By Christina M Wilson. Previously published at https://justonesmallvoice.com/fourth-servant-song-septuagint-devotional-2-49/.

The Fourth Servant Song Septuagint: Journal 2.49 discusses the Septuagint report of Isaiah 53:3b. 

Content: Part Three

3b he was a man in suffering, and acquainted with the bearing of sickness, for his face is turned from us: he was dishonored, and not esteemed. (Isaiah 53:3b LXE) 

Further Descriptions of Suffering and Dishonor

I. SUFFERING

Other English translations of the Septuagint provide synonyms for “suffering” in 53:3b, namely “calamity” (NETS) and “wounded” (Fred Miller). Isaiah uses the word in the very beginning of the book to describe the condition of Judah itself (Isaiah 1:6 LXE). Brenton translates it as “bruise.” Other occurrences in the book of Isaiah refer to a blow of punishment from the Lord, often fatal (Isaiah 14:6 LXE; 19:22; 30:26, and 31). Isaiah uses it again with reference to God’s Servant in 53:4 and 10. Translations for this word from the Hebrew text include “sorrows” (ESV and NASB), “suffering” (NIV), and “experienced pain” (NET).

In terms of fulfillment in the life of Messiah Jesus, readers know from the gospel accounts that Jesus lived what some might describe as a physically demanding ministry. For example, he often camped outside, he walked long miles, he slept little, experienced hunger and thirst, and worked long hours. Of course, the final, fatal “blow” came from God himself, who through the Holy Spirit led the Christ to the cross. Isaiah writes more of that in the verses following.

II. ACQUAINTED WITH THE BEARING OF SICKNESS

Hebrew translations for “acquainted with the bearing of sickness” include “acquainted with grief” (ESV and NASB), “familiar with pain” (NIV), and “acquainted with illness” (NET). Translating from Greek, NETS writes, “knowing how to bear sickness.” The gospel narratives do not record any occasions of Jesus becoming sick himself. He did, however, know more than any man concerning the diseases and illnesses of others. He healed every single person who came to him for help. The gospels describe multitudes of these.

III. HIS FACE TURNED FROM US

Current American English does not often use the metaphor, “turning one’s face away.” Such a bodily motion would indicate, however, a withdrawal from others, an entering into a personal meditative moment, or refusal to communicate. The Septuagint statement seems to indicate a state of shame. That is, Brenton’s translation uses a colon followed by the further explanation that the Servant was “dishonored, and not esteemed.” The Masoretic (Hebrew) turns the phrase around. The people who saw the Servant turned their faces away from him, rather than he from them–“people hid their faces from him” (Isaiah 53:3 NET). In either event, the turning reflected broken communication of some kind.

IV. DISHONORED

Isaiah describes the Servant as “dishonored.” Jesus the Messiah/Servant certainly fit that description.

So they picked up stones to throw at him, but Jesus hid himself and went out of the temple. (John 8:59 ESV)

The Jewish leaders picked up rocks again to stone him to death. (John 10:31 NET)

31 And taking the twelve, he said to them, “See, we are going up to Jerusalem, and everything that is written about the Son of Man by the prophets will be accomplished. 32 For he will be delivered over to the Gentiles and will be mocked and shamefully treated and spit upon. (Luke 18:31 ESV)

and twisting together a crown of thorns, they put it on his head and put a reed in his right hand. And kneeling before him, they mocked him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” (Matthew 27:29 ESV)

V. NOT ESTEEMED

Septuagint Isaiah prophesies that God’s Servant will be “not esteemed.” The greatest fulfillment of this prophecy occurred during the Christ’s passion and crucifixion. What could indicated less esteem than the brutal, purposeful slaying of the Son of God upon the cross?

Conclusion

When considering the second half of Isaiah 53:3 LXE, readers should bear in mind the astonishment expressed in Isaiah 53:1 LXE.

O Lord, who has believed our report? and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed? (Isaiah 53:1 LXE) 

Isaiah 52:13 LXE fed the expectation of a highly exalted (in the sense of honored), glorious Servant/Messiah.

Behold, my servant shall understand, and be exalted, and glorified exceedingly. 

And yet, verse 13 and the following verse indicate that God is he who will glorify his Servant. The people of Israel will not do so.

As many shall be amazed at you, so shall your face be without glory from men, and your glory shall not be honored by the sons of men. (Isaiah 52:14 LXE)

Jesus alone understood this prophecy and explained it to his disciples after his resurrection from a highly ignoble death.

25 And he said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! 26 Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?” (Luke 24:24-25 ESV)

And, the Apostle Paul and others received commandment from the ascended Lord to spread the gospel among the Gentiles. Paul’s doing so fulfilled Isaiah’s prophecy in Isaiah 52:15 LXE.

Thus shall many nations wonder at him; and kings shall keep their mouths shut: for they to whom no report was brought concerning him, shall see; and they who have not heard, shall consider.

