Isaiah 53:12
Therefore I will allot Him a portion with the great, and He will divide the spoils with the strong, because He has poured out His life unto death, and He was numbered with the transgressors. Yet He bore the sin of many and made intercession for the transgressors.
Therefore I will allot Him a portion with the great
This phrase signifies a divine reward and exaltation. The Hebrew word for "allot" (חָלַק, chalak) implies a division or distribution, often used in the context of inheritance. The "great" refers to those of high status or honor. In a messianic context, this suggests that the Servant, identified as Jesus Christ, is honored by God for His obedience and sacrifice. Historically, this reflects the ancient Near Eastern practice of kings rewarding their victorious warriors, symbolizing Christ's victory over sin and death.

and He will divide the spoils with the strong
The imagery of dividing spoils is drawn from the aftermath of a battle, where victors share the plunder. The "strong" (עֲצוּמִים, atzumim) can be interpreted as those who are mighty or powerful. This phrase underscores the triumph of the Servant, who, through His suffering, gains victory and shares the benefits of His conquest with His followers. It reflects the New Testament teaching that believers are co-heirs with Christ (Romans 8:17).

because He poured out His life unto death
The phrase "poured out" (עָרָה, arah) conveys a voluntary and complete giving of oneself. This sacrificial imagery is central to the Christian understanding of atonement, where Jesus willingly gave His life for humanity's redemption. The act of pouring out life "unto death" emphasizes the totality of His sacrifice, fulfilling the role of the suffering servant prophesied in Isaiah.

and was numbered with the transgressors
This phrase highlights the identification of the Servant with sinners. The Hebrew word for "numbered" (מָנָה, manah) suggests being counted or reckoned among a group. Jesus' crucifixion between two criminals (Mark 15:27-28) fulfills this prophecy, illustrating His association with humanity's sinfulness, despite His own innocence.

Yet He bore the sin of many
The word "bore" (נָשָׂא, nasa) means to carry or lift up, indicating the Servant's role in taking upon Himself the sins of others. This substitutionary act is foundational to Christian theology, where Jesus is seen as the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world (John 1:29). The "many" signifies the vast scope of His redemptive work, encompassing all who believe.

and made intercession for the transgressors
Intercession (פָּגַע, paga) involves mediating or pleading on behalf of others. This role of the Servant as an intercessor is seen in Jesus' prayer for forgiveness for His executioners (Luke 23:34) and His ongoing role as an advocate for believers (Hebrews 7:25). It underscores His compassion and continual work in reconciling humanity to God.

Persons / Places / Events
1. The Suffering Servant
This is a prophetic reference to Jesus Christ, who is seen as the fulfillment of the suffering servant described in Isaiah 53. He is the one who bears the sins of many and makes intercession for transgressors.

2. Transgressors
These are the sinners for whom the Servant intercedes. In the New Testament context, this includes all of humanity, as all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.

3. The Great and the Strong
These terms symbolize those who are victorious or honored. The Servant is promised a portion with them, indicating His ultimate victory and exaltation.

4. Intercession
This refers to the act of intervening on behalf of another. In this context, it highlights Jesus' role as an intercessor for sinners, a theme that is echoed in the New Testament.

5. Spoils
This term is often associated with the rewards of victory in battle. Here, it symbolizes the triumph and reward of the Servant after His sacrificial death.
Teaching Points
The Ultimate Sacrifice
Jesus' willingness to pour out His life unto death is the ultimate act of love and sacrifice. Believers are called to reflect on this profound love and respond with gratitude and devotion.

Victory Through Suffering
The promise of a portion with the great and the division of spoils signifies that true victory often comes through suffering and obedience to God's will. Christians are encouraged to persevere through trials, knowing that God honors faithfulness.

Intercession for Others
Just as Jesus intercedes for us, we are called to intercede for others in prayer, lifting up those who are lost or struggling in their faith.

Identifying with the Transgressors
Jesus' identification with sinners challenges us to reach out to those who are marginalized or deemed unworthy by society, sharing the message of redemption and hope.

Living in the Light of Redemption
Understanding that Jesus bore our sins should lead to a life of holiness and a commitment to living out the gospel in our daily interactions.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does understanding Jesus as the Suffering Servant in Isaiah 53:12 deepen your appreciation for His sacrifice?

2. In what ways can you emulate Jesus' role as an intercessor in your own life?

3. How does the promise of victory and reward in Isaiah 53:12 encourage you in your current struggles or challenges?

4. Reflect on a time when you felt "numbered with the transgressors." How does Jesus' identification with sinners provide comfort and hope?

5. How can the themes of sacrifice and redemption in Isaiah 53:12 inspire you to live a life that reflects the gospel to those around you?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Philippians 2:8-11
This passage describes Jesus' humility and obedience unto death, and His subsequent exaltation by God, paralleling the themes of suffering and victory in Isaiah 53:12.

Hebrews 7:25
This verse highlights Jesus' role as an intercessor, emphasizing His ability to save completely those who come to God through Him.

Luke 22:37
Jesus Himself references Isaiah 53:12, indicating that He is the fulfillment of this prophecy by being "numbered with the transgressors."

Romans 5:8
This verse underscores the love of God demonstrated through Christ's sacrificial death for sinners, aligning with the Servant's role in bearing the sins of many.
Christ Killed by the Inner CrossC. Clemance, D.D.Isaiah 53:12
Christ Numbered with the TransgressorsJ. Trapp.Isaiah 53:12
Christ S IntercessionIsaiah 53:12
Christ's Conflict and ConquestIsaiah 53:12
Christ's Connection with Sinners the Source of His GloryIsaiah 53:12
Christ's Intercession for TransgressorsIsaiah 53:12
He Shall Divide the Spoil with the StrongHoward Crosby, LL.D.Isaiah 53:12
Intercession for the TransgressorsIsaiah 53:12
Jesus Interceding for TransgressorsIsaiah 53:12
Meaning of IntercessionIsaiah 53:12
The Conflict of Christ ExplainedIsaiah 53:12
The False AccusationW. Clarkson Isaiah 53:12
The Friend of SinnersIsaiah 53:12
The Friend of SinnersCharles Haddon Spurgeon Isaiah 53:12
The Greatness of the Sin-BearerF. B. Meyer, B. A.Isaiah 53:12
The Lord Jesus a Glorious ConquerorIsaiah 53:12
The Love of ChristIsaiah 53:12
The Monarch Becomes an Intercessor for His FoesC. Clemance, D. D.Isaiah 53:12
The Suffering Servant -- ViAlexander MaclarenIsaiah 53:12
A Faithful Minister's SorrowJ. Durham.Isaiah 53:1-12
A Heavy Complaint and LamentationT. Boston, M.A.Isaiah 53:1-12
Christ in IsaiahF. Sessions.Isaiah 53:1-12
Christ Preached, But RejectedIsaiah 53:1-12
Christ Rejected in Our TimeIsaiah 53:1-12
Divine Power Necessary for Believing the Gospel ReportT. Boston, M. A.Isaiah 53:1-12
Do the Prophets BelieveJ. Parker, D.D.Isaiah 53:1-12
Evidences of Non-SuccessT. Boston, M. A.Isaiah 53:1-12
Gentile Prejudice Against ChristIsaiah 53:1-12
Jewish Prejudice Against ChristIsaiah 53:1-12
Ministerial SolicitudeEssex Congregational RemembrancerIsaiah 53:1-12
Preaching and HearingJ. Durham.Isaiah 53:1-12
The Arm of God and Human FaithF. B. Meyer, B. A.Isaiah 53:1-12
The Arm of the LordJ. Parker, D.D.Isaiah 53:1-12
The Arm of the Lord RevealedJ. Durham.Isaiah 53:1-12
The Credibility and Importance of the Gospel ReportJ. Lathrop, D.D.Isaiah 53:1-12
The Gospel-ReportT. Boston, M. A.Isaiah 53:1-12
The Jewish Nation a Vicarious SuffererA. Crawford, M.A.Isaiah 53:1-12
The Jewish Nation was a Type of ChristA. Crawford, M.A.Isaiah 53:1-12
The Jews and Messianic ProphecyIsaiah 53:1-12
The Little Success of the Gospel Matter of LamentationT. Boston, M. A.Isaiah 53:1-12
The Messiah Referred to in Isaiah 53R.W. Moss, D.D.Isaiah 53:1-12
The Might of the Saving Arm, and How to Obtain ItF. B. Meyer, B.A.Isaiah 53:1-12
The Monarch in DisguiseC. Clemance, D.D.Isaiah 53:1-12
The Necessity of FaithJ. Durham.Isaiah 53:1-12
The Offer of Christ in the GospelJ. Durham.Isaiah 53:1-12
The Prevalence of UnbeliefE. Cooper.Isaiah 53:1-12
The Rarity of Believing the Gospel-ReportT. Boston, M. A.Isaiah 53:1-12
The Servant and IsraelA. B. Davidson, D.D.Isaiah 53:1-12
The Suffering SaviourIsaiah 53:1-12
Patience and the Divine PurposeE. Johnson Isaiah 53:7-12
People
Isaiah
Places
Jerusalem
Topics
Allot, Apportioneth, Assign, Bare, Bared, Booty, Bore, Borne, Cause, Death, Divide, Evil-doers, Exposed, Goods, Heritage, Interceded, Intercedeth, Intercession, Making, Mighty, Numbered, Portion, Poured, Prayer, Reckoned, Sin, Sins, Soul, Spoil, Spoils, Strong, Taking, Transgressors, War, Wrongdoers, Yet
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Isaiah 53:12

