Him Who was on earth known as the Man of Sorrows, for He was more than mere man, He was the God-Man.

`Behold My Servant' said the Lord, not only in Isaiah 52, but in Philippians 2:

`Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: but made Himself of no reputation

... the form of a servant ... He humbled Himself (see Isa. 53:8 LXX, "In His humiliation His judgment was taken

away") ... unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted Him (huperupsoo)

and given Him a (the) name which is above every name: that at (in) the name of Jesus every knee should bow'

(Phil. 2:6-10).

Stress is laid in the New Testament on the exceedingly exalted position now occupied by the Ascended Lord.

`He ascended up far above all heavens' (Eph. 4:10) so far above that He might `fill all things'. He has `passed

into (through)' (dierchomai) the heavens (Heb. 4:14); He is `made higher than the heavens' (hupsiloteros) `more

exalted' (Heb. 7:26).

Thus does prophet and apostle delight to honour Him, Who for our sakes stooped so low. It is good that at the

opening of this chapter of unprecedented suffering we should be taken as it were with Peter, James and John to the

Mount of Transfiguration, and there with Moses and Elijah become `eye-witnesses' of His majesty, before we

descend with Him into the vale of tears that led to Calvary's Cross.

In order that we may clearly perceive the argument of Isaiah 52:14,15 we must recognize in the `As' ... `So' of

these two verses the figure of speech called the Simile, and not allow the intervening sentences to prevent the mind

from grasping its import.

`As many were astonied at Thee; (His visage was so marred more than any man, and His form more than the

sons of men): so shall He startle many nations; the kings shall shut their mouths at Him: (For that which had not

been told them shall they see; and that which they had not heard shall they consider)'.

The alteration of the word `sprinkle' to `startle' will be found in the marginal reading of the Revised Version.

Consideration of this revision will not only enable us to understand the teaching of Isaiah 52, but also illustrate the

danger that besets anyone who attempts to translate the original Scriptures, depending only or mainly on the

evidence of the Concordance. We must never forget that the Concordance, if it gives the English rendering, is

merely recording a fact, but whether that fact be at the same time a true translation, the Concordance cannot say. If

the reader is in the habit of using a Hebrew English Lexicon Concordance, he will find that the word translated

`sprinkle' is used twenty-four times in the Old Testament and is translated in every case `sprinkle'; there is no other

passage where such a rendering as `startle' is possible, for in every case, except that of Isaiah 52:15, it is either

blood, oil or water that is sprinkled. In that very exception however lies the answer to the difficulty. Supposing we

said that blood, oil, water or nations are sprinkled, we should at once realize that the blood oil or water are said to be

sprinkled on persons or things, and that something not stated is said to be sprinkled on the nations.

The Hebrew word nazah means primarily `to leap' and is allied with the similar Arabic word which is employed

in such proverbs as `a greater leaper than the locust', or `more springy than the springbok'. When a fluid is in mind,

then `sprinkle' or `spurt' is appropriate.

`The fluid spurted is put in the accusative, and it is spurted upon the person. In the present passage, the persons

"many nations", is in the accusative, and it is simply treason against the Hebrew language to render "sprinkle".

The interpreter who will so translate will `do anything' (A. B. Davidson).

Moreover the LXX translates this passage, `Thus shall many nations wonder at Him', clearly showing that they

understood the word as the R.V. gives it. This translation is endorsed by The Companion Bible.

We can now see more clearly the teaching of Isaiah 52:14,15 which we will set out, using the added knowledge

we have gained.

As. The many `astonished'.

Reason. The marred visage.