In Hebrew poetry, lines are repeated instead of rhyming which is found in English poetry. This passage in Isaiah is also known as Hebrew poetic form called Parallelism. However, the Jews at the time largely ignored Isaiah’s warnings or predictions about the coming King despite the language in Isaiah 53 pointing to the suffering of an individual, not a nation like many assumed. It was commonly taught that the Messiah’s role would be to restore the Kingdom of God but there was also a basis the He would suffer for His people too. When it comes to the subject of prophecy, 25 percent of the Bible is prophecy of how Jesus would be our Servant, King and Salvation. He then offered himself to God and was commissioned to give voice to the divine Word.

Isaiah became a prophet of God around 742 BCE (found in Isaiah Chapter 6) when he describes seeing God for the first time. It wasn’t until many years later when scholars realized the words written by Isaiah and other prophets were fulfilled and true. These warnings were often not heeded and largely ignored because they were called to repent of their sins and idolatries with the threat of punishment and sometimes reward. Whenever we address prophecy or prophets of the Bible, we need to understand individuals like Isaiah were sent by God to warn God’s people, the Israelites. In order to provide atonement and to be washed of our sins, a perfect sacrifice was coming for all of mankind: God’s only son, Jesus. But the traditional way God’s people atoned for sin in the Old Testament was through the blood sacrifice of animals performed at the Temple. Our sins needed to be washed off each of us. The prophet Isaiah was pointing out that our sins required an atonement. He describes the suffering of the Messiah and then writes the reasons for His suffering: He was pierced for our transgressions (rebellion) and crushed for our iniquities (depravity). The first time we come across this passage is when Isaiah describes what about happen to Jesus. Isaiah 53:5Īnd He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness for by His wounds you were healed. The chastening for our well-being fell upon HimĪnd by His scourging we are healed. It is rich in detail of Christ’s suffering and crucifixion of His saving work for each of us.īut He was pierced through for our transgressions, John McArthur refers to this passage as “the first gospel.” No passage provides a clearer explanation of Christ’s atoning work for sinners. However, the passage in Isaiah is one of the most renowned Old Testament passages because it prophesied about Jesus 700 years before He arrived in a manger. 1 Peter 2:24 ESVīoth passages describe the physical punishment Christ took upon Himself for the sake of humanity-of those who chose to believe in Him. (NIV)Īnd He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness for by His wounds you were healed. (KJV)īut He was pierced through for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities the punishment that brough us peace was on him, and by his wounds we area healed. Later that afternoon, I grabbed my study Bible and looked up the word wounds, when I came across two passages: Isaiah 53:5 and 1 Peter 2:24.īut he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities, the chastisement of our peace was upon himl and with his stripes we are healed.

But to be healed, how? Was it physical, spiritual? Why had everyone become so emotional? I merely thought Jesus’ wounds gave me Salvation. As a new Christian barely toddling around in the new life I was given, I was perplexed by the words. The voices of those around me lifted higher as the main chorus approached in By His Wounds.

By his stripes we are healed esv