Tanakh Prophecy
"He was numbered with the transgressors."
Fulfillment
"With Him they also crucified two robbers."
Rabbinic Sources
"He is counted among sinners for the sake of Israel's atonement."
Deep Dive: Crucified with criminals
Historical Context
The prophecy found in Isaiah 53:12, "He was numbered with the transgressors," is situated within the broader narrative of the Book of Isaiah, traditionally attributed to the prophet Isaiah, who ministered in the 8th century BCE. This prophetic text emerges during a time of significant turmoil for the Kingdom of Judah, characterized by the Assyrian threat and internal moral decay. Isaiah’s message, therefore, was directed towards a people grappling with their identity and covenant relationship with God, providing both a warning and a promise of eventual redemption.
The historical context of this prophecy can be further understood through archaeological findings and historical accounts. The discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls, particularly the Great Isaiah Scroll (1QIsa), dating back to the second century BCE, confirms the textual integrity of Isaiah and reflects its significance in Second Temple Judaism. Additionally, the writings of the Jewish historian Josephus provide contextual insight into the socio-political climate of the time, illustrating the expectations of a messianic figure who would come to deliver Israel from oppression.
Textual Analysis
The key Hebrew phrase in Isaiah 53:12, "נִמְנָה" (nimnah), translates to "numbered" or "counted," which carries implications of identification and association with those who are transgressors or sinners. The word "פֹּשְׁעִים" (posh'im) is translated as "transgressors" and denotes individuals who violate divine law. In some translations, such as the Jewish Publication Society (JPS), the phrase appears as "He bore the sin of many," emphasizing the vicarious nature of suffering.
Different translations reveal nuances in understanding. The New International Version (NIV) states, "He bore the sin of many," while the English Standard Version (ESV) echoes the idea of bearing sin but emphasizes the collective nature of transgressors. These variations illustrate the complexities of interpreting prophetic texts that bridge the ancient context with messianic expectations.
Fulfillment Evidence
The New Testament presents a remarkable fulfillment of Isaiah 53:12 in Mark 15:27–28, where it states, "And with him they crucified two robbers." This passage directly aligns with the prophetic statement that the Messiah would be numbered among transgressors. The historical account of Yeshua's crucifixion, as corroborated by multiple Gospel accounts, underscores the fulfillment of this prophecy. The crucifixion itself, a method reserved for the most heinous criminals, further accentuates the depth of Yeshua’s identification with sin and suffering.
Common objections to the messianic interpretation of Isaiah 53 often cite the ambiguity surrounding the identity of the "suffering servant." Critics argue that the passage could refer to Israel itself or other figures in Jewish history. However, the unique circumstances of Yeshua's execution—namely, his unjust trial, the nature of his accusations, and the fulfillment of other prophecies—reinforce the claim that he embodies the suffering servant archetype as depicted in Isaiah.
Rabbinic Perspectives
Traditional rabbinic sources provide insight into how Isaiah 53 has been understood throughout Jewish history. The Targum Isaiah 53:12 states, "He is counted among sinners for the sake of Israel's atonement," suggesting an interpretation that aligns closely with the concept of vicarious suffering, which is central to the messianic understanding of Yeshua's death.
Additionally, rabbinic literature, including the Talmud, often interprets the suffering servant as a figure who bears the iniquities of Israel, a theme resonant with the concept of collective punishment and atonement found within the Jewish tradition. This understanding supports a messianic reading, as the servant's suffering is framed within the context of redemptive purpose for the Jewish people.
Significance for Today
The prophecy of Isaiah 53:12 and its fulfillment in Yeshua's crucifixion carry profound implications for contemporary believers and seekers. For Messianic Jews and Christians alike, this prophecy emphasizes the redemptive nature of suffering. It illustrates that true atonement and reconciliation with God can arise from the most unexpected places and circumstances.
In a world where suffering is often viewed as a punishment or a sign of divine absence, this prophecy invites a reevaluation of how suffering can serve a greater purpose. It challenges modern believers to embrace the narrative of hope that emerges from despair, reminding them that the Messiah's identification with humanity includes the depths of human suffering.
Ultimately, Isaiah 53:12 serves as a bridge between the ancient texts of the Tanakh and the New Testament, affirming the continuity of God's redemptive plan throughout scripture. It invites all to explore the depths of this message of suffering, hope, and atonement in their spiritual journeys, reaffirming the belief that in the midst of transgression, there lies the promise of salvation.
Two Millennia of Adversary Positions
10 eras of objections to this prophecy, with primary sources and Messianic corrections.
Trypho the Jew (as quoted by Justin Martyr)
A Crucified Messiah is Cursed and Shameful, Not Prophesied
"But this so-called Christ of yours was dishonourable and inglorious, so much so that the last curse contained in the law of God fell on him, for he was crucified."
Trypho, representing 2nd-century Jewish views, objects to the entire concept of a crucified Messiah. He argues that such a fate is one of shame and dishonor, constituting a curse under the law (Deut. 21:23). Therefore, the central event of Jesus's death cannot be the fulfillment of prophecy, which should point to a glorious and triumphant king, not a condemned criminal.
