The “Servant Songs”
There are four passages in the Book of Isaiah that are called “Servant Songs”. They are Isaiah 42:1-9; 49:1-9; 50:4-11; and 52:13-53:12. Some Jewish scholars and commentators as well as Messianic believers say the people of Israel are collectively the “servant” in these passages. Let’s see what the truth is by addressing each passage and comparing them to other passages that correctly refer to Israel as YHWH’s servant.
Isaiah 42:1-9
Isa 42:1 Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my soul delights; I have put my spirit upon him: he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles.
Isa 42:2 He shall not cry, nor lift up, nor cause his voice to be heard in the street.
Isa 42:3 A bruised reed shall he not break, and the smoking flax shall he not quench: he shall bring forth judgment unto truth.
Isa 42:4 He shall not fail nor be discouraged, till he have set judgment in the earth: and the isles shall wait for his law.
Isa 42:5 Thus says the El YHWH, He that created the heavens, and stretched them out; He that spreads forth the earth, and that which comes out of it; He that gives breath unto the people upon it, and spirit to them that walk therein:
Isa 42:6 I YHWH have called thee in righteousness, and will hold thine hand, and will keep thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles;
Isa 42:7 To open the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners from the prison, and them that sit in darkness out of the prison house.
Isa 42:8 I am YHWH: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images.
Isa 42:9 Behold, the former things are come to pass, and new things do I declare: before they spring forth I tell you of them.
According to Matthew 12:17-21, Isaiah 42:1-4 is fulfilled by Messiah Yeshua.
Matthew 12:17-21 That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying, Behold my servant, whom I have chosen; my beloved, in whom my soul is well pleased: I will put my spirit upon him, and he shall show judgment to the Gentiles. He shall not strive, nor cry; neither shall any man hear his voice in the streets. A bruised reed shall he not break, and smoking flax shall he not quench, till he send forth judgment unto victory. And in his name shall the Gentiles trust.
Matthew is quoting from the Septuagint which accounts for the difference in translation of verse 4.
Notice how the subject YHWH addresses in Isaiah 42:1-4 is a single, male individual identified by the singular pronouns he, his, and him.
In Isaiah 42:6-7, YHWH begins addressing the servant directly. He says he would be a “light of the Gentiles”.
Several New Testament verses declare Yeshua to be a light of the Gentiles.
Luke 2:25-32 - And, behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon; and the same man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel: and the Holy Spirit was upon him.
And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Spirit, that he should not see death, before he had seen YHWH’s Messiah.
And he came by the Spirit into the temple: and when the parents brought in the child Yeshua, to do for him after the custom of the law, Then took he him up in his arms, and blessed Elohim, and said,
Adonai, now let you your servant depart in peace, according to your word:
For mine eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared before the face of all people;
A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of your people Israel.
Acts 13:47 - For so has the Adonai commanded us, saying, I have set you to be a light of the Gentiles, that you should be for salvation unto the ends of the earth.
Acts 26:22-23 - Having therefore obtained help of Elohim, I continue unto this day, witnessing both to small and great, saying none other things than those which the prophets and Moses did say should come:
That Messiah should suffer, and that he should be the first that should rise from the dead, and should show light unto the people, and to the Gentiles.
Isaiah 49:1-9
Isa 49:1 Listen to Me, O islands, And pay attention, you peoples from afar. YHWH called Me from the womb; From the body of My mother He named Me.
Isa 49:2 He has made My mouth like a sharp sword, In the shadow of His hand He has concealed Me; And He has also made Me a select arrow, He has hidden Me in His quiver.
Isa 49:3 He said to Me, "You are My Servant, Israel, In Whom I will show My glory."
Isa 49:4 But I said, "I have toiled in vain, I have spent My strength for nothing and vanity; Yet surely the justice due to Me is with YHWH, And My reward with My Elohim."
Isa 49:5 And now says YHWH, who formed Me from the womb to be His Servant, To bring Jacob back to Him, so that Israel might be gathered to Him (For I am honored in the sight of YHWH, And My Elohim is My strength),
Isa 49:6 He says, "It is too small a thing that You should be My Servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob and to restore the preserved ones of Israel; I will also make You a light of the nations So that My salvation may reach to the end of the earth."
