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Does Isaiah 53 predict Jesus, or is it about Israel?
Theological reading

Both questions the passage's own history has raised, and they don't have equally strong footing.

The "servant" in Isaiah is a figure who slides between identities across chapters 40–53. In 49:3 he is explicitly named Israel; in 49:5–6 he is distinguished from Israel, given a mission "to bring Jacob again to him" — the servant restores Israel, which is a strange thing to say if the servant simply is Israel. That inner tension is in the text itself, not imported later. Jewish interpretation has read the servant of chapter 53 as the nation, as a righteous remnant, or as a particular individual (some rabbinic sources even read it messianically); it's not a settled question within the tradition itself.

The New Testament reads Isaiah 53 as fulfilled specifically in Jesus. John quotes 53:1 directly of the unbelief that met Jesus: "that the word of Isaiah the prophet might be fulfilled, which he spoke: 'Lord, who has believed our report? To whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?'" (John 12:38). Paul does the same in Romans 10:16. The description in 53:3–5 — despised, rejected, "pierced for our transgressions... by his wounds we are healed" — matches nothing Israel as a nation experienced collectively and redemptively for others; Israel suffers in the prophets for her own sin, not vicariously for the world's.

The historic Christian reading is not that Isaiah 40–55 has no reference to Israel at all — much of it plainly does, restoration, gathering, servanthood as vocation. It's that chapter 53 outstrips what Israel does or suffers, and the New Testament identifies the one who fills it out: one man, despised, silent, substituted, whose wounds heal others. That is the claim scripture makes about itself; it isn't a later imposition on an otherwise settled text.

Isaiah 53:1 WEB
Who has believed our message? To whom has Yahweh's arm been revealed?
the passage you named
See also 5
  1. John 12:38 that the word of Isaiah the prophet might be fulfilled, which he spoke: "Lord, who has believed our report? To whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?"
  2. Romans 10:16 But they didn't all listen to the glad news. For Isaiah says, "Lord, who has believed our report?"
  3. 1 Corinthians 1:18 For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are dying, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
  4. John 1:12 But as many as received him, to them he gave the right to become God's children, to those who believe in his name:
  5. Matthew 16:17 Jesus answered him, "Blessed are you, Simon Bar Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven.
Isaiah 53:2 WEB
For he grew up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of dry ground. He has no good looks or majesty. When we see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him.
the passage you named
See also 5
  1. Philippians 2:6 who, existing in the form of God, didn't consider equality with God a thing to be grasped,
  2. Isaiah 52:14 Just as many were astonished at you— his appearance was marred more than any man, and his form more than the sons of men—
  3. John 1:10 He was in the world, and the world was made through him, and the world didn't recognize him.
  4. Isaiah 11:1 A shoot will come out of the stock of Jesse, and a branch out of his roots will bear fruit.
  5. Mark 6:3 Isn't this the carpenter, the son of Mary and brother of James, Joses, Judah, and Simon? Aren't his sisters here with us?" So they were offended at him.
Isaiah 53:3 WEB
He was despised and rejected by men, a man of suffering and acquainted with disease. He was despised as one from whom men hide their face; and we didn't respect him.
the passage you named
See also 5
  1. John 1:10 He was in the world, and the world was made through him, and the world didn't recognize him.
  2. Matthew 26:67 Then they spat in his face and beat him with their fists, and some slapped him,
  3. Isaiah 53:10 Yet it pleased Yahweh to bruise him. He has caused him to suffer. When you make his soul an offering for sin, he will see his offspring. He will prolong his days and Yahweh's pleasure will prosper in his hand.
  4. Hebrews 12:2 looking to Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising its shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
  5. Isaiah 49:7 Yahweh, the Redeemer of Israel, and his Holy One, says to him whom man despises, to him whom the nation abhors, to a servant of rulers: "Kings shall see and rise up, princes, and they shall worship, because of Yahweh who is faithful, even the Holy One of Israel, who has chosen you."
Isaiah 49:3 WEB
He said to me, "You are my servant, Israel, in whom I will be glorified."
closest in meaning to what you asked
See also 5
  1. Isaiah 42:1 "Behold, my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen, in whom my soul delights: I have put my Spirit on him. He will bring justice to the nations.
  2. 1 Peter 2:9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God's own possession, that you may proclaim the excellence of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.
  3. Isaiah 44:23 Sing, you heavens, for Yahweh has done it! Shout, you lower parts of the earth! Break out into singing, you mountains, O forest, all of your trees, for Yahweh has redeemed Jacob, and will glorify himself in Israel.
  4. Isaiah 52:13 Behold, my servant will deal wisely. He will be exalted and lifted up, and will be very high.
  5. John 17:1 Jesus said these things, then lifting up his eyes to heaven, he said, "Father, the time has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may also glorify you;
Isaiah 47:4 WEB
Our Redeemer, Yahweh of Armies is his name, is the Holy One of Israel.
closest in meaning to what you asked
See also 5
  1. Isaiah 44:6 This is what Yahweh, the King of Israel, and his Redeemer, Yahweh of Armies, says: "I am the first, and I am the last; and besides me there is no God.
  2. Isaiah 49:26 I will feed those who oppress you with their own flesh; and they will be drunk on their own blood, as with sweet wine. Then all flesh shall know that I, Yahweh, am your Savior and your Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob."
  3. Isaiah 43:14 Yahweh, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel says: "For your sake, I have sent to Babylon, and I will bring all of them down as fugitives, even the Chaldeans, in the ships of their rejoicing.
  4. Jeremiah 50:33 Yahweh of Armies says: "The children of Israel and the children of Judah are oppressed together. All who took them captive hold them fast. They refuse to let them go.
  5. Isaiah 41:14 Don't be afraid, you worm Jacob, and you men of Israel. I will help you," says Yahweh. "Your Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel.
Isaiah 11:12 WEB
He will set up a banner for the nations, and will assemble the outcasts of Israel, and gather together the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth.
closest in meaning to what you asked
See also 5
  1. Isaiah 43:6 I will tell the north, 'Give them up!' and tell the south, 'Don't hold them back! Bring my sons from far away, and my daughters from the ends of the earth—
  2. Isaiah 56:8 The Lord Yahweh, who gathers the outcasts of Israel, says, "I will yet gather others to him, in addition to his own who are gathered."
  3. Zephaniah 3:10 From beyond the rivers of Cush, my worshipers, even the daughter of my dispersed people, will bring my offering.
  4. Psalm 147:2 Yahweh builds up Jerusalem. He gathers together the outcasts of Israel.
  5. Isaiah 11:10 It will happen in that day that the nations will seek the root of Jesse, who stands as a banner of the peoples; and his resting place will be glorious.
John 12:38 WEB
that the word of Isaiah the prophet might be fulfilled, which he spoke: "Lord, who has believed our report? To whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?"
brought in by cross-reference
Greek Nestle 1904

