Isaiah 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… How can it be said of Christ that He had neither comeliness nor beauty, since it is said (Psalm 45:2), that "He is fairer than the children of men," or "than the sons of Adam"? And in Song of Solomon 5:10-16 He is described by the spouse to be well-coloured, and likewise well-featured, and she goeth on from part to part, from head to feet; and then concludeth, "He is altogether lovely." To this I answer — 1. It is one thing what, Christ is to the spouse, another what He is to the unbelieving Jews Christ's beauties are reward, seen of none but those that are inwardly acquainted with Him. The spouse speaketh of Him in a spiritual sense. 2. We must distinguish between Christ's humiliation and exaltation, His Godhead and His manhood. In His Godhead He is "the brightness of His Father's glory, and the express image of His person," and consequently full of beauty. In His humiliation He is not only a man, but a mean man (Philippians 2:9). 3. In Christ's humiliation we must distinguish as to what He is in Himself and as to what He is in the eye of the world. ( T. Manton, D.D.) Parallel Verses KJV: For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him. |
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