Isaiah 53:5
“But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed.”
King James Version
The Suffering Servant bearing vicarious wounds for our transgressions, the heart of substitutionary atonement.
Fulfillment References
1 Peter 2:24 Romans 4:25 Isaiah 53:1-12
Archaeological & Historical Evidence
The Great Isaiah Scroll (1QIsa^a, Dead Sea Scrolls, c. 125 BC) preserves this text virtually identical to the MT, proving the text predates Christ by over a century.
How Traditions Read This Prophecy
JewishThe dominant rabbinic interpretation is corporate Israel as the suffering servant — Israel suffers among the nations to bring light to the world. Rashi, Maimonides, and Ibn Ezra favor this reading.
CatholicThe Servant is Christ — this is the most cited OT passage in the NT regarding the Atonement. The passion narrative is saturated with Isaiah 53 allusions.
ProtestantThe supreme OT prophecy of substitutionary atonement — Christ bears our sins. Calvin called it the fifth Gospel.
Open the full interactive entry →
Cross-references, Hebrew/Greek, Dead Sea Scrolls notes, study tools and multi-tradition analysis in the interactive explorer.
Bible Prophecy Explorer · based on J. Barton Payne’s Encyclopedia of Biblical Prophecy catalogue · an openly Apostolic (Oneness) Pentecostal study resource — all traditions presented fairly. Pastor: C. Myles Young, PhD · Bishop: Nathaniel J. Wilson, Ed.D.