Isaiah 53, the forbidden chapter of the Hebrew Bible

[Theowl32]

Isaiah 53

1 Who has believed our message and to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed? 2 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. 3 He was despised and rejected by mankind, a man of suffering, and familiar with pain. Like one from whom people hide their faces he was despised, and we held him in low esteem. 4 Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered him punished by God, stricken by him, and afflicted. 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. 6 We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all. 7 He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth. 8 By oppression and judgment he was taken away. Yet who of his generation protested? For he was cut off from the land of the living; for the transgression of my people he was punished. 9 He was assigned a grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death, though he had done no violence, nor was any deceit in his mouth. 10 Yet it was the LORD’s will to crush him and cause him to suffer, and though the LORD makes his life an offering for sin, he will see his offspring and prolong his days, and the will of the LORD will prosper in his hand. 11 After he has suffered, he will see the light of life and be satisfied ; by his knowledge my righteous servant will justify many, and he will bear their iniquities. 12 Therefore I will give him a portion among the great,and he will divide the spoils with the strong,because he poured out his life unto death, and was numbered with the transgressors. For he bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.

 

[james bond]

Why is it forbidden?

 

[Votto]

Who has believed our message and to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed?

Indeed.

 

[ESay]

It is amazing how so called Christians bring up this passage to support the narrative about Jesus, but at the same time completely ignore 11th and 12th paragraphs which completely refute the absurd idea of Jesus' divinity.

 

[Meriweather]

Jesus is the story of Israel; Israel is the story of Jesus.

I very much doubt this chapter is forbidden. Rather, many of the Jewish faith believe the passage is not about a single person, but the nation of Israel (or God's people) as a whole. A chapter that is very much about them as a whole (even when others see a description of one person) would certainly not be forbidden or rejected.

 

[Theowl32]

Jesus is the story of Israel; Israel is the story of Jesus.

I very much doubt this chapter is forbidden. Rather, many of the Jewish faith believe the passage is not about a single person, but the nation of Israel (or God's people) as a whole. A chapter that is very much about them as a whole (even when others see a description of one person) would certainly not be forbidden or rejected.

Isaiah 53 – The Forbidden Chapter – ONE FOR ISRAEL Ministry

The 17th century Jewish historian, Raphael Levi, admitted that long ago the rabbis used to read Isaiah 53 in synagogues, but after the chapter caused "arguments and great confusion" the rabbis decided that the simplest thing would be to just take that prophecy out of the Haftarah readings in...

www.oneforisrael.org

The 17th century Jewish historian, Raphael Levi, admitted that long ago the rabbis used to read Isaiah 53 in synagogues, but after the chapter caused “arguments and great confusion” the rabbis decided that the simplest thing would be to just take that prophecy out of the Haftarah readings in synagogues. That’s why today when we read Isaiah 52, we stop in the middle of the chapter and the week after we jump straight to Isaiah 54.

What happened to Isaiah 53, you might be wondering? That is exactly what this article is about.

--‐----------

Interesting article. Don't know how true it is.

 

[Meriweather]

The 17th century Jewish historian, Raphael Levi, admitted that long ago the rabbis used to read Isaiah 53 in synagogues, but after the chapter caused “arguments and great confusion” the rabbis decided that the simplest thing would be to just take that prophecy out of the Haftarah readings in synagogues. That’s why today when we read Isaiah 52, we stop in the middle of the chapter and the week after we jump straight to Isaiah 54.

Other rabbis have a different take.

 

[Theowl32]

The 17th century Jewish historian, Raphael Levi, admitted that long ago the rabbis used to read Isaiah 53 in synagogues, but after the chapter caused “arguments and great confusion” the rabbis decided that the simplest thing would be to just take that prophecy out of the Haftarah readings in synagogues. That’s why today when we read Isaiah 52, we stop in the middle of the chapter and the week after we jump straight to Isaiah 54.

Other rabbis have a different take.

Probably, but in that video, it sort of illustrates how seemingly devout isreali Jews heard it for the first time. Now, was that manipulation on part of the video? Probably.

The word "forbidden" is probably an exaggeration. What is interesting is how that prophecy seems to be ignored. It is rather clear. Just like how Abraham was asked to sacrifice his son and since he was willing, coupled with the Jews being asked to sacrifice an unblemished lamb and using the blood of the unblemished lamb to put on their doorways so the angel of death PASSES OVER their homes. Then coupled with this prophecy by Isaiah....

 

[justinacolmena]

53:2 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.

Pretty much the same as in the 10th and 11th chapters, especially

11:1 And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots: ...

The 53rd chapter is well in accordance with the same prophecy of the rest of the book of Isaiah. Certainly there is a Savior or a Messiah, and salvation is the message.

 

[anotherlife]

It is amazing how so called Christians bring up this passage to support the narrative about Jesus, but at the same time completely ignore 11th and 12th paragraphs which completely refute the absurd idea of Jesus' divinity.

There is no contradiction to Christ's divinity. 11 says that he works only as per God, which He Himself says in the Gospels too. And 12 says that He is the Giver. Nothing extraordinary.

 

[ESay]

It is amazing how so called Christians bring up this passage to support the narrative about Jesus, but at the same time completely ignore 11th and 12th paragraphs which completely refute the absurd idea of Jesus' divinity.

