Isaiah 52:14
in Isaiah 52Just as many were appalled at Him—His appearance was disfigured beyond that of any man, and His form was marred beyond human likeness—
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
Like as many were astonished at thee (his visage was so marred more than any man, and his form more than the sons of men),
KJV
As many were astonied at thee; his visage was so marred more than any man, and his form more than the sons of men:
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This verse in Isaiah 52
Commentary
12 notes on this verse(Verse 14.) As many were astonished at him; so his appearance was marred more than any man, and his form more than the sons of men. LXX: Just as many were astonished at you, so your appearance will be marvelous among people, and your glory among the children of men. And from this will be a greater miracle, that his appearance will be inglorious among men: not because it signifies ugliness of form, but because he came in humility and poverty.
This site's exposition
My Servant will prosper
on Isaiah 52:13-15
The fourth servant song opens, and its first word is exaltation: “He will be raised and lifted up and highly exalted”. Against that height verse 14 sets a form “marred beyond human likeness”. Paul quotes verse 15 at Romans 15:21, and the Targum of Jonathan names this servant the Messiah.
This site's exposition
His form was marred beyond human likeness
Clarke reads appalled at Him for at you, with the Syriac and Chaldee, as the Berean does. Jerome takes the marred form and appearance as the humility and poverty of His coming. Wesley finds the disfigured man worn by watchings, fastings and blows.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers2 voices
Similarly the Father addressed the Son, "Even as many will be astounded at you, so your appearance will be without glory from people." For though, as David has it, he is timely in beauty even above the children of human beings, yet this is in that allegorical state of spiritual grace, when he girds himself with the sword of the Word, which is in truth his very own form and comeliness and glory.
All which things the prophet Isaiah foretold, thus proclaiming beforehand, and by one word intimating all this insolence. For "like as many were astonished at thee," he saith, "so shall thy form be held inglorious of men, and thy glory of the sons of men." For what could be equal to this insolence? On that face which the sea, when it saw it, had reverenced, from which the sun, when it beheld it on the cross, turned away his rays, they did spit, and struck it with the palms of their hands, and some upon the head; giving full swing in every way to their own madness. For indeed they inflicted the blows that are most insulting of all, buffeting, smiting with the palms of their hands, and to these blows adding the insult of spitting at Him.
The Medieval Church1 voice
And as to the ignominy of his passion: for as many have been astonished at you, by your example, miracles and teachings: and all the multitudes were amazed (Matt 12:23) at his teaching and the miracles which he did, so shall his visage be inglorious, …
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
His countenance also was so marred with frequent watchings, and fastings, and troubles, that he was thought to be near fifty years old when he was but about thirty, John viii, 57, and was farther spoiled with buffetings, and crowning with thorns, and other cruel and despiteful usages.
5 Now therefore, what have I here, saith the L ORD , that my people is taken away for nought? they that rule over them make them to howl, saith the L ORD ; and my name continually every day is blasphemed. 6 Therefore my people shall know my name: therefore they shall know in that day that I am he that doth speak: behold, it is I.
quarantine:scripture (2026-07-29) — scripture-overlap:94%@v5-6
4 more voices on this verse
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
As many were astonished at thee,.... Not so much at the miracles he wrought, the doctrines he taught, and the work he did; or at his greatness and glory, at his exaltation and dignity, though very wonderful; as at his humiliation, the mean appearance he made, the low estate he was brought into; the sufferings and death which he underwent.
The Nineteenth Century3 voices
As many were astonished at thee “As many were astonished at him” - For עליך aleicha read עליו alaiv. So the Syriac, Chaldee, and Vulgate in a MS.; and so likewise two ancient MSS.
MODERN Jewish writers refuse to see the Messiah in this passage, but their predecessors were not so blind. The Tar-gum and the ancient Rabbis interpreted it of the Messiah and, indeed, all attempts to explain it apart from Him are palpable failures. Christian commentators in all ages have seen the Lord Jesus here. How could they do otherwise? To whom else could the Prophet have referred? If the Man of Nazareth, the Son of God, is not right visible in these three verses, they are dark as midnight itself!
MODERN Jewish writers refuse to see the Messiah in this passage, but their predecessors were not so blind. The Tar-gum and the ancient Rabbis interpreted it of the Messiah and, indeed, all attempts to explain it apart from Him are palpable failures. Christian commentators in all ages have seen the Lord Jesus here. How could they do otherwise? To whom else could the Prophet have referred? If the Man of Nazareth, the Son of God, is not right visible in these three verses, they are dark as midnight itself! We do not hesitate for a moment in applying every word to our Lord Jesus Christ. Dear Brothers, when our Lord ascended on high, He gave us this commission, "Go you into all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature." Our duty is to obey that command, whether men will hear or whether they will not. The commission is unconditional and is not dependent upon our success. If up to this date, 1875, there had never been a solitary convert through Christian ministry. If the whole of the Church of God had, until this time, labored in vain and the succession of saints had only been kept up by miracle, it would not affect our duty one iota. Our business is to preach the Gospel, even to those who are driven to persecution thereby. We are to sow, whether a harvest follows or not. Success is with God—service belongs to us. I believe, therefore, that true faith, when it is in a healthy condition, will enable us to go plodding on, carefully scattering the seed even by the wayside and on stony places. But there is flesh about us all—and faith is not always unalloyed with sight—and consequently we occasionally flag and almost faint if we do not see some present usefulness. This passage may cheer us if we fear that we have spent our strength for nothing, for such certainly was the condition of the Church of God at the time when this passage was addressed to it.