Isa 49:7 Thus says YHWH, the Redeemer of Israel and its Holy One, To the despised One, To the One abhorred by the nation, To the Servant of rulers, "Kings will see and arise, Princes will also bow down, Because of YHWH who is faithful, the Holy One of Israel who has chosen You."
Isa 49:8 Thus says YHWH, "In a favorable time I have answered You, And in a day of salvation I have helped You; And I will keep You and give You for a covenant of the people, To restore the land, to make them inherit the desolate heritages;
Isa 49:9 Saying to those who are bound, 'Go forth,' To those who are in darkness, 'Show yourselves.' Along the roads they will feed, And their pasture will be on all bare heights.
We see, in verse 3, that YHWH is talking to His “Servant” who He calls “Israel”. This is not referring to the people of Israel as a nation, but to the one who epitomizes and represents Israel as a whole. He is YHWH’s chosen judge and ruler (Micah 5:1-2) as well as Israel’s new High Priest after the order of Melchizedek (Psalm 110:1-4). Of all the men who were ever born Israelites, their future Messiah would be the one who can truly bear the name “Israel”.
Some will undoubtedly disagree, insisting that “Israel means Israel!” Let’s look at this passage a little deeper.
In verse 1, we see that YHWH named this Servant while he was in his mother’s womb. When was “Israel” named? Israel was originally named “Jacob/Yacov”, but his name was later changed to Israel (Genesis 32:28). However, while Messiah Yeshua was still in his mother’s womb, YHWH told His angel to tell Joseph to name the child Yeshua (Matthew 1:20-21).
In verse 2, the servant’s mouth is like a sharp sword. Several verses describe Messiah Yeshua as have a sharp two-edged sword coming out of his mouth (Rev 1:16, Rev 2:12, Rev 19:15). This is symbolic for speaking words that can cut right to the heart.
Compare that with what YHWH declares about the people of Israel’s lying, deceitful tongue (Isa 59:3-15; Jer 9:2-6, Jer 9:8; Hos 7:1, Hos 7:13).
In verse 5, we are told that the Servant’s mission is, “To bring Jacob back to Him, so that Israel might be gathered to Him”. “Jacob” and “Israel” are one and the same. YHWH’s Messiah was sent to bring/gather Israel back to YHWH. The people of Israel were not sent to bring/gather themselves back to YHWH.
Verse 6 further elaborates on the Servant’s mission; “to raise up the tribes of Jacob and to restore the preserved ones of Israel”. The people of Israel were not called to raise up the tribes of Israel/Jacob or to restore the preserved ones of Israel. That was the mission of the Servant, YHWH’s chosen Messiah. This Servant was to be “a light of the nations so that My salvation may reach to the end of the earth”. That portion of verse 6 was applied to Messiah Yeshua in Acts 13:47;
“For so YHWH has commanded us, saying, "'I have made you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth.'"
Isaiah 49:7 says the Servant was to be “the despised One” and “the One abhorred by the nation”. Messiah Yeshua was despised by many Jews. As a nation, they abhorred Yeshua to the point of wanting him put to death by the Romans. Yes, there were some Jews that did not despise and abhor him and who eventually became his followers, but they were the minority. Notice the verse does not say the Servant was abhorred by “the nations” which would be the case if the people of Israel were the Servant. There is only one nation that abhorred the Messiah, the nation of Israel.
Isaiah 49:8 reads, “Thus says YHWH, "In a favorable time I have answered You, And in a day of salvation I have helped You; And I will keep You and give You for a covenant of the people, To restore the land, to make them inherit the desolate heritages;” The first part of this passage was quoted in 2 Corinthians 6:2;
“For he says, "In a favorable time I listened to you, and in a day of salvation I have helped you." Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation.”
In Isaiah 49:9, the Servant will “say to the prisoners, ‘Go forth; to them that are in darkness, show yourselves.’” Who are these prisoners that are hidden away and cannot be seen? They are those held prisoner in the grave.
The same mission is given to the Servant of Isa 42:7; “To open the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners from the prison, and them that sit in darkness out of the prison house.”
In Revelation 1:18, Yeshua says;
“I am he that lives, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hades and of death.”
We learn from this that Yeshua has keys to hades (the grave). The grave is like a prison holding captives behind its gates.
Matthew 16:18;
"And I say also unto you, That you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell [the grave] shall not prevail against it."
Yeshua, not Israel, has the keys to unlock the graves and set the captives of death free.
Isaiah 50:4-11
Isa 50:4 YHWH Elohim has given Me the tongue of disciples, That I may know how to sustain the weary one with a word. He awakens Me morning by morning, He awakens My ear to listen as a disciple.
Isa 50:5 YHWH Elohim has opened My ear; And I was not disobedient Nor did I turn back.
Isa 50:6 I gave My back to those who strike Me, And My cheeks to those who pluck out the beard; I did not cover My face from humiliation and spitting.
Isa 50:7 For YHWH Elohim helps Me, Therefore, I am not disgraced; Therefore, I have set My face like flint, And I know that I will not be ashamed.
Isa 50:8 He who vindicates Me is near; Who will contend with Me? Let us stand up to each other; Who has a case against Me? Let him draw near to Me.
Isa 50:9 Behold, YHWH Elohim helps Me; Who is he who condemns Me? Behold, they will all wear out like a garment; The moth will eat them.
Isa 50:10 Who is among you that fears YHWH, That obeys the voice of His servant, That walks in darkness and has no light? Let him trust in the name of YHWH and rely on his Elohim.
Isa 50:11 Behold, all you who kindle a fire, Who encircle yourselves with firebrands, Walk in the light of your fire And among the brands you have set ablaze. This you will have from My hand: You will lie down in torment.
Isaiah 50:1 starts out with YHWH rebuking Israel using first person grammar.
“Thus says YHWH, Where is the bill of your mother's divorcement, whom I have put away? or which of my creditors is it to whom I have sold you? Behold, for your iniquities have you sold yourselves, and for your transgressions is your mother put away.”
Verse 4 begins with someone talking about YHWH. Verse 10 identifies the speaker as YHWH’s “servant”. He is an individual, not a nation of people. Who is this servant?
We are told this servant can sustain the weary with a word. This was never done by Israel. However, it was certainly done by Yeshua.
Matthew 11:28-30 Come unto me, all you that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and you shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
This servant also has ears to hear as a disciple should (verse 4). Moses said of Israel in Deuteronomy 29:4;
Yet YHWH has not given you an heart to perceive, and eyes to see, and ears to hear, unto this day.
Contrast that to Yeshua’s words.
John 5:30 I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which has sent me.
John 14:24 He that loves me not keeps not my sayings: and the word which you hear is not mine, but the Father’s which sent me.
Yeshua always listened carefully to the words of his Father YHWH and did as he was told. He faithfully carried out his Father’s will as an obedient Son and a faithful disciple. This is also why verse 5 applies to Yeshua as well. He was not disobedient to his Father’s will. That is why he led a sinless life. Israel, on the other hand, was disobedient to YHWH throughout their history in so much that they were carried away into captivity, caused the destruction of Jerusalem, and were dispersed throughout the world.
Isaiah 50:6 is a prophecy of Yeshua’s passion during which he suffered greatly at the hands of his persecutors.
Matthew 27:26 Then released he Barabbas unto them: and when he had scourged Yeshua, he delivered him to be crucified.
Matthew 26:67 Then did they spit in his face, and buffeted him; and others smote him with the palms of their hands,
Isaiah 50:11 reads;
Behold, all you that kindle a fire, that compass yourselves about with sparks: walk in the light of your fire, and in the sparks that you have kindled. This shall you have of mine hand; you shall lie down in sorrow.
The servant is still talking here. The reference is to those Jews who refused to walk in Yeshua’s light and made their own instead. Yeshua will judge them and they will be found to be unrepentant sinners who will not enter the Kingdom of Heaven, but will face heart wrenching sorrow and everlasting condemnation and death.
