“He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken” (KJV, Is. 53:8).
“He was taken from prison and from judgment”
The Bible speaks much about the judgment rendered on Jesus. The word translated as prison in the KJV is otser which also carries the meaning of oppression. Oppression likely is what was at stake in Isaiah’s words. Oppression would also align with the context and the fulfillment of prophecy.
In the preceding verse, Isaiah had said, “He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth” (KJV, Is. 53:7). Thus, the reader was made aware of Jesus’ affliction and oppression before His death.
Amid His oppression, He was also judged. The trial which Jesus endured was a highly corrupt event. The trial began after the arrest of Christ in the Garden of Gethsemane. First, He was taken to Annas, the former high priest and father-in-law to Caiaphas, the current high priest. Before Jesus arrived, the scribes and elders had already gathered. They had been planning to arrest Christ and put Him to death, and their assembly in Caiaphas’ home sometime after midnight but before daybreak would attest to such a statement.
Then Christ was taken before Caiaphas and later Pilate. Many false charges were brought against Jesus, but nothing could stand. Instead, the Bible repeatedly declares that Jesus did not speak to His accusers. But finally, Caiaphas spoke up, and the Scripture says, “… And the high priest answered and said unto him, I adjure thee by the living God, that thou tell us whether thou be the Christ, the Son of God” (Matt. 26:63-64). Caiaphas attempted to place Jesus under an oath that made Jesus liable to reply.
Jesus accepted the oath and responded by saying, “…Thou hast said: nevertheless I say unto you, Hereafter shall ye see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven” (Matt. 26:64). The Bible goes on to say, “Then the high priest rent his clothes, saying, He hath spoken blasphemy, what further need have we of witnesses…” (Matt. 26:65). Shortly after, the people deemed Jesus worthy of death.
Later Jesus was taken before Pilate and was sentenced to death. However, under Pilate’s authority, Jesus was sentenced to death as the King of the Jews.
Jesus spoke the truth but was still taken away to die a sinner’s death.
“and who shall declare his generation”
A question is posed in the text, “…who shall declare his generation?” Jesus was killed and removed from the earth during the prime of His life. He left no descendants and would have no lineage.
Genealogies were essential to the Jews. The book of Matthew opens up by saying, “The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the Son of Abraham” (Matt. 1:1). Matthew lists a large number of people in the lineage of Christ. If one were to look at Jesus’ lineage presented in Luke’s Gospel, he would see names tracing back to Adam.
However, Isaiah recognized that no one would declare Christ’s future generations, for Jesus Christ would be cut off from the land of the living. But the irony of the message is that Jesus Christ lives on. Scripture says, “Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh; And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead” (Rom. 1:3-4). Thus, although Jesus was born of the line of David and had no earthly descendants, He was declared the Son of God through the resurrection. Thus there would be many who would be born of Him.
As a result, Isaiah could go on and say, “Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his hand” (Is. 53:10). Jesus would see His descendants, and His days would be prolonged.
“for he was cut off out of the land of the living”
Jesus Christ was cut off from the land of the living. Once again, the Prophet Isaiah introduces the reader to the dying Servant of God. In several ways, Isaiah tells us that the Servant would come and die.
Isaiah states the following:
• Jesus’ appearance was marred beyond the form of a man (Is. 52:14).
• Jesus sprinkled many nations (52:15).
• Jesus bore the sinner’s grief (53:4).
• Jesus carried the sinner’s sorrows (53:4).
• Jesus was esteemed to be stricken and smitten by God (53:4).
• Jesus was pierced for the transgression of the sinner (Is. 53:5).
• Jesus was crushed for the sinner’s iniquities (53:5).
• Jesus was chastened for the sinner (53:5).
• Jesus was scourged for the sinner (53:5).
• Jesus bore the iniquity of the sinner (53:6).
• Jesus was like a lamb led to the slaughter (53:7).
• Jesus was taken away by oppression and judgment (53:8).
• Jesus was cut off from the land of the living (53:8).
• Jesus was stricken for the transgression of the people (53:8).
• Jesus’s grave was with the wicked (53:9).
• Jesus’ grave was also among the rich (53:9).
• Jesus was crushed by the Father (53:10).
• Jesus was a guilt offering for the people (53:10).
• Jesus’ soul was in anguish (53:11).
• Jesus bore the iniquities of His people (53:11).
• Jesus poured out Himself to death (53:12).
• Jesus was numbered with the transgressors (53:12).
• Jesus bore the sin of many (53:12).
• Jesus interceded for the people (53:12).
“for the transgression of my people was he stricken”
Isaiah returns to the common theme of His Suffering Servant passage. Jesus would be placed forward as a guilt offering for the people. He would be stricken for the transgression of the lost. Daniel spoke a similar message in his prophetic words found in Daniel chapter 9.
Daniel chapter 9:20-27 begin with Daniel praying and the angel Gabriel arriving to inform Daniel of the coming Messiah. Gabriel told Daniel of a period that would elapse before sin ended, reconciliation with God would occur, and everlasting righteousness would reign. Then the Bible says, “And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary…” (Dan. 9:26). The Messiah has come, and He has been cut off from the land of the living. However, He was not cut off for Himself. He was cut off for the sake of His people.
Startling proofs are given for the validity of Isaiah’s and David’s words concerning the Messiah. Overwhelming evidence is given for the death of Christ both inside and outside Scripture. Daniel also foretold that shortly after the death of Christ, both Jerusalem and the temple would be destroyed.
In A.D. 70, Titus the Roman waged war against Jerusalem and the Jews. The Romans won the battle, and Jerusalem was destroyed. The foundations of the structures were ripped out, and the temple was demolished. The Word of God proves true, for God cannot lie.
Jesus Christ was given to man as a substitute for sin. There is no other way to God apart from Jesus. Jesus alone is the way, truth, and life. It is impossible to get to the Father apart from Him. There is only one name given to man whereby he must be saved. His name is Jesus Christ.
Final prayer
Father, I thank You for placing Christ before me as a sacrificial offering for sin. Jesus, I thank You for being willing to die a sinner’s death for me. Holy Spirit, I thank you for applying the work of Christ to my life and uniting me with my Savior. You have been good to me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.