The Suffering Servant in Yeshayahu 53/2/en

The Suffering Servant in Yeshayahu 53

Exegetical Approaches

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The Nation of Israel

Sources:RashiYeshayahu 52:13-14Yeshayahu 53About R. Shelomo Yitzchaki,¹ Ibn EzraYeshayahu 52:13-14Yeshayahu 53About R. Avraham ibn Ezra, RadakYeshayahu 52:13-14Yeshayahu 53About R. David Kimchi, R. Eliezer AshkenaziMa'asei Hashem, Ma'asei Torah 40About R. Eliezer Ashkenazi (Ma'asei Hashem), ShadalYeshayahu 42:1Yeshayahu 49:1,3,7Yeshayahu 52:13-15Yeshayahu 53About R. Shemuel David Luzzatto, Hoil MosheYeshayahu 42Yeshayahu 49:1Yeshayahu 52:13-14Yeshayahu 53About R. Moshe Yitzchak Ashkenazi,

"עַבְדִּי" – Radak and Ramban cite other verses in Yeshayahu where he refers to Yisrael with the title of servant.²  For example, "‎וְאַתָּה יִשְׂרָאֵל עַבְדִּי" ‎(41:8), "אַל תִּירָא עַבְדִּי יַעֲקֹב" ‎(44:2), and "עַבְדִּי אָתָּה יִשְׂרָאֵל" ‎(49:3).  Ibn Ezra suggests that the verse is referencing every worshiper of Hashem.

"חֳלָיֵנוּ הוּא נָשָׂא" – Vicarious punishment?

• According to most of these sources these words represent the perspective of the other nations.  Since they felt that they had been the ones who sinned, they thought they deserved the suffering which was inflicted on Israel.  The nations therefore (mistakenly) concluded that Israel must have been suffering as an atonement for their sins.
• Ibn Ezra, in contrast, understands that the nations are admitting that they inflicted suffering on Israel.  The hardships are referred to as "חֳלָיֵנוּ", as the nations are the ones who caused them.

"נִבְזֶה וַחֲדַל אִישִׁים" – When?

"הִנֵּה יַשְׂכִּיל עַבְדִּי" – When? Rashi writes that in the end of days is when the righteous among Israel will succeed.

"כִּי נִגְזַר מֵאֶרֶץ חַיִּים"

"וַיִּתֵּן אֶת רְשָׁעִים קִבְרוֹ" – Rashi asserts that the verse is describing all the times that people from the nation were willing to die in the hands of wicked people rather than transgress a commandment.

Historical Figure

King

Sources:Ibn Chiquitilla cited in R. Yehuda ibn BalaamYeshayahu 53:12About R. Yehuda ibn Balaam,

"חֳלָיֵנוּ הוּא נָשָׂא" – Vicarious punishment?

"נִבְזֶה וַחֲדַל אִישִׁים" – When?

"הִנֵּה יַשְׂכִּיל עַבְדִּי" – When?

"כִּי נִגְזַר מֵאֶרֶץ חַיִּים"

"וַיִּתֵּן אֶת רְשָׁעִים קִבְרוֹ"

"עַבְדִּי"

Prophet

Sources:Opinion cited in R. Yehuda ibn BalaamYeshayahu 53:12About R. Yehuda ibn Balaam, R. Saadia cited in Ibn EzraYeshayahu 52:13-14Yeshayahu 53About R. Avraham ibn Ezra, R. Eliezer of BeaugencyYeshayahu 52:13Yeshayahu 53:4-11About R. Eliezer of Beaugency,

"חֳלָיֵנוּ הוּא נָשָׂא" – Vicarious punishment?

"נִבְזֶה וַחֲדַל אִישִׁים" – When? Yirmeyahu fits the description of a degraded servant of Hashem, as we have accounts of officers trying to kill and torture him.

"הִנֵּה יַשְׂכִּיל עַבְדִּי" – When?

"כִּי נִגְזַר מֵאֶרֶץ חַיִּים"

"וַיִּתֵּן אֶת רְשָׁעִים קִבְרוֹ"

"עַבְדִּי"

• R. Saadia suggests that the servant is Yirmeyahu, since we have accounts of him being degraded and put in prison.
• R. Eliezer of Beaugency maintains that the servant includes all of the prophets who rebuked the nation.

Context of the Prophecy – Ibn Ezra notes that there is no relationship between the surrounding chapter of comfort and Yirmeyahu's suffering.

Mashiach

Sources:Targum YonatanYeshayahu 52:13-15Yeshayahu 53About Targum Pseudo-Jonathan, RambanYeshayahu 52:13-14Yeshayahu 53Sefer HaVikuach 25-28About R. Moshe b. Nachman,³ ,

"חֳלָיֵנוּ הוּא נָשָׂא" – Vicarious punishment?

"נִבְזֶה וַחֲדַל אִישִׁים" – When?

"הִנֵּה יַשְׂכִּיל עַבְדִּי" – When?

"כִּי נִגְזַר מֵאֶרֶץ חַיִּים"

"וַיִּתֵּן אֶת רְשָׁעִים קִבְרוֹ"

"עַבְדִּי"

¹ Rashi emphasizes that the servant refers to the righteous among the nation.

² Rashi notes that in many places Yeshayahu refers to Yisrael in singular form.

³ Ramban writes that the true explanation is that the suffering servant is Yisrael, and he only explains it about the Mashiach according to the Midrash which says so.