The Meaning of Isaiah 52:15 Explained

Isaiah 52:15

KJV: So shall he sprinkle 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.

YLT: So doth he sprinkle many nations. Concerning him kings shut their mouth, For that which was not recounted to them they have seen, And that which they had not heard they have understood!

Darby: so shall he astonish many nations; kings shall shut their mouths at him: for what had not been told them shall they see, and what they had not heard shall they consider.

ASV: so shall he sprinkle many nations; 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 understand.

Discover Isaiah 52:15

CONTEXT: What is the Context of Isaiah 52:15?

MEANING: What does Isaiah 52:15 Mean?

WORDS: What do the individual words in Isaiah 52:15 mean?

RELATIONS: What do the major concepts mean in Isaiah 52:15?

KJV Reverse Interlinear

So shall he sprinkle  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. 

What does Isaiah 52:15 Mean?

Verse Meaning

The Servant"s sufferings, however, would have worldwide effects; He would sprinkle "many nations."
The interpretation of the Hebrew word yazzeh, translated "sprinkle" or "startle," has led students of this verse to two different understandings of the prophet"s line of thought. If "sprinkle" is correct, Isaiah meant that even though the Servant was such an unlikely candidate as Yahweh"s representative, He would still perform the priestly function of cleansing the world of its sins (cf. Leviticus 4:6; Leviticus 8:11; Leviticus 14:7; 1 Peter 1:1-2; Hebrews 10:22).
"Men regarded the servant as himself unclean and in need of purification, whereas he himself as a priest will sprinkle water and blood and so purify many nations." [1]
If "startle" is correct, the prophet meant that since the Servant was such an unlikely candidate as Yahweh"s representative, He would shock the world (when He made His claims and when God would exalt Him). Both meanings are possible, and both harmonize with other revelation about the Servant. Most English translations have "sprinkle," and this is probably the primary meaning. There are other priestly allusions in the following verses ( Isaiah 53:6-7; Isaiah 53:10-11). I think Isaiah may have used a double entendre at this point so his readers would see both truths. Isaiah was a master of multiple allusions, as we have seen.
Another problem is why the kings would be speechless. Would it be because of His lowly appearance ( Isaiah 52:14) or because of His exaltation ( Isaiah 52:13)? According to the first view, even kings would be shocked at the lowly state of the Servant (cf. John 19:19). What they had not known was that Israel"s redeemer would be a humble Servant. According to the second view, even kings would be speechless at the Servant"s exaltation (cf. Isaiah 52:13). They had never heard that one who took such a lowly place could ever sit on the throne of God.
Again, since people and kings were shocked at both the Servant"s humiliation and His exaltation, it is very hard to tell what was in Isaiah"s mind. Perhaps the first view is better because the thought of Isaiah 52:15 flows directly out of Isaiah 52:14. However, the Apostle Paul applied this verse to the preaching of the gospel in virgin and largely Gentile territory, and the gospel includes both the sufferings and glory of Messiah (cf. Romans 15:21).
"Kings shall shut their mouths-both from amazement and from their inability to say anything by way of self-justification." [2]
Suffering in God"s service leads to exaltation and glorification.

Context Summary

Isaiah 52:1-15 - "thy God Reigneth!"
It is not God that has become lethargic; but we that have slept and need to awake. Being awakened, we discover that two sets of attire are waiting for us: First, His strength, so that we may not be afraid of ten thousands of people who set themselves round about; and secondly, the beautiful garments of our Lord's character. See Colossians 3:9-17.
At last the climax of the long prophetic stairway is reached and the summons for the exodus from Babylon rings out, Isaiah 52:11. It was God's return to the desolate city, Isaiah 52:2; Isaiah 52:8. The stately procession moves slowly and fearlessly. It is not the escape of a band of fugitive slaves, dreading pursuit and recapture, Isaiah 52:12. Before it speed the heralds, appearing on the sky line as they ascend the mountains which surround the Holy City, publishing peace and salvation, Isaiah 52:7. The central body is composed of white robed priests, bearing with reverent care the holy vessels, Isaiah 52:11, of which Nebuchadnezzar despoiled the Temple, but which Cyrus restored. See Ezra 1:7-11. Thus, also, the Church marches through the world. [source]

Chapter Summary: Isaiah 52

1  Christ persuades the church to believe his free redemption
7  To receive the ministers thereof
9  To joy in the power thereof
11  And to free themselves from bondage
13  Christ's kingdom shall be exalted

What do the individual words in Isaiah 52:15 mean?

So shall He sprinkle nations many at Him shall shut Kings their mouths for what not had been told them they shall see and what they had heard they shall consider
כֵּ֤ן יַזֶּה֙ גּוֹיִ֣ם רַבִּ֔ים עָלָ֛יו יִקְפְּצ֥וּ מְלָכִ֖ים פִּיהֶ֑ם כִּ֠י אֲשֶׁ֨ר לֹֽא־ סֻפַּ֤ר לָהֶם֙ רָא֔וּ וַאֲשֶׁ֥ר שָׁמְע֖וּ הִתְבּוֹנָֽנוּ

כֵּ֤ן  So 
Parse: Adverb
Root: כֵּן 
Sense: so, therefore, thus.
יַזֶּה֙  shall  He  sprinkle 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: נָזָה 
Sense: to spurt, spatter, sprinkle.
גּוֹיִ֣ם  nations 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural
Root: גֹּוי 
Sense: nation, people.
רַבִּ֔ים  many 
Parse: Adjective, masculine plural
Root: רַב 
Sense: much, many, great.
עָלָ֛יו  at  Him 
Parse: Preposition, third person masculine singular
Root: עַל 
Sense: upon, on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against.
יִקְפְּצ֥וּ  shall  shut 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: קָפַץ  
Sense: to draw together, close, shut, shut up, stop up.
מְלָכִ֖ים  Kings 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural
Root: מֶלֶךְ 
Sense: king.
פִּיהֶ֑ם  their  mouths 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, third person masculine plural
Root: פֶּה  
Sense: mouth.
סֻפַּ֤ר  had  been  told 
Parse: Verb, Pual, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: סָפַר 
Sense: to count, recount, relate.
רָא֔וּ  they  shall  see 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person common plural
Root: רָאָה 
Sense: to see, look at, inspect, perceive, consider.
וַאֲשֶׁ֥ר  and  what 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Pronoun, relative
Root: אֲשֶׁר 
Sense: (relative part.).
שָׁמְע֖וּ  they  had  heard 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person common plural
Root: שָׁמַע 
Sense: to hear, listen to, obey.
הִתְבּוֹנָֽנוּ  they  shall  consider 
Parse: Verb, Hitpael, Perfect, third person common plural
Root: בִּין  
Sense: to discern, understand, consider.

What are the major concepts related to Isaiah 52:15?

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