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;
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:
- 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—
- 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 those who beat me, and my cheeks to those who plucked off the hair. I didn’t hide my face from shame and spitting.
- Matt 26:67Then they spit in his face and beat him with their fists, and some slapped him,
- Isa 53:2–5For he grew up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of dry ground. He has no good looks or majesty. When we see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him.
- Ps 22:17I can count all of my bones. They look and stare at me.
- Ps 22:6–7But I am a worm, and no man; a reproach of men, and despised by the people.
- Matt 27:14He gave him no answer, not even one word, so that the governor marveled greatly.
- Matt 27:29–30They braided a crown of thorns and put it on his head, and a reed in his right hand; and they kneeled down before him, and mocked him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!”
- Ps 22:15My strength is dried up like a potsherd. My tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth. You have brought me into the dust of death.
- Luke 22:64Having blindfolded him, they struck him on the face and asked him, “Prophesy! Who is the one who struck you?”
- Matt 7:28When Jesus had finished saying these things, the multitudes were astonished at his teaching,
- Mark 5:42Immediately the girl rose up and walked, for she was twelve years old. They were amazed with great amazement.
- Luke 5:26Amazement took hold on all, and they glorified God. They were filled with fear, saying, “We have seen strange things today.”
- Matt 22:22–23When they heard it, they marveled, and left him, and went away.
- Ps 71:7I am a marvel to many, but you are my strong refuge.
- Ps 102:3–5For my days consume away like smoke. My bones are burned as a torch.
- Luke 4:36Amazement came on all, and they spoke together, one with another, saying, “What is this word? For with authority and power he commands the unclean spirits, and they come out!”
- Luke 2:47All who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers.
- Mark 6:51He got into the boat with them; and the wind ceased, and they were very amazed among themselves, and marveled;
- Mark 7:37They were astonished beyond measure, saying, “He has done all things well. He makes even the deaf hear, and the mute speak!”
- Mark 10:26They were exceedingly astonished, saying to him, “Then who can be saved?”
- Mark 10:32They were on the way, going up to Jerusalem; and Jesus was going in front of them, and they were amazed; and those who followed were afraid. He again took the twelve, and began to tell them the things that were going to happen to 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.