The Exalted Servant

There is a lot of confusion about Isaiah 53. Is it about the Moshiya? or is it about Israel? Or is it about both?

Isaiah is written in Hebrew and we have to to Hebrew text with the mind of the old Hebrews, which is difficult, even for Hebrews from later generations.
An other difficulty is that Hebrew words can have several meanings and the correct meaning has to be deducted from the context.

The style of writing is sometimes in segments, whereby each segment describes the situation of the servant in the following way:
1. It should be like this.
2. However it appears to be completely opposed as to what it should be.
3. It shall be like this in the end.

To study Isaiah 53, we will have to look at the whole context and this start already in
Isaiah 48:1

Hear this house of Ya'akov the ones called by the name Yisrael and from waters yehudah came forth.the ones swearing by name Yahuweh. and Elohiem yisrael keep in remembrance not in truth and not in righteousness.

The message is to Israel. Note that they are coming forth from the waters of Judah.
Now this is the only reference in the Tanakh to water in this way. We know that water really can not bring anything forth. However, water is the source for sustaining.
We read in 2Chron.11:16, that people from all the tribes of Israel followed the Levites to Yerushalaim to worship Yahuweh. This after Jeroboam turned to Idol worship. So religious Israel comes from and is sustained by, Judah.

Therefore when Isaiah speaks of Israel, he does not refer to the ten tribes but to Israel as the religious nation, which as we discover from reading these chapters, is the believing remnant of Israel.

Read this chapter, it relates Yahuweh's actions and His reason for these actions on behalf of israel.
When reading verse 14-20, remember that Isaiah lived before the deportation of Judah and Benjamin to Babylon. This is a prophecy for future generations, with a reference to previous redemptions, see verse 21.

Now in Isa.49:1-3, Isaiah tells us that he is prepared by Yahuweh for his task.
We can not but conclude from the plain text that Isaiah is talking about himself and is not referring to someone else. Any other reference implied is speculation.
let us have a closer look at Isa,49:3.

And began saying to me," my servant you Yisrael that in you yourself be glorified."

Now this is the Hebrew sequence and various translators have made different translations.
Let us look at the literal Hebrew and in its context.
The context is about Isaiah as Yahuweh's servant. I suggest that Yahuweh proposes to Isaiah to put himself in the place of Israel that he might be glorified.
This follows from Isaiah's answer in the next verse which implies that Isaiah worked in vain with Israel and that he rather find Justification in Yahuweh. In other words he find just serving Yahuweh more rewarding then being used by Yahuweh to return Israel to its Elohiem.

It would again be speculation to suggest that anyone else beside Isaiah is the subject.
Isa.49:5

"and you," says Yahuweh who pre ordained me from the womb in order to servant to Him in order to return Ya'akov to Him but Yisrael not be gathered and be made heavy in the eyes of Yahuweh but my Elohiem shall be my strength.

Now let us look at this Hebrew sentence and try to imagine the Hebrew of the era without transplanting it in to our present English thought and pre-conceived ideas like most translators did.
Isaiah says Yahuweh spook to him, but then interrupt himself by saying that he was pre ordained to bring Ya'akov or Israel back to Yahuweh. Then Isaiah complains that Israel is not gathered but made heavy or unresponsive in the eyes of Yahuweh. But Isaiah then says that he find solace in the strength of Yahuweh.
This translation is kept in context to the previous verse.
Then Isaiah continues with what Yahuweh is telling him, Isa.49:6

And said' "is it insignificant for you to be to Me servant to cause to arise the tribes of Ya'akov and the guarded ones of Israel cause to return and to give you for light nations to be my deliverer to the end of the Earth."

Some people claim that Yahuweh is speaking about the comming Moshiya, but this is speculation, the plain text indicates that Yahuweh is talking to and about Isaiah as His servant and representation of Israel.
Paul uses this Scripture in Acts 13:47, to confirm that the task of Israel is to be a light to the nations and to bring salvation to the ends of the Earth.

Isaiah continues by saying that although he complained, he is His servant to whom Yahuweh continues to give the message. The message he has to bring to Israel and to the nations. A message that tells about Yahuweh's future dealings with Israel.A message that will be a light to all the nations, a message of Yahuweh's deliverance.

The words of Yahuweh to Isaiah His servant are in fact spoken to Israel (comp.verse 3)

Thus says Yahuweh, redeemer Yisrael his set apart one, as scorned soul regarded, as an abomination nation, as servant of rulers. kings shall see and stand leaders but to bow down for the sake of Yahuweh as to be established a set apart Israel and you to be chosen.

We see here the segments I pointed out in the beginning.
1. Israel should be Yahuweh's set apart (holy)nation.
2. However they are far from this, they are scorned as an abomination and used as servants.
3. It shall be different one day as the leaders of the nations shall see.

We are able to look upon the Jews over the ages and the Nation Israel from 1948 onwards. This shows us that this nation set apart by Yahuweh, its redeemer, is scorned. It is regarded by the world as a trouble maker that should be shameful. They are servants of rulers. They have to obey international consensus instead of dealing with the situation in their own way.
However, one day Kings and rulers shall take notice and bow down before Yahuweh when they see that Yahuweh establishes and has set apart Israel as His nation.

Isa.49:8-13 Relates what Yahuweh shall be doing for His People.
In Isa.49:14, Israel claims that Yahuweh has forsaken them. It looks like He did for the last two millenia.
However, in Isa.49:15-21, Yahuweh tells them that He could not have forgotten them and that He shall restore them.
Isa.49:22-23, Yahuweh tells how this shall be done.

Thus says Adonay Yahuweh: "Take notice that to the nations my hand and to the people set up my signal and they bring your sons in their bosom and your daughters on shoulder be carried. Then shall be kings your supporters and their princesses your nurses faces earth they bow down to you and dust of your feet they to lick up and it be known that I Yahuweh that not put to shame waiting for Me."

Yahuweh shall put His hand on the nations, meaning bringing a heavy load upon them this will be a signal that Yahuweh is behind Israel. