Isaiah 53:9 Study Bible: And they assigned his grave with the wicked and with the rich in his death; though he had done no wrong, nor was deceit found in his mouth.

◄ Isaiah 53:9 ►

He was assigned a grave with the wicked, and with a rich man in His death, although He had done no violence, nor was any deceit in His mouth.

Study Bible

He was assigned a grave with the wicked
This phrase highlights the injustice faced by the Suffering Servant, traditionally understood by Christians to be a prophecy about Jesus Christ. The Hebrew word for "assigned" (נָתַן, natan) implies a deliberate action, suggesting that despite His innocence, He was intentionally grouped with wrongdoers. Historically, criminals were often buried in common graves, emphasizing the humiliation and shame intended for Him. This reflects the fulfillment of prophecy in the New Testament, where Jesus was crucified between two criminals (Luke 23:32-33).

and with a rich man in His death
The mention of "a rich man" is a remarkable detail that finds its fulfillment in the New Testament account of Joseph of Arimathea, a wealthy man who provided his own tomb for Jesus' burial (Matthew 27:57-60). The Hebrew word for "rich" (עָשִׁיר, ashir) denotes wealth and influence, contrasting with the previous association with the wicked. This juxtaposition underscores the divine orchestration of events, ensuring that even in death, the Servant's dignity was preserved, fulfilling God's sovereign plan.

although He had done no violence
This phrase emphasizes the innocence and righteousness of the Servant. The Hebrew word for "violence" (חָמָס, chamas) refers to physical harm or injustice. The Servant's life was marked by peace and righteousness, aligning with the New Testament portrayal of Jesus as sinless (1 Peter 2:22). This innocence is central to the Christian understanding of the atonement, as only a spotless sacrifice could atone for the sins of humanity.

nor was any deceit in His mouth
The absence of "deceit" (מִרְמָה, mirmah) in His speech further underscores His purity and truthfulness. In a world marred by sin and falsehood, the Servant stands out as a beacon of truth. This aligns with the New Testament depiction of Jesus, who is described as the Truth (John 14:6) and whose words were always in alignment with God's will. The integrity of the Servant's speech is a testament to His divine nature and mission.

Persons / Places / Events

1. The Suffering Servant
This passage is part of the "Suffering Servant" prophecy, which Christians traditionally interpret as referring to Jesus Christ. The Servant is depicted as innocent yet suffering unjustly.

2. The Wicked
Represents those who are morally corrupt and sinful. The Servant's association with them in death highlights the injustice of His treatment.

3. The Rich Man
This refers to the fulfillment of prophecy in the New Testament, where Jesus is buried in the tomb of Joseph of Arimathea, a wealthy man.

4. Isaiah
The prophet who authored this book, delivering messages from God to the people of Israel, often foretelling the coming of the Messiah.

5. The Grave
Symbolizes death and burial, emphasizing the Servant's complete identification with human mortality and suffering.

Teaching Points

The Innocence of Christ
Jesus' innocence is central to His role as the perfect sacrifice for sin. Despite being without sin, He was treated as a criminal, underscoring the depth of His sacrifice.

Fulfillment of Prophecy
The specific details of Jesus' burial demonstrate the precision of biblical prophecy and God's sovereign plan. This should strengthen our faith in the reliability of Scripture.

Identification with Humanity
Jesus' burial among the wicked and the rich shows His complete identification with humanity, experiencing the full extent of human suffering and injustice.

The Injustice of the Cross
Reflect on the injustice Jesus faced, which can help us understand and endure our own experiences of injustice, knowing that God can bring redemption from suffering.

Hope in Resurrection
While this verse focuses on death, it points forward to the hope of resurrection, reminding us that death is not the end for those in Christ.

Bible Study Questions

1. How does the burial of Jesus in a rich man's tomb fulfill the prophecy in Isaiah 53:9, and what does this tell us about God's attention to detail in His plans?

2. In what ways does the innocence of the Suffering Servant challenge us to live lives of integrity and truth?

3. How can understanding the injustice Jesus faced help us deal with our own experiences of injustice or suffering?

4. What does the fulfillment of prophecy in Isaiah 53:9 teach us about the reliability and trustworthiness of Scripture?

5. How does the burial and subsequent resurrection of Jesus provide hope and assurance for believers today?

Connections to Other Scriptures

Matthew 27:57-60
This passage describes the burial of Jesus in the tomb of Joseph of Arimathea, fulfilling the prophecy of being with a rich man in His death.

1 Peter 2:22
Peter references Isaiah 53, affirming that Jesus committed no sin and no deceit was found in His mouth, highlighting His innocence.

Philippians 2:8
Paul speaks of Jesus humbling Himself to the point of death, even death on a cross, which aligns with the suffering and humility described in Isaiah 53.

