Do His stripes (Isaiah 53:5) refer to Christ

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Parent Category: FAQs
Category: Bible Questions and answers about Jesus Christ
Published on Thursday, 19 November 2009 12:26
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Do His stripes (Isaiah 53:5) refer to Christ’s scourging or to God’s stroke?

The context of the verse indicates that the stroke is from God. In the previous verse, the nation considered Him to be smitten by God because they counted it blasphemy that He claimed to be God’s Son (see Matthew 26:65, 66; 27:43). Verse 5 is a contrast; it was indeed God’s hand that smote Him, but the reason was not in Him, but in us. God pierced ("wounded"), crushed ("bruised"), chastised, and bruised ("stripes") Him. The "healing" from transgressions and iniquity to wholeness ("peace") was not, could not be, by the shame and suffering inflicted by man.

D. Oliver