As many were astonied at thee; his visage was so marred more than any man, and his form more than the sons of men:
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),
- BSB Just as many were appalled at Him—His appearance was disfigured beyond that of any man, and His form was marred beyond human likeness—
- 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 gave my back to the smiters, and my cheeks to them that plucked off the hair: I hid not my face from shame and spitting.
- Matt 26:67Then did they spit in his face, and buffeted him; and others smote him with the palms of their hands,
- Isa 53:2–5For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him.
- Ps 22:17I may tell all my bones: they look and stare upon me.
- Ps 22:6–7But I am a worm, and no man; a reproach of men, and despised of the people.
- Matt 27:14And he answered him to never a word; insomuch that the governor marvelled greatly.
- Matt 27:29–30And when they had platted a crown of thorns, they put it upon his head, and a reed in his right hand: and they bowed the knee before him, and mocked him, saying, Hail, King of the Jews!
- Ps 22:15My strength is dried up like a potsherd; and my tongue cleaveth to my jaws; and thou hast brought me into the dust of death.
- Luke 22:64And when they had blindfolded him, they struck him on the face, and asked him, saying, Prophesy, who is it that smote thee?
- Matt 7:28And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at his doctrine:
- Mark 5:42And straightway the damsel arose, and walked; for she was of the age of twelve years. And they were astonished with a great astonishment.
- Luke 5:26And they were all amazed, and they glorified God, and were filled with fear, saying, We have seen strange things to day.
- Matt 22:22–23When they had heard these words, they marvelled, and left him, and went their way.
- Ps 71:7I am as a wonder unto many; but thou art my strong refuge.
- Ps 102:3–5For my days are consumed like smoke, and my bones are burned as an hearth.
- Luke 4:36And they were all amazed, and spake among themselves, saying, What a word is this! for with authority and power he commandeth the unclean spirits, and they come out.
- Luke 2:47And all that heard him were astonished at his understanding and answers.
- Mark 6:51And he went up unto them into the ship; and the wind ceased: and they were sore amazed in themselves beyond measure, and wondered.
- Mark 7:37And were beyond measure astonished, saying, He hath done all things well: he maketh both the deaf to hear, and the dumb to speak.
- Mark 10:26And they were astonished out of measure, saying among themselves, Who then can be saved?
- Mark 10:32And they were in the way going up to Jerusalem; and Jesus went before them: and they were amazed; and as they followed, they were afraid. And he took again the twelve, and began to tell them what things should happen unto him,
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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.