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?

"נִבְזֶה וַחֲדַל אִישִׁים" – When?

"הִנֵּה יַשְׂכִּיל עַבְדִּי" – When?

"כִּי נִגְזַר מֵאֶרֶץ חַיִּים"

"וַיִּתֵּן אֶת רְשָׁעִים קִבְרוֹ"

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?

"הִנֵּה יַשְׂכִּיל עַבְדִּי" – When?

"כִּי נִגְזַר מֵאֶרֶץ חַיִּים"

"וַיִּתֵּן אֶת רְשָׁעִים קִבְרוֹ"

"עַבְדִּי"

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.