Isaiah 53:7

Authorized King James Version

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He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.

Original Language Analysis

נִגַּ֨שׂ He was oppressed H5065
נִגַּ֨שׂ He was oppressed
Strong's: H5065
Word #: 1 of 16
to drive (an animal, a workman, a debtor, an army); by implication, to tax, harass, tyrannize
וְה֣וּא H1931
וְה֣וּא
Strong's: H1931
Word #: 2 of 16
he (she or it); only expressed when emphatic or without a verb; also (intensively) self, or (especially with the article) the same; sometimes (as demo
נַעֲנֶה֮ and he was afflicted H6031
נַעֲנֶה֮ and he was afflicted
Strong's: H6031
Word #: 3 of 16
to depress literally or figuratively, transitive or intransitive (in various applications, as follows)
וְלֹ֣א H3808
וְלֹ֣א
Strong's: H3808
Word #: 4 of 16
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
יִפְתַּ֖ח so he openeth H6605
יִפְתַּ֖ח so he openeth
Strong's: H6605
Word #: 5 of 16
to open wide (literally or figuratively); specifically, to loosen, begin, plough, carve
פִּֽיו׃ not his mouth H6310
פִּֽיו׃ not his mouth
Strong's: H6310
Word #: 6 of 16
the mouth (as the means of blowing), whether literal or figurative (particularly speech); specifically edge, portion or side; adverbially (with prepos
כַּשֶּׂה֙ as a lamb H7716
כַּשֶּׂה֙ as a lamb
Strong's: H7716
Word #: 7 of 16
a member of a flock, i.e., a sheep or goat
לַטֶּ֣בַח to the slaughter H2874
לַטֶּ֣בַח to the slaughter
Strong's: H2874
Word #: 8 of 16
properly, something slaughtered; hence, a beast (or meat, as butchered); abstractly butchery (or concretely, a place of slaughter)
יוּבָ֔ל he is brought H2986
יוּבָ֔ל he is brought
Strong's: H2986
Word #: 9 of 16
properly, to flow; causatively, to bring (especially with pomp)
וּכְרָחֵ֕ל and as a sheep H7353
וּכְרָחֵ֕ל and as a sheep
Strong's: H7353
Word #: 10 of 16
a ewe [the females being the predominant element of a flock] (as a good traveller)
לִפְנֵ֥י before H6440
לִפְנֵ֥י before
Strong's: H6440
Word #: 11 of 16
the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposi
גֹזְזֶ֖יהָ her shearers H1494
גֹזְזֶ֖יהָ her shearers
Strong's: H1494
Word #: 12 of 16
to cut off; specifically to shear a flock or shave the hair; figuratively to destroy an enemy
נֶאֱלָ֑מָה is dumb H481
נֶאֱלָ֑מָה is dumb
Strong's: H481
Word #: 13 of 16
to tie fast; hence (of the mouth) to be tongue-tied
וְלֹ֥א H3808
וְלֹ֥א
Strong's: H3808
Word #: 14 of 16
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
יִפְתַּ֖ח so he openeth H6605
יִפְתַּ֖ח so he openeth
Strong's: H6605
Word #: 15 of 16
to open wide (literally or figuratively); specifically, to loosen, begin, plough, carve
פִּֽיו׃ not his mouth H6310
פִּֽיו׃ not his mouth
Strong's: H6310
Word #: 16 of 16
the mouth (as the means of blowing), whether literal or figurative (particularly speech); specifically edge, portion or side; adverbially (with prepos

Analysis & Commentary

'He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.' The Servant's silence under suffering is emphasized twice: 'opened not his mouth.' The Hebrew 'nagas' (oppressed) indicates harsh treatment. The lamb imagery points to sacrificial death - not resisting, not protesting.

Historical Context

This was remarkably fulfilled when Jesus remained silent before Pilate (Matthew 27:12-14) and before Herod (Luke 23:9). The Ethiopian eunuch was reading this verse when Philip explained the gospel (Acts 8:32-35).

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