Isaiah and the suffering servant: A look at Isaiah 52:13-53:12 (biblical references: English standard version)

As I read the book of lsaiah and the prophecy it holds, it gives a certain insight into something much bigger than my own understanding. As an Orthodox Jewish man once spoke about prophecy, Isaiah takes the viewpoint as one looking down from a precipice. It isn\u27t necessarily looking directly into the future; instead, it takes the divine big picture and tries to explain it in human terms. So, when looking through the 66 chapters of Isaiah, I understand why this section of Scripture draws curiosity, debate, and passion. As a child growing up with the Bible as a common place in my life, I have always heard that Isaiah 52:13-53:12 relates to the future Messiah. But, over the years, I am the first to admit my lack of understanding of the connection between the passage and the Book of lsaiah as a whole. So, this is the time to step back and look at Isaiah 52:13-53:12 through the historical and cultural context. As the prophet looks down from a precipice, one needs to understand the world he was living in influences the words in the text. By looking at the culture and the context of the passage, one can then form an interpretation of the suffering servant found in Isaiah 52:13-53:12