Just as many were appalled at Him—His appearance was disfigured beyond that of any man, and His form was marred beyond human likeness—
Parallel translations
- WEB Just as many were astonished at you (his appearance was 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:
- NKJV Just as many were astonished at you, So His visage was marred more than any man, And His form more than the sons of men;
- NASB Just as many were appalled at you, My people, So His appearance was marred beyond that of a man, And His form beyond the sons of mankind.
- NLT But many were amazed when they saw him. His face was so disfigured he seemed hardly human, and from his appearance, one would scarcely know he was a man.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Many were appalled at the Servant because his appearance was disfigured beyond human likeness. It matters because it foretells the depth of Christ's suffering.
Overview
The Servant's marred, beaten visage provokes horror in onlookers, anticipating the brutal abuse Jesus endured before and during the crucifixion. The disfigurement is so extreme that he seems scarcely human. This stark portrait of degradation stands in deliberate contrast to the exaltation announced in the previous verse, showing that the road to glory runs through suffering.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 21
- Isa 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.
- Matt 26:67Then they spit in His face and struck Him. Others slapped Him
- Isa 53:2–5He grew up before Him like a tender shoot, and like a root out of dry ground. He had no stately form or majesty to attract us, no beauty that we should desire Him.
- Ps 22:17I can count all my bones; they stare and gloat over me.
- Ps 22:6–7But I am a worm and not a man, scorned by men and despised by the people.
- Matt 27:14But Jesus gave no answer, not even to a single charge, much to the governor’s amazement.
- Matt 27:29–30And they twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on His head. They put a staff in His right hand and knelt down before Him to mock Him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!”
- Ps 22:15My strength is dried up like a potsherd, and my tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth. You lay me in the dust of death.
- Luke 22:64They blindfolded Him and kept demanding, “Prophesy! Who hit You?”
- Matt 7:28When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were astonished at His teaching,
- Mark 5:42Immediately the girl got up and began to walk around. She was twelve years old, and at once they were utterly astounded.
- Luke 5:26Everyone was taken with amazement and glorified God. They were filled with awe and said, “We have seen remarkable things today.”
- Matt 22:22–23And when they heard this, they were amazed. So they left Him and went away.
- Ps 71:7I have become a portent to many, but You are my strong refuge.
- Ps 102:3–5For my days vanish like smoke, and my bones burn like glowing embers.
- Luke 4:36All the people were overcome with amazement and asked one another, “What is this message? With authority and power He commands the unclean spirits, and they come out!”
- Luke 2:47And all who heard Him were astounded at His understanding and His answers.
- Mark 6:51Then He climbed into the boat with them, and the wind died down. And the disciples were utterly astounded,
- Mark 7:37The people were utterly astonished and said, “He has done all things well! He makes even the deaf hear and the mute speak!”
- Mark 10:26They were even more astonished and said to one another, “Who then can be saved?”
- Mark 10:32As they were going up the road to Jerusalem, Jesus was walking ahead of them. The disciples were amazed, but those who followed were afraid. Again Jesus took the Twelve aside and began to tell them what was going to happen to Him:
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Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
Christ at the center
Isaiah sees him most clearly: the virgin's son Immanuel, the child on David's throne, the shoot from Jesse, the light to the nations, and above all the Suffering Servant pierced for our transgressions (ch. 53).
How Isaiah 52:14 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.