In other words, in the Old Testament God gifted only Israel with direct revelation of his Word. The Gentile nations had not received it. Neither did Christ minister to the Gentiles. Until Stephen, Paul, and others preached the gospel of the risen Christ, the Gentile peoples fulfilled the phrase “they who have not heard.” Nevertheless, when they did hear, they sincerely allowed their hearts to “consider,” or to “understand” and be saved.

Reader, what about you?

By Christina M Wilson. Previously published at https://justonesmallvoice.com/fourth-servant-song-isaiah-devotional-2-48/.

The “Fourth Servant Song: Isaiah Devotional 2.48” discusses the report of Isaiah 53:2.

Content: Part Two

2 We brought a report as of a child before him; he is as a root in a thirsty land: he has no form nor comeliness; and we saw him, but he had no form nor beauty. 3 But his form was ignoble, and inferior to that of the children of men; he was a man in suffering, and acquainted with the bearing of sickness, for his face is turned from us: he was dishonored, and not esteemed. (Isaiah 53:2-3 LXE)

Similarities with the Gospels

The beginning of the “Gospel of Isaiah” resembles the gospels of the New Testament. Isaiah 53:1 LXE mentions “a report.” Verses 2 and 3a present the first aspect of the content of the report.

Outward Appearance

I. THE REPORT

The report, or “announcement,” (from the Greek ἀναγγέλλω – ana-gel-low) concerns “a child” who grew up “before” God (him), or in his presence.

• Likewise, the Gospel of John (“gospel” is also from the Greek εὐαγγέλιον ev-ang-gel-i-on) opens with a description of the Word’s eternal abiding in the presence of God. The text states that the Word was “with” God, or face to face with God (John 1:1).
• Luke adds to this a lengthy description of the birth (Luke 1:5-2:39 ESV) of Jesus. He follows this with a short description of Jesus’s childhood (Luke 2:40-52 ESV). Luke’s narrative demonstrates the reverent nature of Jesus’s family. He also displays Jesus’s own intense interest in the teachings of God at an early age.

II. A ROOT IN A THIRSTY LAND

Isaiah describes the Servant child as someone who grows in an environment of adversity. He resembles a bare root in dry ground.

• Likewise, the Messiah Jesus’s family’s status and upbringing offered little by way of social and religious training and opportunity. His father was a carpenter, and Mary his mother was not a young woman of any social standing. Together, they represented the lower economic working class.
• Metaphorically, the land of Israel at the time of the Servant Jesus’s birth was indeed “thirsty.” The people had not heard a prophetic word from their God for several centuries. Their religious leaders, the Pharisees, Sadducees, scribes, and lawyers followed a legalistic, somewhat cruel interpretation of the law that displayed little mercy (Luke 11:46). The people thirsted for a word of blessing from their God.

III. NO FORM NOR COMELINESS

2… he has no form nor comeliness… but he had no form nor beauty. 3 But his form was ignoble, and inferior to that of the children of men; (Isaiah 53:2-3 LXE)

Fred Miller offers a better translation from the Septuagint Greek of these verses. He brings out the strong force of the series of negatives the Greek contains.

2 … There is no form to him nor glory when we see him and he has neither form nor beauty 3. But his form is without honor lacking less than all men (Fred Miller) [emphasis added]

• The Greek reads, “οὐκ… οὐδὲ… οὐκ… οὐδὲ,” or “no… and not… no… and not.” In other words, the Greek expresses everything that represents the opposite of what people would expect in a great leader who would “understand… be exalted… and glorified exceedingly” (Isaiah 52:13 LXE).
• The Gospel of John bears witness to the fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophecy. John the Baptist and Jesus were related (Luke 1:36). Further, the Old Testament prophesied John’s role and message as the forerunner of Messiah (Isaiah 40:3 and context; Matthew 3:3; Malachi 3:1). Yet, John writes in his gospel three times that neither he nor the religious leaders could recognize Messiah the Servant Jesus by means of his outward appearance among them (John 1:26, 31, and 33). God needed to provide a miraculous, foretold “sign” in order for John to specifically be able to identify Jesus as the One. The Spirit of God descended as a dove upon Jesus at his baptism. This is the sign of recognition that God gave John (John 1:32-34).

IV. WE SAW HIM

• The Isaiah text reads, “… and we saw him.“ (See above Isaiah 53:2 LXE.)
• John the Apostle everywhere emphasizes the fact that John the Baptist, he himself, and other disciples “saw” the Servant Jesus as he performed his miraculous signs.

John 1:29 The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him… 32… “I saw the Spirit descend from heaven like a dove, and it remained on him. 33… He on whom you seethe Spirit descend and remain 34… And I have seen and have borne witness that this is the Son of God 36 and he looked at Jesus as he walked by and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God!” (ESV)    

1 John 1:1 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we looked upon and have touched with our hands, concerning the word of life–
2 the life was made manifest, and we have seen it… 3 that which we have seen and heard… (ESV)

Concluding Comment

Truly, God in his Word wastes none of the details he gave Isaiah his prophet.

To be continued… Content: Part Three