Jews: who was Isaiah speaking about in his prophecy?

Question

Specifically, in Isaiah, chapter 53...who is Isaiah speaking about?

-

Again...I am addressing JEWS in seeking an answer to the above question, which concerns THEIR scriptures and THEIR prophet.

Was Isaiah not a prophet of Israel?

If so, WHO is Isaiah talking about in his prophecy:

Isa 53:2-12
He grew up before him like a tender shoot,and like a root out of dry ground.He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him,nothing in his appearance that we should desire him.
He was despised and rejected by men,a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering.Like one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not.
Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows,yet we considered him stricken by God,smitten by him, and afflicted.
But he was pierced for our transgressions,he was crushed for our iniquities;the punishment that brought us peace was upon him,and by his wounds we are healed.
We all, like sheep, have gone astray,each of us has turned to his own way;and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all.

-

Answer 1

firstly, read it in a jewish translation. some parts are sometimes... translated with bias, in christian versions, link attached.

I also suggest reading this article, specifically about this, on the second site I'm linking.

quoting from that article:

"Look at the setting in which Isaiah 53 occurs. Earlier on in Isaiah, God had predicted exile and calamity for the Jewish people. Chapter 53, however, occurs in the midst of Isaiah's "Messages of Consolation", which tell of the restoration of Israel to a position of prominence and a vindication of their status as God's chosen people. In chapter 52, for example, Israel is described as "oppressed without cause" (v.4) and "taken away" (v.5), yet God promises a brighter future ahead, one in which Israel will again prosper and be redeemed in the sight of all the nations (v.1-3, 8-12).

Chapter 54 further elaborates upon the redemption which awaits the nation of Israel. Following immediately after chapter 53's promise of a reward for God's servant in return for all of its suffering (53:10-12), chapter 54 describes an unequivocally joyous fate for the Jewish people. Speaking clearly of the Jewish people and their exalted status (even according to all Christian commentaries), chapter 54 ends as follows: "`This is the heritage of the servants of the L-rd and their vindication is from Me,' declares the L-rd." "

I agree with their recconing on this. (that its referring to the nation of israel)


and EVEN IF I did not, Isaiah 53, when translated correctly, EVEN if you say its messianic.... it does not really point to Jesus.

>>"Silence can be deafening..."<<

I'm sorry my keyboard doesn't clack loud enough for you to hear. perhaps silence merely means retreiving the links and writing insightfully.

Answer 2

This section is clearly referring to Israel, not to a messiah. I suggest you examine the link below for a full explanation. For one thing, however, Israel in the singular is called God's servant throughout Isaiah, both explicitly (Isa. 41:8-9; 44:1-2; 45:4; 48:20; 49:3) and implicitly (Isa. 42:19-20; 43:10) - the Messiah is not. Other references to Israel as God's servant include Jer. 30:10 (note that in Jer. 30:17, the servant Israel is regarded by the nations as an outcast, forsaken by God, as in Isa. 53:4); Jer. 46:27-28; Ps. 136:22.

Answer 3

In actuality, Isaiah 53 directly follows the theme of chapter 52, describing the exile and redemption of the Jewish people. The prophecies are written in the singular form because the Jews ("Israel") are regarded as one unit. Throughout Jewish scripture, Israel is repeatedly called, in the singular, the "Servant of God" (see Isaiah 43:8). In fact, Isaiah states no less than eleven times in the chapters prior to 53 that the Servant of God is Israel. When read correctly, Isaiah 53 clearly [and ironically] refers to the Jewish people being "bruised, crushed and as sheep brought to slaughter" at the hands of the nations of the world. These descriptions are used throughout Jewish scripture to graphically describe the suffering of the Jewish people (see Psalm 44). Isaiah 53 concludes that when the Jewish people are redeemed, the nations will recognize and accept responsibility for the inordinate suffering and death of the Jews.

Answer 4

Opinions differ.

Some say that it refers to the Jews as a whole, and some say that Isaiah is talking about himself.

But I think it's generally understood to be referring to the Jews.

Answer 5

All of Israel.

You will see at the beginning of Isaiah, he is addressing all of Israel

For future reference when asking questions of Jews it's best to wait until the Jewish Shabbat is over.

Peace to you

Answer 6

If you read it in context, it's clear that the passage is talking about Israel. The previous chapters have several references to 'my servant, Israel'.

Answer 7

The latter part of Isaiah 52 and all 53 speaks of a despised and dying Servant of God dying for His people.

These were prophecies of the Messiah's sufferings. It is the gospel of the OT.

Answer 8

I'm not a Jew, but I'll answer your question.

Yahshua was from the tribe of Yadah, no "J" in the Hebrew alphabet.

We are know as Yahdaim.

Yahshua the Messiah, the lamb of Yahweh of course is the answer to your question sir.

As you can see the response that the "Jews" who showed their love for their brethren Yahshua, that love is still being shown towards his true followers the Yahdaim not Jews.

May Yahweh bless your understanding.
Love, true love in the name of Yahshua Messiah.






.






.



.

Answer 9

The people, Israel.
.

Answer 10

We are taught that it is Israel.