. Christians interpret this as a prophecy of Jesus' sacrificial death, where He took upon Himself the sins of humanity. This concept is central to Christian theology, as seen in passages like1 Peter 2:24, which states that Jesus bore our sins in His body on the cross. The phrase underscores the servant's role as a willing and innocent substitute for the guilty.
Persons / Places / Events
1.
The Suffering ServantThis passage is part of the "Servant Songs" in Isaiah, which Christians traditionally interpret as a prophecy about Jesus Christ, the Messiah, who suffers for the sins of humanity.
2.
Oppression and JudgmentRefers to the unjust treatment and legal proceedings that the Servant endures, symbolizing the trials and crucifixion of Jesus.
3.
The Land of the LivingA metaphor for life on earth, indicating that the Servant would be killed.
4.
My PeopleIn the context of Isaiah, this refers to the Israelites, but in a broader Christian interpretation, it includes all of God's people who benefit from the Servant's sacrifice.
5.
TransgressionThe sins and wrongdoings of the people, for which the Servant is punished.
Teaching Points
Understanding ProphecyRecognize the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies in the life and work of Jesus Christ, strengthening faith in the divine inspiration of Scripture.
The Cost of RedemptionReflect on the immense sacrifice Jesus made for humanity's sins, prompting gratitude and a deeper commitment to live according to His teachings.
Injustice and SufferingConsider how Jesus' unjust suffering provides a model for enduring personal trials and injustices with faith and patience.
Intercession for OthersJust as the Servant suffered for the transgressions of others, Christians are called to intercede and bear one another's burdens in prayer and action.
Evangelism and WitnessUse the prophecy of
Isaiah 53 as a tool for sharing the Gospel, explaining how Jesus fulfills these ancient predictions.
Bible Study Questions and Answers
1.What is the meaning of Isaiah 53:8?
2.How does Isaiah 53:8 foreshadow Jesus' unjust trial and crucifixion?
3.What does "cut off from the land of the living" signify about Jesus?
4.How can we apply the concept of substitutionary atonement in our lives?
5.Which New Testament passages connect with the themes in Isaiah 53:8?
6.How does understanding Isaiah 53:8 deepen our appreciation for Christ's sacrifice?
7.How does Isaiah 53:8 foreshadow the suffering of Jesus Christ?
8.What is the significance of "cut off from the land of the living" in Isaiah 53:8?
9.How does Isaiah 53:8 relate to the concept of substitutionary atonement?
10.What are the top 10 Lessons from Isaiah 53?
11.Why is Jesus Christ's resurrection significant?
12.What role does silence play in the Bible?
13.What defines the land of the living?
14.What do the seventy weeks of Daniel signify?What Does Isaiah 53:8 Mean
By oppression and judgment He was taken away• “By oppression and judgment He was taken away” (Isaiah 53:8) pictures the Messiah swept off by an illegal process, not by due justice.
• The Gospels echo this: soldiers seized Jesus at night (John 18:12), religious leaders hurried Him through secret hearings (Matthew 26:57–68), and Pilate capitulated to mob pressure (Luke 23:13–25).
•Acts 8:32–33 cites this very line, confirming it points to Jesus.
•1 Peter 2:23 highlights His silent submission—He “did not retaliate,” accepting the Father’s plan.
• The phrase reassures believers that God’s purpose can work through human injustice (Genesis 50:20).
and who can recount His descendants?• The apparent riddle underscores that, humanly speaking, Jesus left no physical heirs—crucifixion cut short any earthly line (Matthew 27:50).
• Yet Isaiah soon promises, “He will see His offspring” (Isaiah 53:10), revealing a deeper truth: all who believe become His spiritual children (John 1:12;Hebrews 2:13).
• The question also magnifies His uniqueness; no genealogy can fully trace an eternal Son who creates a worldwide family (Revelation 7:9).
For He was cut off from the land of the living• “Cut off” speaks of literal death, not mere suffering.Daniel 9:26 foretold the Messiah would be “cut off,” and the Gospel accounts confirm His actual death—He “yielded up His spirit” (Matthew 27:50).
• Separation from the living fulfills the sacrificial pattern: like the Passover lamb slain outside the camp (Hebrews 13:11–12).
• Peter preaches that God foresaw this death and reversed it by resurrection (Acts 2:23–24), proving the sacrifice accepted.
He was stricken for the transgression of My people• The stroke fell not for His own sin (Hebrews 4:15) but “for the transgression of My people,” underscoring substitution.