There is no contradiction to Christ's divinity. 11 says that he works only as per God, which He Himself says in the Gospels too. And 12 says that He is the Giver. Nothing extraordinary.

Yeah, 'my rightful servant' and 'I will give him a portion among the great' clearly show that here is said about the 'son' of God who is equal with the Father, right?

 

[LittleNipper]

It is amazing how so called Christians bring up this passage to support the narrative about Jesus, but at the same time completely ignore 11th and 12th paragraphs which completely refute the absurd idea of Jesus' divinity.

There is no contradiction to Christ's divinity. 11 says that he works only as per God, which He Himself says in the Gospels too. And 12 says that He is the Giver. Nothing extraordinary.

Yeah, 'my rightful servant' and 'I will give him a portion among the great' clearly show that here is said about the 'son' of God who is equal with the Father, right?

The Messiah took on the cloak of a servant (human form). HE came to be born, live and then die for our transgressions and arise triumphant. GOD the Father now can view those that are born-again, through the MESSIAH, as without sin. That is because the MESSIAH is without sin.

 

[ESay]

It is amazing how so called Christians bring up this passage to support the narrative about Jesus, but at the same time completely ignore 11th and 12th paragraphs which completely refute the absurd idea of Jesus' divinity.

There is no contradiction to Christ's divinity. 11 says that he works only as per God, which He Himself says in the Gospels too. And 12 says that He is the Giver. Nothing extraordinary.

Yeah, 'my rightful servant' and 'I will give him a portion among the great' clearly show that here is said about the 'son' of God who is equal with the Father, right?

The Messiah took on the cloak of a servant (human form). HE came to be born, live and then die for our transgressions and arise triumphant. GOD the Father now can view those that are born-again, through the MESSIAH, as without sin. That is because the MESSIAH is without sin.

Well, that is about a Christian notion about Christ being a perfect sacrificed 'lamb' which purifies the sins of mankind. But this 'sacrifice' turns upside down the very idea of offered sacrifices and doesn't make sense.

 

[hobelim]

Well, that is about a Christian notion about Christ being a perfect sacrificed 'lamb' which purifies the sins of mankind. But this 'sacrifice' turns upside down the very idea of offered sacrifices and doesn't make sense.

Thats why the roman church ( including most others) gets people to worship a false three for the price of one sugar coated mangod by the age of consent. Once a person deliberately violates the first command they die in that very day, descend into the netherworld, the realm of the dead, and become incapable of distinguishing fact from fiction, delusions from reality, rational from irrational, true from false, right from wrong, clean from unclean, good from evil, and life from death.

This is how Satan uses the power of death to subjugate the faithless.

Sadly it still works like a charm.

Telling them it makes no sense will not compute at all to their defiled and contaminated minds.

 

[Meriweather]

Well, that is about a Christian notion about Christ being a perfect sacrificed 'lamb' which purifies the sins of mankind. But this 'sacrifice' turns upside down the very idea of offered sacrifices and doesn't make sense.

Note the words chosen for the books about Christ. New Testament (or Covenant). This new Covenant between God and mankind is repentance for the forgiveness of sins. Recall that in the Old Testament Covenant with God were sealed with a blood sacrifice.

 

[ESay]

Well, that is about a Christian notion about Christ being a perfect sacrificed 'lamb' which purifies the sins of mankind. But this 'sacrifice' turns upside down the very idea of offered sacrifices and doesn't make sense.

Note the words chosen for the books about Christ. New Testament (or Covenant). This new Covenant between God and mankind is repentance for the forgiveness of sins. Recall that in the Old Testament Covenant with God were sealed with a blood sacrifice.

Basically, the New Testament was also sealed with a blood sacrifice. The blood of Jesus.

 

[Meriweather]

Basically, the New Testament was also sealed with a blood sacrifice. The blood of Jesus.

Yes.

 

[ESay]

Basically, the New Testament was also sealed with a blood sacrifice. The blood of Jesus.

Yes.

So, what was the meaning of blood sacrifice, in principle?

 

[Meriweather]

So, what was the meaning of blood sacrifice, in principle?

An animal sacrifice as a sin offering was symbolic of a person or a people offering to God their animal desires so that this part of person-hood might be transformed into the more spiritual of conforming to and being able to apply obedience to the will of God within our own spirits and then into our own lives. Blood covenants between two parties is the sign they are bound to each other.

 

[ESay]

So, what was the meaning of blood sacrifice, in principle?

An animal sacrifice as a sin offering was symbolic of a person or a people offering to God their animal desires so that this part of person-hood might be transformed into the more spiritual of conforming to and being able to apply obedience to the will of God within our own spirits and then into our own lives. Blood covenants between two parties is the sign they are bound to each other.

First of all, a sacrifice is offered by a 'lower' being to a higher force. That is how things worked (and works now, I assume).

Except of that, a sacrifice is the last step, before which there should be sincere repentance of sins. Without it, the sacrifice doesn't make sense.

Also, in the case of Christ there was a human sacrifice. One may say all they want about a 'lamb's, but this doesn't change the fact. If I remember correctly, God in the OT clearly condemns this.