Isaiah 52:13-53:12
Isa 52:13 Behold, my servant shall deal prudently, he shall be exalted and extolled, and be very high.
Isa 52:14 As many were astonished at you; his visage was so marred more than any man, and his form more than the sons of men:
Isa 52:15 So shall he sprinkle many nations; the kings shall shut their mouths at him: for that which had not been told them shall they see; and that which they had not heard shall they consider.
Isa 53:1 Who has believed our report? and to whom is the arm of YHWH revealed?
Isa 53:2 For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he has no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him.
Isa 53:3 He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.
Isa 53:4 Surely he has borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of Elohim, and afflicted.
Isa 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.
Isa 53:6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and YHWH has laid on him the iniquity of us all.
Isa 53:7 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he opened not his mouth.
Isa 53:8 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.
Isa 53:9 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.
Isa 53:10 Yet it pleased YHWH to bruise him; He has put him to grief: when you shall make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of YHWH shall prosper in his hand.
Isa 53:11 He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities.
Isa 53:12 Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he has poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.
This is the last of the “Servant Songs” and undoubtedly the most important. The subject of this passage is identified as “my servant” in Isaiah 52:13 and Isaiah 53:11. Let’s look at Isaiah 52:13-15 first.
Verse 13 is a prophecy about how the servant will prosper and be high and lifted up and greatly exalted. It would be fulfilled after that same servant has undergone all that the passage says of him.
Verse 14 speaks of how disfigured the servant would become. This was the result of all the beatings and scourging Yeshua was given.
Matthew 27:29-30 And after twisting together a crown of thorns, they put it on His head, and a reed in His right hand; and they knelt down before Him and mocked Him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” They spat on Him, and took the reed and began to beat Him on the head.
Verse 15 speaks of the servant “sprinkling many nations”. It is not clear whether this is referring to the sprinkling of his blood in a spiritual sense or more probably the sprinkling of his teachings throughout the world. Every nation worldwide has benefited from Yeshua’s teachings in one way or another. Millions of lives have been changed for the better as a result of his words.
Moving on to Isaiah 53, verse 1 is fulfilled in John 12:37-38;
“But though he had done so many miracles before them, yet they believed not on him:
That the saying of Isaiah the prophet might be fulfilled, which he spoke, YHWH, who has believed our report? And to whom has the arm of YHWH been revealed?”
Verse 2 says, “For He grew up before Him like a tender shoot, And like a root out of parched ground “. This hearkens back to Isaiah 11:1;
“And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots:”
Paul applied this to Yeshua in Romans 15:12;
And again, Isaiah says, There shall be a root of Jesse, and he that shall rise to reign over the Gentiles; in him shall the Gentiles trust.
If you haven’t already noticed, this passage uses the singular pronouns he, him and his in reference to the servant. If the servant was referring to the people of Israel, plural pronouns would be more fitting.
Isa 53:3 He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.
Isa 53:4 Surely he has borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of Elohim, and afflicted.
Isa 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.
The wording of these verses can apply to the people of Israel in that they were and are despised and rejected by many people throughout the world. Some would even say they were “smitten by Elohim”. The problem is, the pronouns “we” and “our” refer to the people of Israel and “he”, “his” and “him” refer to a single individual who suffered greatly for the sake of the people of Israel and even for all mankind. The people of Israel and all who receive him as Savior are the beneficiaries of his sufferings in that they are healed through him. No one is healed through Israel’s sufferings and their sufferings were the result of their own sins. This servant’s sufferings were the result of the sins of others whose sins he bore upon himself.
The writers of the Gospel of Matthew and the Epistle of 1 Peter fully understood that this passage referred to Messiah Yeshua.
Matthew 8:17 That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying, Himself took our infirmities, and bare our sicknesses.
1 Peter 2:24 Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.
There can be no doubt in the last three verses that the servant’s identity is NOT the people of Israel.
Isaiah 53:6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and YHWH has laid on him the iniquity of us all.