• Earlier lines echo this theme: “He was pierced for our transgressions” (Isaiah 53:5). Paul states the same exchange—Christ “was delivered over for our trespasses” (Romans 4:25).
•1 Peter 2:24 draws the pastoral application: “by His wounds you are healed,” inviting every believer to rest in completed atonement.
summaryIsaiah 53:8 layers four truths: the Messiah would be seized by unjust power, leave no earthly heirs yet create an innumerable family, truly die, and do so as a substitute for sinners. The verse, fulfilled in Jesus’ trial, crucifixion, and atoning death, reassures us that even human injustice bows to God’s redemptive plan, securing salvation for all who trust in Him.
(8)
He was taken from prison . . .--The Hebrew preposition admits of this rendering, which is adopted by many commentators, as describing the oppression and iniquitous trial which had preceded the death of the servant. It admits equally of the sense,
through oppression and through judgment;and, on the whole, this gives a preferable sense. The whole procedure was tainted with iniquity.
Who shall declare his generation?--The words are, perhaps, the most difficult of the whole section, and have been very differently explained: (1) "Who shall declare his life, the mystery of his birth, his eternal being?" (2) "Who shall count his spiritual offspring?" as inPsalm 22:30. (3) "As to his generation (i.e.,his contemporaries, as inJeremiah 2:31), who will consider rightly?" (4) "Who shall set forth his generation in all the intensity of their guilt?"--to say nothing of other renderings, which render the noun as "his dwelling,"i.e.,the grave, or his "course of life," or his "fate." Of these (3) seems most in harmony with the context, the words that follow pointing to the fact which ought to have been considered, and was not, that though the Servant of Jehovah was smitten, it was not for his own sins, but theirs.
Verse 8. -
He was taken from prison and from judgment; rather,
by oppression and a judgment was he taken away;
i.e. (us Dr. Kay says) "by a violence which cloaked itself under the formalities of a legal process." The Septuagint Version, which is quoted by Philip the deacon in the Acts (Isaiah 8:33), must have been derived from quite a different text. It preserves, however, the right rendering of the verb, "was he taken away,"
i.e. removed from the earth.
Who shall declare his generation? literally,
his generation who considereth? The meaning is obscure. Dr. Kay understands by "his generation," his lifetime or his life, comparing
Isaiah 38:12, "Mine
age is departed," where the same word is used and accompanied by a pronominal suffix. Mr. Urwick suggests that it includes
(1) his origin;
(2) his earthly life; and
(3) his everlasting reign in heaven. . . .
Parallel Commentaries ...
Hebrew
By oppressionמֵעֹ֤צֶר(mê·‘ō·ṣer)Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 6115:Closure, constraintand judgmentוּמִמִּשְׁפָּט֙(ū·mim·miš·pāṭ)Conjunctive waw, Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4941:A verdict, a sentence, formal decree, divine law, penalty, justice, privilege, styleHe was taken away,לֻקָּ֔ח(luq·qāḥ)Verb - QalPass - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 3947:To takeand whoמִ֣י(mî)Interrogative
Strong's 4310:Who?, whoever, in oblique construction with prefix, suffixcan recountיְשׂוֹחֵ֑חַ(yə·śō·w·ḥê·aḥ)Verb - Piel - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 7878:To muse, complain, talk (of)His descendants?דּוֹר֖וֹ(dō·w·rōw)Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 1755:A revolution of time, an age, generation, a dwellingForכִּ֤י(kî)Conjunction
Strong's 3588:A relative conjunctionHe was cut offנִגְזַר֙(niḡ·zar)Verb - Nifal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 1504:To cut down, off, to destroy, divide, exclude, decidefrom the landמֵאֶ֣רֶץ(mê·’e·reṣ)Preposition-m | Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 776:Earth, landof the living;חַיִּ֔ים(ḥay·yîm)Adjective - masculine plural
Strong's 2416:Alive, raw, fresh, strong, lifeHe was strickenנֶ֥גַע(ne·ḡa‘)Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 5061:Mark -- a blow, a spotfor the transgressionמִפֶּ֥שַׁע(mip·pe·ša‘)Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 6588:Transgressionof My people.עַמִּ֖י(‘am·mî)Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singular
Strong's 5971:A people, a tribe, troops, attendants, a flock
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OT Prophets: Isaiah 53:8 He was taken away by oppression (Isa Isi Is) 
