Matthew Poole and continuators on Isaiah 52:14

14 As many were astonied at thee ; (his visage was so marred more than any man, and his form more than the sons of men )

Were struck with wonder, either 1. At his glorious Endowments, and the Excellency and Power of his Doctrine, and his miraculous works. Or rather 2. At his great Deformity, and stupendious Humiliation and calamity, as may be gathered, both from the following words, and from the use of this word in Scripture, which is generally used in a bad sense, or of wondring at some extraordinary evil, as Ier. 18. 16. & 19. 8. and oft elsewhere, and never in a good sense, or of wondring at any thing which is extraordinarily good.

At thee, O my Servant, to whom he now turneth his speech, and then turneth his speech from him, and speaks of him in the next words; such sudden changes of Persons, and speaking of one and the same Man, somtimes in one person, and then presently in another, being very frequent in the Writings of the Prophets, as we have already seen in divers instances.

He was more deformed or uncomely than any other man. Which was undoubtedly verified in Christ, who in respect of his Birth, and Breeding, and manner of Life, was most obscure and contemptible, and therefore said to be a worm, and no man, a reproach of men, and despised of the people▪ Psal. 22. 6. who was more hated and vilified by the generality of the Jews, than any man upon Earth, and was accounted and called by them a Deceiver, a Samaritan, a Blasphemer, and a Devil, &c. whose Countenance also was so marred with frequent Watchings, and Fastings, and Troubles, that he was thought to be near Fifty Years old when he was but about Thirty, Io[illegible: 1+ letters]. 8. 57. and was farther spoiled with buffe[illegible: 1+ letters]ings, and crowning with Thorns, and other cruel and despightful usages from men, and with the deep and continual sense of the burden of mens sins, and of Gods displeasure due unto them; all which did not only oppress his spirit, but had a great influence upon the very constitution of his Body.

Marginal references: Ch. 53. 3,