Jamieson, Fausset and Brown on Isaiah 53:12
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Isaiah53:12
12. divide--as a conqueror dividing the spoil after a victory (Psa 2:8; Lu 11:22).
him--for Him.
with ... great--Hengstenberg translates, "I will give Him the mighty for a portion"; so the Septuagint. But the parallel clause, "with the strong," favors English Version. His triumphs shall be not merely among the few and weak, but among the many and mighty.
spoil ... strong--(Col 2:15; compare Pr 16:19). "With the great; with the mighty," may mean, as a great and mighty hero.
poured out ... soul--that is, His life, which was considered as residing in the blood (Le 17:11; Ro 3:25).
numbered with, &c.--not that He was a transgressor, but He was treated as such, when crucified with thieves (Mr 15:28; Lu 22:37).
made intercession, &c.--This office He began on the cross (Lu 23:34), and now continues in heaven (Is 59:16; He 9:24; 1Jo 2:1). Understand because before "He was numbered ... He bare ... made intercession." His meritorious death and intercession are the cause of His ultimate triumph. Maurer, for the parallelism, translates, "He was put on the same footing with the transgressors." But English Version agrees better with the Hebrew, and with the sense and fact as to Christ. Maurer's translation would make a tautology after "He was numbered with the transgressors"; parallelism does not need so servile a repetition. "He made intercession for," &c., answers to the parallel, "He was numbered with," &c., as effect answers to cause, His intercession for sinners being the effect flowing from His having been numbered with them.
Jamieson, Fausset and Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible, Isaiah 53:12. Public domain.
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