King James Version

What Does Isaiah 53:10 Mean?

Isaiah 53:10 in the King James Version says “Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he s...” — study this verse from Isaiah chapter 53 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand. thou: or, his soul shall make an offering”

Isaiah 53:10 · KJV

Context

8

He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken. from prison: or, he was taken away by distress and judgment: but, etc was he: Heb. was the stroke upon him

9

And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth. death: Heb. deaths

10

Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand. thou: or, his soul shall make an offering

11

He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities.

12

Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.

Read Isaiah 53 full chapter

Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
'Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand.' The Hebrew 'chaphets' (pleased) doesn't mean God enjoyed the suffering but that this was His sovereign will for redemption. 'Asham' (guilt/sin offering) - specific sacrificial terminology. Yet death leads to 'prolonged days' - resurrection.

KJV Study — Public Domain

Historical & Cultural Context

This verse holds together God's sovereignty over the cross, the sacrificial nature of Christ's death, and resurrection hope. The Father 'bruised' the Son for our salvation.

Reflection Questions

  1. How do you understand that it 'pleased the LORD to bruise him'?
  2. What does 'he shall prolong his days' indicate about resurrection?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 16 words
יְהוָ֖ה1 of 16

“of the LORD”

H3068

(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god

חָפֵ֤ץ2 of 16

“Yet it pleased”

H2654

properly, to incline to; by implication (literally but rarely) to bend; figuratively, to be pleased with, desire

דַּכְּאוֹ֙3 of 16

“to bruise”

H1792

to crumble; transitively, to bruise (literally or figuratively)

הֶֽחֱלִ֔י4 of 16

“him he hath put him to grief”

H2470

properly, to be rubbed or worn; hence (figuratively) to stroke (in flattering), entreat

אִם5 of 16
H518

used very widely as demonstrative, lo!; interrogative, whether?; or conditional, if, although; also oh that!, when; hence, as a negative, not

תָּשִׂ֤ים6 of 16

“when thou shalt make”

H7760

to put (used in a great variety of applications, literal, figurative, inferentially, and elliptically)

אָשָׁם֙7 of 16

“an offering for sin”

H817

guilt; by implication, a fault; also a sin-offering

נַפְשׁ֔וֹ8 of 16

“his soul”

H5315

properly, a breathing creature, i.e., animal of (abstractly) vitality; used very widely in a literal, accommodated or figurative sense (bodily or ment

יִרְאֶ֥ה9 of 16

“he shall see”

H7200

to see, literally or figuratively (in numerous applications, direct and implied, transitive, intransitive and causative)

זֶ֖רַע10 of 16

“his seed”

H2233

seed; figuratively, fruit, plant, sowing-time, posterity

יַאֲרִ֣יךְ11 of 16

“he shall prolong”

H748

to be (causative, make) long (literally or figuratively)

יָמִ֑ים12 of 16

“his days”

H3117

a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an asso

וְחֵ֥פֶץ13 of 16

“and the pleasure”

H2656

pleasure; hence (abstractly) desire; concretely, a valuable thing; hence (by extension) a matter (as something in mind)

יְהוָ֖ה14 of 16

“of the LORD”

H3068

(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god

בְּיָד֥וֹ15 of 16

“in his hand”

H3027

a hand (the open one [indicating power, means, direction, etc.], in distinction from h3709, the closed one); used (as noun, adverb, etc.) in a great v

יִצְלָֽח׃16 of 16

“shall prosper”

H6743

to push forward, in various senses (literal or figurative, transitive or intransitive)

Study Guide

Historical Context

This verse is found in the book of Isaiah. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.

Theological Significance

Isaiah 53:10 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.

Cross-References

Verses related to Isaiah 53:10 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

2 Corinthians 5:21Romans 8:32Galatians 3:13Zechariah 13:7Ephesians 1:5Hebrews 10:6-12

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