     2054   Christ, mind of
     2366   Christ, prophecies concerning
     5879   humiliation
     6682   mediation
     8611   prayer, for others

Isaiah 53:3-12

     5426   news
     8356   unselfishness

Isaiah 53:4-12

     1680   types
     6616   atonement, in OT

Isaiah 53:7-12

     8797   persecution, attitudes

Isaiah 53:10-12

     2057   Christ, obedience
     2530   Christ, death of
     5492   restitution
     6027   sin, remedy for
     6684   mediator

Library
October 7. "He Opened not his Mouth" (Isa. Liii. 7).
"He opened not His mouth" (Isa. liii. 7). How much grace it requires to bear a misunderstanding rightly, and to receive an unkind judgment in holy sweetness! Nothing tests a Christian character more than to have some evil thing said about him. This is the file that soon proves whether we are electro-plate or solid gold. If we could only know the blessings that lie hidden in our lives, we would say, like David, when Shimei cursed him, "Let him curse; it may be the Lord will requite me good for his
Rev. A. B. Simpson—Days of Heaven Upon Earth

The Suffering Servant --iv
'It pleased the Lord to bruise Him; He hath put Him to grief: when Thou shalt make His soul an offering for sin, He shall see His seed, He shall prolong His days, and the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in His hand.'--ISAIAH liii. 10. We have seen a distinct progress of thought in the preceding verses. There was first the outline of the sorrows and rejection of the Servant; second, the profound explanation of these as being for us; third, the sufferings, death and burial of the Servant. We have
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

The Suffering Servant --V
'He shall see of the travail of His soul, and shall be satisfied: by His knowledge shall My righteous servant justify many; and He shall bear their iniquities'--ISAIAH liii. 11. These are all but the closing words of this great prophecy, and are the fitting crown of all that has gone before. We have been listening to the voice of a member of the race to whom the Servant of the Lord belonged, whether we limit that to the Jewish people or include in it all humanity. That voice has been confessing
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

The Suffering Servant --vi
'Therefore will I divide Him a portion with the great, and He shall divide the spoil with the strong; because He hath poured out His soul unto death: and was numbered with the transgressors; and He bare the sins of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.'--ISAIAH liii. 12. The first clause of this verse is somewhat difficult. There are two ways of understanding it. One is that adopted in A. V., according to which the suffering Servant is represented as equal to the greatest conquerors.
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

The Suffering Servant-I
'For He grew 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 see Him, there is no beauty that we should desire Him. 3. He was despised, and rejected of men, a Man of Sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and as one from whom men hide their face He was despised, and we esteemed Him not.'--ISAIAH liii, 2, 3. To hold fast the fulfilment of this prophecy of the Suffering Servant in Jesus it is not necessary to deny its reference to Israel.
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

The Suffering Servant-ii
'Surely He hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem Him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. 5. But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon Him; and with His stripes we are healed. 6. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid (made to light) on Him the iniquity of us all.'--ISAIAH liii. 4-6. The note struck lightly in the close of the preceding
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