How the passage was read
What the Jewish commentators add
As many wondered As many peoples wondered about them when they saw them in their humble state, and said to one another, How marred is his [Israel’s] appearance from that of a man!
1 more on this passage, in their own words ▾
Behold My servant shall prosper Behold, at the end of days, My servant, Jacob, [i.e.,] the righteous among him, shall prosper.
This section is reception history: how the passage was read and kept in the Jewish tradition. Where a reading parts from an essential of the Christian faith, the section says so at that point.
Texts and citation data: Sefaria; each excerpt follows its version’s licence. 5 further sources are cited on this chapter that carry no English text this site may quote or only restate the verse.
The words behind it
11 Hebrew wordsEvery Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Hebrew | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| כַּאֲשֶׁ֨ר | kaasher | just as | H834 → | 5497 times |
| שָׁמְמ֤וּ | shamemu | they were appalled | H8074 → | 86 times |
| עָלֶ֙יךָ֙ | ʾaleikha | on you | H5921 → | 5755 times |
| רַבִּ֔ים | rabim | many [people] | H7227 → | 454 times |
| כֵּן־ | ken- | so | H3651 → | 771 times |
| מִשְׁחַ֥ת | mishchat | [was] a disfigurement | H4893 → | |
| מֵאִ֖ישׁ | meish | from a person | H376 → | 1663 times |
| מַרְאֵ֑הוּ | marehu | appearance his | H4758 → | 103 times |
| וְתֹאֲר֖וֹ | vetoaro | and form his | H8389 → | |
| מִבְּנֵ֥י | mibenei | from [the] children of | H1121 → | 4930 times |
| אָדָֽם׃ | ʾadam | humankind | H120 → | 551 times |
כַּאֲשֶׁ֨רjust as
kaasherH834 →5497 times
שָׁמְמ֤וּthey were appalled
shamemuH8074 →86 times
עָלֶ֙יךָ֙on you
ʾaleikhaH5921 →5755 times
רַבִּ֔יםmany [people]
rabimH7227 →454 times
כֵּן־so
ken-H3651 →771 times
מִשְׁחַ֥ת[was] a disfigurement
mishchatH4893 →
מֵאִ֖ישׁfrom a person
meishH376 →1663 times
מַרְאֵ֑הוּappearance his
marehuH4758 →103 times
וְתֹאֲר֖וֹand form his
vetoaroH8389 →
מִבְּנֵ֥יfrom [the] children of
mibeneiH1121 →4930 times
אָדָֽם׃humankind
ʾadamH120 →551 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Isaiah 50:6I offered My back to those who struck Me, and My cheeks to those who tore out My beard. I did not hide My face from scorn and spittle.
it leads to
- Mark 14:65
Then some of them began to spit on Him. They blindfolded Him, struck Him with their fists, and said to Him, “Prophesy!” And the officers received Him with slaps in His face.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Matthew 27:30
Then they spit on Him and took the staff and struck Him on the head repeatedly.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Matthew 26:67
Then they spit in His face and struck Him. Others slapped Him
- Mark 15:19
They kept striking His head with a staff and spitting on Him. And they knelt down and bowed before Him.
- Luke 22:63–64
The men who were holding Jesus began to mock Him and beat Him.
- Mark 14:65
Through
Psalms 22:17I can count all my bones; they stare and gloat over me.
it leads to
- Luke 23:35
The people stood watching, and the rulers sneered at Him, saying, “He saved others; let Him save Himself if He is the Christ of God, the Chosen One.”
- Job 33:21
His flesh wastes away from sight, and his hidden bones protrude.
- Luke 23:35
Through
Matthew 26:67Then they spit in His face and struck Him. Others slapped Him
it leads to
- Isaiah 50:6
I offered My back to those who struck Me, and My cheeks to those who tore out My beard. I did not hide My face from scorn and spittle.
- Isaiah 50:6
Where this verse is studied
On this page
About Isaiah
This page draws on 11 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes on the Book of Isaiah; Charles Spurgeon, The Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit, Sermon No. 1231: “The Sure Triumph Of The Crucified One” (lightly modernized text, CCEL edition); Franz Delitzsch, Biblical Commentary on the Prophecies of Isaiah; Jerome, Commentary on Isaiah; John Chrysostom, HOMILIES ON THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW 85:1; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the Old Testament; Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Tertullian, AGAINST MARCION 3.17 and Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on Isaiah.