What does Isaiah 53:5 mean?
Isaiah 53 describes a servant of the LORD who suffers for the sins of others. This verse is its center: "he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities." The punishment that brought us peace with God fell on him, "and with his stripes we are healed." Stripes are the wounds of a whipping. Isaiah wrote centuries before Jesus, yet the New Testament applies this passage directly to his suffering and death; 1 Peter 2:24 quotes it. The healing in view is first spiritual, restoring our broken relationship with God. Christians read it as the heart of the gospel: Jesus took our place.
Isaiah 53:5 in the King James Version
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.
Context
4 Surely he has borne our sickness and carried our suffering; yet we considered him plagued, struck by God, and afflicted.
5 But he was pierced for our transgressions. He was crushed for our iniquities. The punishment that brought our peace was on him; and by his wounds we are healed.
6 All we like sheep have gone astray. Everyone has turned to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all.
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Frequently asked questions
What does Isaiah 53:5 mean?
Isaiah 53 describes a servant of the LORD who suffers for the sins of others. This verse is its center: "he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities." The punishment that brought us peace with God fell on him, "and with his stripes we are healed." Stripes are the wounds of a whipping. Isaiah wrote centuries before Jesus, yet the New Testament applies this passage directly to his suffering and death; 1 Peter 2:24 quotes it. The healing in view is first spiritual, restoring our broken relationship with God. Christians read it as the heart of the gospel: Jesus took our place.
What does Isaiah 53:5 say in the KJV?
Isaiah 53:5 (KJV) reads: “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.”