Messiah Despised, and Rejected of Men
He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrow, and acquainted with grief. T he heathen moralists, ignorant of the character and perfections of God, the true dignity and immorality of the soul, and the root and extent of human depravity, had no better foundation, for what they call virtue, than pride; no higher aim in their regulations, than the interests of society, and the conduct of civil life. They expressed, indeed, occasionally, some sentiments of a superior kind; but these, however just
John Newton—Messiah Vol. 1

Sin Charged Upon the Surety
All we like sheep have gone astray: we have turned every one to his own way, and the LORD hath laid upon Him the iniquity of us all. C omparisons, in the Scripture, are frequently to be understood with great limitation: perhaps, out of many circumstances, only one is justly applicable to the case. Thus, when our Lord says, Behold, I come as a thief (Revelation 16:15) , --common sense will fix the resemblance to a single point, that He will come suddenly, and unexpectedly. So when wandering sinners
John Newton—Messiah Vol. 1

Messiah's Innocence vindicated
He was taken from prison and from judgment, and who shall declare his generation? For he was cut off out of the land of the living; for the transgression of my people was he stricken. L et not plain Christians be stumbled because there are difficulties in the prophetical parts of the Scriptures, and because translators and expositors sometimes explain them with some difference, as to the sense. Whatever directly relates to our faith, practice, and comfort, may be plainly collected from innumerable
John Newton—Messiah Vol. 1

Messiah Suffering and Wounded for Us
Surely He hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: ..... He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon Him; and with His stripes we are healed. W hen our Lord was transfigured, Moses and Elijah appeared in glory and conversed with Him. Had we been informed of the interview only, we should probably have desired to know the subject of their conversation, as we might reasonably suppose it turned upon very interesting and important
John Newton—Messiah Vol. 1

April the Second "On Him!"
"The Lord hath laid on Him the iniquity of us all." --ISAIAH liii. Let me tell a dream which was given by night to one of my dearest friends. He beheld a stupendous range of glorious sun-lit mountains, with their lower slopes enfolded in white mist. "Lord," he cried, "I pray that I may dwell upon those heights!" "Thou must first descend into the vale," a voice replied. Into the vale he went. And down there he found himself surrounded with all manner of fierce, ugly, loathsome things. As he looked
John Henry Jowett—My Daily Meditation for the Circling Year

Religion a Weariness to the Natural Man.
"He hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see Him, there is no beauty that we should desire Him."--Isaiah liii. 2. "Religion is a weariness;" such is the judgment commonly passed, often avowed, concerning the greatest of blessings which Almighty God has bestowed upon us. And when God gave the blessing, He at the same time foretold that such would be the judgment of the world upon it, even as manifested in the gracious Person of Him whom He sent to give it to us. "He hath no form nor
John Henry Newman—Parochial and Plain Sermons, Vol. VII

The Crucifixion.
"He was oppressed, and He was afflicted, yet He opened not His mouth; He is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so He openeth not His mouth."--Isaiah liii. 7. St. Peter makes it almost a description of a Christian, that he loves Him whom he has not seen; speaking of Christ, he says, "whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see Him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory." Again he speaks of "tasting that the
John Henry Newman—Parochial and Plain Sermons, Vol. VII

Of Justification by Christ
It has been objected by some, who dissent from, nay, I may add, by others also, who actually are friends to the present ecclesiastical establishment, that the ministers of the Church of England preach themselves, and not Christ Jesus the Lord; that they entertain their people with lectures of mere morality, without declaring to them the glad tidings of salvation by Jesus Christ. How well grounded such an objection may be, is not my business to inquire: All I shall say at present to the point is,
George Whitefield—Selected Sermons of George Whitefield

Expiation
Now, Jesus Christ has been made by God an offering for sin; and oh that to-night we may be able to do in reality what the Jew did in metaphor! May we put our hand upon the head of Christ Jesus; as we see him offered up upon the cross for guilty men, may we know that our sins are transferred to him, and may we be able to cry, in the ecstasy of faith, "Great God, I am clean; through Jesus' blood I am clean." I. In trying now to expound the doctrine of Christ's being an offering for sin, we will begin
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 10: 1864

