Hebrew Scripture: Isaiah 53

Perhaps no text in the Hebrew scriptures is as contentiously debated between Jews and Christians as Isaiah 53. Readers ask, who is God's servant that is conferred to within this prophecy? The debate over this passage has produced a list of polemical arguments and still continue to do so. The most common among these arguments are predominantly between Christian and Jewish interpretations of this text. The interpretation of this prophecy differs greatly between the two views. Christians use it as evidence of Jesus' primary role as the Jewish Messiah. Contrary to that, Jewish scholars argue zealously that it is symbolic of the nation of Israel. Furthering, Christians read Isaiah’s riveting depiction of excessive suffering and see Jesus on the

Further questioning of this accusation would be to ask if the nation of Israel has actually ever atoned for the sins of people. Isaiah 53:6 states, “All of us like sheep have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way, but the Lord has caused the iniquity of us to fall on Him”. The first bit of evidence is that Israel is not in fact a sinless nation. Isaiah 1:4 asserts this truth by starting off with “Alas you sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, a brood of evildoers, children who are corrupters”. Later, in the same chapter, verses 10, 15, and 21, all speak to characterize Judah as Sodom, Jerusalem as a harlot, and the people of those whose hands were stained with blood. Christians assert these verses as truth against the Jews views of this scripture. The suffering servant within this passage was claimed to be innocent and guiltless. The verses listed previously describe a sinful, and therefore guilty,

Sinlessness is not to be confused though with those who are still sinners. Righteousness is a term which can be applied to individuals who are still sinners but this is presented throughout the Hebrew Scriptures as being a righteousness of practice , not of inherent being or essence. This is critical to understand. Namely because the inherent righteousness that is discussed above is precisely the kind needed according to symbolism of atonement. This process was completed through a spotless sacrificial animal that is presented throughout the law of the Old