Sermons

A Prophecy of Messiah	J. Durham.	Isaiah 53:9
Christ Laid in the Grave	J. Durham.	Isaiah 53:9
The Suffering Servant Given a Convict's Grave	Prof. G. A. Smith, D.D.	Isaiah 53:9
With the Rich in His Death	A. B. Davidson, D.D.	Isaiah 53:9
With the Rich in His Death	F. Delitzsch, D.D.	Isaiah 53:9
A Faithful Minister's Sorrow	J. Durham.	Isaiah 53:1-12
A Heavy Complaint and Lamentation	T. Boston, M.A.	Isaiah 53:1-12
Christ in Isaiah	F. Sessions.	Isaiah 53:1-12
Christ Preached, But Rejected		Isaiah 53:1-12
Christ Rejected in Our Time		Isaiah 53:1-12
Divine Power Necessary for Believing the Gospel Report	T. Boston, M. A.	Isaiah 53:1-12
Do the Prophets Believe	J. Parker, D.D.	Isaiah 53:1-12
Evidences of Non-Success	T. Boston, M. A.	Isaiah 53:1-12
Gentile Prejudice Against Christ		Isaiah 53:1-12
Jewish Prejudice Against Christ		Isaiah 53:1-12
Ministerial Solicitude	Essex Congregational Remembrancer	Isaiah 53:1-12
Preaching and Hearing	J. Durham.	Isaiah 53:1-12
The Arm of God and Human Faith	F. B. Meyer, B. A.	Isaiah 53:1-12
The Arm of the Lord	J. Parker, D.D.	Isaiah 53:1-12
The Arm of the Lord Revealed	J. Durham.	Isaiah 53:1-12
The Credibility and Importance of the Gospel Report	J. Lathrop, D.D.	Isaiah 53:1-12
The Gospel-Report	T. Boston, M. A.	Isaiah 53:1-12
The Jewish Nation a Vicarious Sufferer	A. Crawford, M.A.	Isaiah 53:1-12
The Jewish Nation was a Type of Christ	A. Crawford, M.A.	Isaiah 53:1-12
The Jews and Messianic Prophecy		Isaiah 53:1-12
The Little Success of the Gospel Matter of Lamentation	T. Boston, M. A.	Isaiah 53:1-12
The Messiah Referred to in Isaiah 53	R.W. Moss, D.D.	Isaiah 53:1-12
The Might of the Saving Arm, and How to Obtain It	F. B. Meyer, B.A.	Isaiah 53:1-12
The Monarch in Disguise	C. Clemance, D.D.	Isaiah 53:1-12
The Necessity of Faith	J. Durham.	Isaiah 53:1-12
The Offer of Christ in the Gospel	J. Durham.	Isaiah 53:1-12
The Prevalence of Unbelief	E. Cooper.	Isaiah 53:1-12
The Rarity of Believing the Gospel-Report	T. Boston, M. A.	Isaiah 53:1-12
The Servant and Israel	A. B. Davidson, D.D.	Isaiah 53:1-12
The Suffering Saviour		Isaiah 53:1-12
Patience and the Divine Purpose	E. Johnson	Isaiah 53:7-12
Christ Smitten unto Death	R. Hall, M.A.	Isaiah 53:8-9
Christ's Ignominious Death and Glorious Resurrection		Isaiah 53:8-9
Christ's Impisonment	D. Thomas, D.D.	Isaiah 53:8-9
He was Taken from Prison and from Judgment	Prof. J. Skinner, D.D.	Isaiah 53:8-9
The Crucifixion	R. South, D.D.	Isaiah 53:8-9
The Person Stricken	R. Hall, M. A.	Isaiah 53:8-9
The Stricken Christ	J. Parsons.	Isaiah 53:8-9
The Substitution of the Innocent for the Guilty	R. Hall, M. A.	Isaiah 53:8-9
Who Shall Declare His Generation	Howard Crosby, LL.D.	Isaiah 53:8-9
Who Shall Declare His Generation	Prof. J. Skinner, D.D.	Isaiah 53:8-9
The Shortness But Sufficiency of Human Life	W. Clarkson	Isaiah 53:8-10

People

Isaiah

Places

Jerusalem

Topics

Although, Appointed, Appointeth, Assigned, Body, Death, Deceit, Evil-doers, Grave, Guile, Mouth, Places, Resting-place, Rich, Sinners, Though, Tomb, Violence, Wicked, Wrong, Yet

Dictionary of Bible Themes

Isaiah 53:9

     2036   Christ, humility
     2063   Christ, perfection
     2421   gospel, historical foundation
     5281   crucifixion
     5549   speech, positive
     5920   pretence
     5932   response
     5975   violence
     6023   sin, universality
     6025   sin, and God's character
     6040   sinners
     6146   deceit, and God
     6163   faults
     8201   blamelessness
     8279   innocence, examples
     8321   perfection, divine
     8767   hypocrisy
     8811   riches, attitudes to

Isaiah 53:3-10

2354 Christ, mission

Isaiah 53:3-12

5426 news
8356 unselfishness

Isaiah 53:4-11

2315 Christ, as Lamb

Isaiah 53:4-12

1680 types
6616 atonement, in OT

Isaiah 53:7-9

1412 foreknowledge
5879 humiliation

Isaiah 53:7-12

8797 persecution, attitudes

Isaiah 53:9-11

2075 Christ, sinless

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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