ἵνα ὁ λόγος Ἡσαΐου τοῦ προφήτου πληρωθῇ ὃν εἶπεν Κύριε, τίς ἐπίστευσεν τῇ ἀκοῇ ἡμῶν; καὶ ὁ βραχίων Κυρίου τίνι ἀπεκαλύφθη;

  • ἵνα ἵνα conjunction G2443
  • ὁ ὁ article · nominative singular masculine G3588
  • λόγος λόγος noun · nominative singular masculine G3056
  • Ἡσαΐου Ἠσαΐας noun · genitive singular masculine G2268
  • τοῦ ὁ article · genitive singular masculine G3588
  • προφήτου προφήτης noun · genitive singular masculine G4396
  • πληρωθῇ πληρόω verb · aorist passive subjunctive, 3rd person singular G4137
  • ὃν ὅς relative pronoun · accusative singular masculine G3739
  • εἶπεν λέγω verb · aorist active indicative, 3rd person singular G3004
  • Κύριε, κύριος noun · vocative singular masculine G2962
  • τίς τίς interrogative pronoun · nominative singular masculine G5101
  • ἐπίστευσεν πιστεύω verb · aorist active indicative, 3rd person singular G4100

Punctuation is editorial — the manuscripts carry none.

See also 5
  1. Isaiah 53:1 Who has believed our message? To whom has Yahweh's arm been revealed?
  2. Romans 10:16 But they didn't all listen to the glad news. For Isaiah says, "Lord, who has believed our report?"
  3. Romans 10:20 Isaiah is very bold and says, "I was found by those who didn't seek me. I was revealed to those who didn't ask for me."
  4. 1 Corinthians 1:24 but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God;
  5. 2 Corinthians 4:3 Even if our Good News is veiled, it is veiled in those who are dying,
Romans 10:16 WEB
But they didn't all listen to the glad news. For Isaiah says, "Lord, who has believed our report?"
brought in by cross-reference
Greek Nestle 1904

Ἀλλ’ οὐ πάντες ὑπήκουσαν τῷ εὐαγγελίῳ. Ἡσαΐας γὰρ λέγει Κύριε, τίς ἐπίστευσεν τῇ ἀκοῇ ἡμῶν;

  • Ἀλλ’ ἀλλά conjunction G235
  • οὐ οὐ particle · nominative G3756
  • πάντες πᾶς adjective · nominative plural masculine G3956
  • ὑπήκουσαν ὑπακούω verb · aorist active indicative, 3rd person plural G5219
  • τῷ ὁ article · dative singular neuter G3588
  • εὐαγγελίῳ. εὐαγγέλιον noun · dative singular neuter G2098
  • Ἡσαΐας Ἠσαΐας noun · nominative singular masculine G2268
  • γὰρ γάρ conjunction G1063
  • λέγει λέγω verb · present active indicative, 3rd person singular G3004
  • Κύριε, κύριος noun · vocative singular masculine G2962
  • τίς τίς interrogative pronoun · nominative singular masculine G5101
  • ἐπίστευσεν πιστεύω verb · aorist active indicative, 3rd person singular G4100

Punctuation is editorial — the manuscripts carry none.

See also 5
  1. Isaiah 53:1 Who has believed our message? To whom has Yahweh's arm been revealed?
  2. Romans 3:3 For what if some were without faith? Will their lack of faith nullify the faithfulness of God?
  3. John 12:38 that the word of Isaiah the prophet might be fulfilled, which he spoke: "Lord, who has believed our report? To whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?"
  4. Hebrews 4:2 For indeed we have had good news preached to us, even as they also did, but the word they heard didn't profit them, because it wasn't mixed with faith by those who heard.
  5. 2 Thessalonians 1:8 punishing those who don't know God, and to those who don't obey the Good News of our Lord Jesus,

From the interpretive tradition

The prophets’ great contribution to humanity was the discovery of the evil of indifference.
Abraham Joshua Heschel The Prophets, ch. 1 scholar · jewish
That which He has not assumed He has not healed; but that which is united to His Godhead is also saved.
Gregory of Nazianzus Ep. 101 father · eastern public domain

A worked example. Ask your own and it starts a new thread.