We saw how 1 Peter 2:24 was a reference to Isaiah 53:5. Peter continues to identify the servant of Isaiah 53 as Messiah Yeshua in 1 Peter 2:25;
1 Peter 2:25 For you were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.
After the iniquities of the people were laid upon Yeshua and he died bearing those iniquities, the people were able to return to him upon receiving him as their Savior and Shepherd.
Isaiah 53:7 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he opened not his mouth.
Several New Testament passages show how Yeshua fulfilled this verse.
Matthew 26:61-64 and said, "This man stated, 'I am able to destroy the temple of Elohim and to rebuild it in three days.'" The high priest stood up and said to Him, "Do You not answer? What is it that these men are testifying against you?" But Yeshua kept silent. And the high priest said to Him, "I adjure you by the living Elohim, that you tell us whether you are the Messiah, the Son of Elohim." Yeshua said to him, "You have said it; nevertheless I tell you, hereafter you will see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven."
Matthew 27:11-14 Now Yeshua stood before the governor, and the governor questioned Him, saying, "Are you the King of the Jews?" And Yeshua said to him, "It is as you say." And while He was being accused by the chief priests and elders, He did not answer. Then Pilate said to Him, "Do you not hear how many things they testify against you?" And He did not answer him with regard to even a single charge, so the governor was quite amazed.
Some will argue, but he opened his mouth!! Therefore, he can’t be the Messiah. Not so. Read Isaiah 53:7 again. “as a sheep before her shearers is dumb …” The Jews that accused Yeshua were his “shearers”. They were the ones that were leading him to the slaughter. In the face of all their false accusations, he never opened his mouth. He never tried to defend himself or save himself from going to the slaughter. When he did speak, it was to the governor or the High Priest who adjured him to speak, but they were not his shearers. They were simply judging the matter.
When Philip encountered the Ethiopian eunuch reading a passage in Isaiah 53, he expounded upon its meaning.
And Philip ran there to him, and heard him read the prophet Isaiah, and said, Do you understand what you read?
And he said, How can I, except some man should guide me? And he desired Philip that he would come up and sit with him.
The place of the scripture which he read was this, He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and like a lamb dumb before his shearer, so opened he not his mouth:
In his humiliation his judgment was taken away: and who shall declare his generation? for his life is taken from the earth.
And the eunuch answered Philip, and said, I pray you, of whom speaks the prophet this? of himself, or of some other man?
Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Yeshua. Acts 8:30-35.
Verses 32-33 are quotes from Isaiah 53:7-8.
1 Peter 2:23 alludes to this verse in the context of three other verses that refer to Isaiah 53.;
Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judges righteously:
Then there are about 33 verses that refer to Yeshua as a “Lamb” such as John 1:29;
The next day John saw Yeshua coming unto him, and said, Behold the Lamb of Elohim, which takes away the sin of the world.
Isaiah 53:8 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.
As we saw above, Acts 8:33 is quoting this verse in reference to Yeshua. While many Jews have been killed throughout the years, especially during the Holocaust, many are still alive throughout the world. The Servant, however, was put to death via being nailed to a tree/cross.
1 Peter 3:18 For Messiah also has once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to Elohim, being put to death in the flesh, but made alive by the Spirit:
Isaiah 53:9 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.
Yeshua was to have lain where the bodies of criminals lie, in the same dishonorable grave, but he was really laid in a grave that was intended for the corpse of a rich man after the Roman authorities handed over the body to Joseph of Arimathaea, a “rich man” who placed it in his own future sepulcher.
Matthew 27:57-60 When the evening was come, there came a rich man of Arimathaea, named Joseph, who also himself was Yeshua’s disciple: He went to Pilate, and begged the body of Yeshua. Then Pilate commanded the body to be delivered. And when Joseph had taken the body, he wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, and laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn out in the rock: and he rolled a great stone to the door of the sepulcher, and departed.
It is said of this person who died that, “he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth”.
Peter applies this clause to Messiah Yeshua;
1 Peter 2:21-22 For even hereunto were you called: because Messiah also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow his steps: Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth:
This cannot apply to the people of Israel because it is said of them;
Jeremiah 9:2 Oh that I had in the wilderness a lodging place of wayfaring men; that I might leave my people, and go from them! for they be all adulterers, an assembly of treacherous men.