Babylonian Talmud
Servant is Israel Suffering Among Gentile Transgressors
The Talmudic sages primarily interpret the Suffering Servant of Isaiah 53 as a personification of the nation of Israel. In this view, being 'numbered with the transgressors' describes Israel's fate in exile, where they are scattered and persecuted among the sinful gentile nations, suffering unjustly alongside and at the hands of the wicked.
The Quran
Jesus Was Not Crucified; It Only Appeared to Be So
"And for their saying, 'We surely killed the Messiah, Jesus, son of Mary, the Messenger of Allah.' But they did not kill him, nor did they crucify him; rather, it was made to appear so to them."
Islamic doctrine, based on the Quran, fundamentally denies the historical event of Jesus's crucifixion. The objection is not to the interpretation of Isaiah 53 but to the claimed fulfillment itself. According to this view, God saved Jesus (Isa) from the shame of crucifixion by making someone else appear to be him, and then raised him to heaven. Therefore, Jesus was never 'numbered with the transgressors' in the manner the Gospels describe.
Rashi
Israel as the Servant, Despised in Exile
"And He was numbered with the transgressors: Since He was numbered and counted with the wicked and the plunderers to be slain, and He is one of them."
Rashi, in his foundational commentary, solidifies the view that the servant is the nation of Israel. The phrase 'He was numbered with the transgressors' is interpreted to mean that Israel, during its long exile, was considered as wicked and contemptible as the gentile nations, sharing in their afflictions and being treated as criminals by them.
Rashi
Numbered with Transgressors Refers to Appearing Sick and Afflicted
"And he was numbered with the transgressors: He was seen in their numbers, for he was smitten with plagues and appeared as a mourner, and they are always groaning."
Rashi, the foundational medieval Jewish commentator, interprets Isaiah 53 as referring to the collective suffering of the people of Israel, personified as a single servant. He explains that being 'numbered with the transgressors' does not mean being executed alongside criminals. Instead, it means the servant (Israel) appeared afflicted with plagues and sorrow, looking like a sinner being punished, thus being counted among those who suffer.
Ibn Ezra
The Servant as the Prophet Isaiah Himself
After rejecting the Christological interpretation, Rabbi Abraham Ibn Ezra proposes that the Suffering Servant could be the prophet Isaiah himself. In this reading, Isaiah was 'numbered with the transgressors' because his own people, the sinners of Judah, rejected his message and treated him as an enemy and an outcast. He suffered for their sake by bearing their scorn and persecution.
Tovia Singer
Israel is the Servant, Gentiles are the Transgressors
Rabbi Tovia Singer, a leading modern counter-missionary, argues forcefully that the suffering servant of Isaiah 53 is the nation of Israel. In this framework, the phrase 'numbered with the transgressors' (Heb. 'poh-she'im') signifies Israel's exile and dispersion among the gentile nations. The 'transgressors' are the idolatrous nations of the world, and Israel is 'counted' among them geographically and politically during its long period of suffering and exile. This is not about a literal execution but about national displacement.
IslamQA.info
The Crucifixion of Jesus is a Historical Fiction
"And [for] their saying, 'Indeed, we have killed the Messiah, Jesus, the son of Mary, the messenger of Allah.' And they did not kill him, nor did they crucify him; but [another] was made to resemble him to them."
Islamic theology fundamentally denies the historical event of Jesus's crucifixion. The Quran asserts that Jesus was not killed or crucified but was instead raised to God, while another was made to appear in his place. Therefore, the Christian claim of fulfillment in Mark 15:27 is impossible, as the foundational event—Jesus being crucified with criminals—never occurred according to Islamic doctrine.
Bart Ehrman
Gospel Authors Invented Crucifixion Details to Create Prophecy Fulfillment
"Mark, in other words, may have added the detail of the two criminals being crucified with Jesus precisely because he wanted to show that this prophecy of Isaiah was fulfilled in Jesus. It was, in other words, a fulfillment of prophecy that was created by the storyteller."
Bart Ehrman, a prominent New Testament critic, proposes that the details of Jesus's crucifixion were not strictly historical but were crafted by the Gospel writers to create the appearance of fulfilled prophecy. He argues that Mark, writing the first Gospel, was aware of passages like Isaiah 53 and intentionally added the detail of two criminals being crucified with Jesus. This was not a historical report, but a literary creation to make Jesus's death fit a pre-existing scriptural pattern.
Tovia Singer
Mark 15:28 is a Later Scribal Addition
Rabbi Tovia Singer argues that the Suffering Servant is Israel and that Christians have manipulated the text to create a fulfillment. He points out that Mark 15:28, which explicitly quotes Isaiah 53:12, is absent from the oldest and most reliable Greek manuscripts of the Gospel. He presents this as evidence of a later scribe adding the verse to force a connection to the prophecy that was not part of the original account.