Against Missionary III

     

    

 The Suffering Servant

 

    How is it going y'all? I've been busy recently, I'm so sorry for not uploading more. Anyway Chanukkah Sameach to y'all!

    Regarding 'The Suffering Servant' in Isaiah 53, is it referring to the Christian's god? Several people claims that they were Jewish and when they read Isaiah 53 they're shock for it's "talking" about Yeshu. But is it true? Or is it just hoax?

        It's basically a hoax, for it's not talking about Yeshu, rather it's talking about `Am Yisrôél! And how do we know the fact that it's talking about `Am Yisrôél? We need to take a look to several chapters behind.

Who's "The Servant"?

    Before going deeper into the topic, we need question this question first. Who's "The Servant"? And to know this we can look at Isaiah 42:1 first,

הֵן עַבְדִּי אֶתְמָךְ בּוֹ בְּחִירִי רָצְתָה נַפְשִׁי נָתַתִּי רוּחִי עָלָיו מִשְׁפָּט לַגּוֹיִם יוֹצִיא

JPS,    This is My servant, whom I uphold, My chosen one, whom I delight. I have put my spirit upon him, he shall teach the true way to the nations.

And to be more specific, it's explained in 44:1

וְעַתָּה שְׁמַע יַעֲקֹב עַבְדִּי וְיִשְׂרָאֵל בָּחַרְתִּי בוֹ

JPS,    But hear now, O Jacob My servant, Israel whom I have chosen!

    Oh no! Don't be afraid if the truth is being revealed to you, that it's not Yeshu! Let's go further, shall we? 

 If it's talking about Israel, why is it written in singular form?

    Simple answer, Israel is described as one person! JACOB. And how do we know this? It's already explain above in Isaiah 44:1, that JACOB was called My Servant (s.) not My servants (pl.)!

    Look at the verse in Isaiah 41:8 to change your perspective!

וְאַתָּה יִשְׂרָאֵל עַבְדִּי יַעֲקֹב אֲשֶׁר בְּחַרְתִּיךָ זֶרַע אַבְרָהָם אֹהֲבִי

JPS,    But you, Israel, My Servant, Jacob, whom I have chosen, Seed of Abraham my friend.

     I think that's all I can explain in this part, hope it helps! 

P.S. JPS translation isn't the most accurate, I suggest checking Chabad's translation, it's one of the most accurate translation [although not 100%].

 

יְהֹוָה חָפֵץ לְמַעַן צִדְקוֹ יַגְדִּיל תּוֹרָה וְיַאְדִּיר

Hashem desire [this] for His righteousness' sake,

He may magnifies the TORAH and strengthens it.