Jer 9:3 And they bend their tongues like their bow for lies: but they are not valiant for the truth upon the earth; for they proceed from evil to evil, and they know not me, says YHWH.
Jer 9:4 Take you heed every one of his neighbor, and trust you not in any brother: for every brother will utterly supplant, and every neighbor will walk with slanders.
Jer 9:5 And they will deceive every one his neighbor, and will not speak the truth: they have taught their tongue to speak lies, and weary themselves to commit iniquity.
Jer 9:6 Your habitation is in the midst of deceit; through deceit they refuse to know me, says YHWH.
Jer 9:7 Therefore thus says YHWH of hosts, Behold, I will melt them, and try them; for how shall I do for the daughter of my people?
Jer 9:8 Their tongue is as an arrow shot out; it speaks deceit: one speaks peaceably to his neighbor with his mouth, but in heart he lays his wait.
Jer 9:9 Shall I not visit them for these things? Says YHWH: shall not my soul be avenged on such a nation as this?
Isaiah 53:10 Yet it pleased YHWH to bruise him; He has put him to grief: when you shall make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of YHWH shall prosper in his hand.
Although the Romans directly killed Messiah Yeshua at the request of the Jews, it was YHWH that ultimately had His Servant killed. It was in YHWH’s plan of salvation since the foundation of the world.
Revelation 13:8 And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.
YHWH not only bruised His Servant, the Messiah, but He also bruised Israel. However, Israel’s bruising came as a judgment upon them because of their many sins. The Servants bruising came as a result of him bearing the sins of others, including Israel’s sins.
Throughout the NT we read about how Yeshua bore our sins upon himself and died for us so that our sins could be forgiven. There are no Scriptures stating the people of Israel would die as a sin offering.
Messiah Yeshua was resurrected from the dead and is alive forever more. His days are certainly “prolonged”. He will see all those that have come to faith through him. They are his spiritual seed. Yeshua always does the will of His Father YHWH which pleases Him greatly.
Isaiah 53:11 He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities.
Now that Yeshua has been resurrected from the dead and given eternal life, he can look back at all the sufferings that he endured for the sake of all mankind and be tremendously satisfied. He can see the fruit of all his trials and tribulations which is not only the multitude of souls that are and will be justified and saved, but also all the good that has been done in his name throughout the world.
That many have and will be justified through Yeshua can be seen in the following verses.
Acts 13:39 And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses.
Romans 5:9 Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.
Galatians 2:16 Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Yeshua Messiah, even we have believed in Yeshua Messiah, that we might be justified by the faith of Messiah, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.
No one was ever justified through the people of Israel. Nor has any Israelite other than Yeshua ever borne the sins of all mankind. As it is written, “for he shall bear their iniquities”.
Hebrews 9:28 So Messiah was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.
1 Peter 2:24 Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes you were healed.
1 Peter 3:18 For Messiah also has once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but made alive by the Spirit:
Isaiah 53:12 Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he has poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.
Yeshua has been rewarded by YHWH to be made the King of kings and Lord of lords and has given him a name that is above all other names on earth. His portion will be far greater than any of the greatest people that ever lived and he will share his portion with the great men who followed him.
He unselfishly poured out his soul unto death and was counted as a transgressor by the Jews. Thus, his reward shall be great.
Mark 15:27-28 And with him they crucify two thieves; the one on his right hand, and the other on his left. And the scripture was fulfilled, which says, And he was numbered with the transgressors.
As was seen above, Yeshua bare the sin of many. He took our sins upon himself which is why he is called our sin bearer. He is also our intercessor.
Hebrews 7:25 Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever lives to make intercession for them.
Conclusion:
There can be no doubt that the Servant mentioned in the four Servant Songs found in the Book of Isaiah can refer to none other than Yeshua the Messiah, YHWH’s chosen Servant to carry out His will and save all that come to him through faith. The people of Israel cannot be the Servant because the Servant did what was prophesied he would do FOR the people of Israel as well as for all mankind. Blessed be the name of Yeshua!