Isaiah 53:5Servant Song section
But he was pierced for our transgressions. He was crushed for our iniquities. The punishment that brought our peace was on him; and by his wounds we are healed.
Interpretation
The prophet calls a healing that is embodied in solitude and community. Isaiah 53:5: trace "was" and "pierced". Let healing in promises we keep—steady the will with prayer.
Context
This passage belongs to Isaiah, a prophetic oracle witness, highlighting healing. Within ch. 53, a small unit frames the emphasis. It edges toward prophetic hope & judgment. Watch the terms “was” and “pierced”.
Manuscripts & Textual Witnesses
The Hebrew text is preserved in the Masoretic tradition, stabilized between the 6th-10th centuries CE. The the Dead Sea Scrolls (found 1947-1956) provide manuscripts 1000+ years older than medieval texts, generally confirming the Masoretic Text's reliability with only minor variations. The Septuagint (Greek translation, 3rd-2nd century BCE) offers an independent textual witness. Variations between manuscripts are typically minor: spelling differences, word order, or clarifications that leave the overall message intact. Modern translations compare all available manuscripts to reconstruct the most likely original text.
Sources & witness notes
MT