For nearly two millennia, Isaiah 53 has stood as one of the most contested chapters in biblical literature. Christianity has long presented it as a precise prophecy of Jesus’ crucifixion and atoning sacrifice. Yet a rigorous examination of the text in its original Hebrew context, free from theological presuppositions, reveals a narrative that not only fails to align with the historical Jesus but actively contradicts it. This article draws on classical Jewish exegesis and a close reading of the Jewish Publication Society (JPS) Tanakh to argue that Isaiah 53 describes a righteous, individual servant—understood by many Jewish sages as the Messiah—whose story is one of survival and earthly vindication, not death and resurrection.

The Servant: A Righteous Individual, Not a Metaphor

The interpretation of Isaiah 53 as referring to a future Messiah or a singular righteous sufferer is not a modern innovation but a well-documented tradition with deep roots in Judaism’s most authoritative texts.

1. Talmudic and Early Midrashic Sources

The earliest layers of rabbinic literature contain clear identifications of the servant with a messianic figure.

· Babylonian Talmud, Sanhedrin 98b: This is a foundational text. In a discussion about the name and nature of the Messiah, one opinion is presented:
…and the Rabbis say, [his name is] ‘the leper of the house of Rabbi,’ as it is said, ‘Surely he hath borne our diseases, and carried our pains; yet we did esteem him a leper, smitten of God, and afflicted.’ (Isaiah 53:4)
The Aramaic term used is “חיוורא דבי רבי” (Chivara diBei Rabbi), which translates to “the leper of the house of Rabbi.” The Talmud explicitly links the suffering described in Isaiah 53:4 to the Messiah himself, portraying him as a figure who bears sickness and is despised. This is a direct, individual, and messianic interpretation.
· Midrash Rabbah, Ruth 2:14: This midrash comments on the genealogy of King David, from whom the Messiah will descend. It applies Isaiah 53:12 to the Messiah:
“Another explanation: ‘He bore the sin of many’ (Isaiah 53:12) – this is the Messiah, the son of David… as it is said, ‘and made intercession for the transgressors.’”
Here, the Messiah is explicitly stated to be the one who “bore the sin of many” and intercedes on behalf of sinners, directly quoting from the conclusion of

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