Sin Laid on Jesus
I hear no dolorous wailings attending this confession of sin; for the next sentence makes it almost a song. "The Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all." It is the most grievous sentence of the three; but it is the most charming and the most full of comfort. Strange is it that where misery was concentrated mercy reigned, and where sorrow reached her climax there it is that a weary soul finds sweetest rest. The Savior bruised is the healing of bruised hearts. I want now to draw the hearts of
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 12: 1866

Our Expectation
But, my brothers, he is not dead. Some years ago, someone, wishing to mock our holy faith, brought out a handbill, which was plastered everywhere--"Can you trust in a dead man?" Our answer would have been, "No; nobody can trust in a man who is dead." But it was known by those who printed the bill that they were misrepresenting our faith. Jesus is no longer dead. He rose again the third day. We have sure and infallible proofs of it. It is an historical fact, better proved than almost any other which
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 37: 1891

The Death of Christ
Taking our text, then, as a guide, we propose to visit Calvary, hoping to have the help of the Holy Spirit whilst we look upon him who died upon the cross. I would have you notice this morning, first of all, the cause of Christ's death--"It pleased the Lord to bruise him." "It pleased Jehovah to bruise him," saith the original; "he hath put him to grief." Secondly, the reason of Christ's death--"When thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin." Christ died because he was an offering for sin. And
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 4: 1858

The Friend of Sinners
Our text, in its threefold character, shows the intimate connection which exists between Jesus and sinners, for in none of its sentences is there meaning unless there be a sinner, and unless Christ has come into connection with him. It is this one point which I want to work out this morning, and may God bless it to many a sinner's troubled conscience. "He was numbered with the transgressors; he bare the sin of many, and he made intercession for the transgressors." It is for transgressors all the
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 8: 1863

Eighteenth Day. Patience.
"He was brought as a lamb to the slaughter."--Isa. liii, 7. How great was the patience of Jesus! Even among His own disciples, how forbearingly He endured their blindness, their misconceptions and hardness of heart! Philip had been for three years with Him, yet he had "not known Him!"--all that time he had remained in strange and culpable ignorance of his Lord's dignity and glory. See how tenderly Jesus bears with him; giving him nothing in reply for his confession of ignorance but unparalleled
John R. Macduff—The Mind of Jesus

List of Authorities
CHIEFLY USED IN WRITING THIS BOOK. Alford: Greek Testament. Von der Alm: Heidn. u. jüd. Urtheile über Jesu u. die alten Christen. Altingius: Dissertationes et Orationes. Apocrypha: S.P.C.K. Commentary on. The Apocryphal Gospels. Auerbach: Berith Abraham. Bacher: Die Agada der Babylon. Amoräer. Bäck: Geschichte des Jüd. Volkes u.seiner Literatur. Baedeker: Syrien u. Palästina. Bähr: Gesetz über Falsche Zeugen nach Bible u. Talmud. Barclay: City of the Great
Alfred Edersheim—The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah

What Messiah did the Jews Expect?
1. The most important point here is to keep in mind the organic unity of the Old Testament. Its predictions are not isolated, but features of one grand prophetic picture; its ritual and institutions parts of one great system; its history, not loosely connected events, but an organic development tending towards a definite end. Viewed in its innermost substance, the history of the Old Testament is not different from its typical institutions, nor yet these two from its predictions. The idea, underlying
Alfred Edersheim—The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah

Consolations against Impatience in Sickness.
If in thy sickness by extremity of pain thou be driven to impatience, meditate-- 1. That thy sins have deserved the pains of hell; therefore thou mayest with greater patience endure these fatherly corrections. 2. That these are the scourges of thy heavenly Father, and the rod is in his hand. If thou didst suffer with reverence, being a child, the corrections of thy earthly parents, how much rather shouldst thou now subject thyself, being the child of God, to the chastisement of thy heavenly Father,
Lewis Bayly—The Practice of Piety

Believe and be Saved
It is the Holy Spirit alone that can draw us to the cross and fasten us to the Saviour. He who thinks he can do without the Spirit, has yet to learn his own sinfulness and helplessness. The gospel would be no good news to the dead in sin, if it did not tell of the love and power of the divine Spirit, as explicitly as it announces the love and power of the divine Substitute. But, while keeping this in mind, we may try to learn from Scripture what is written concerning the bond which connects us individually
Horatius Bangs, D.D.—God's Way of Peace

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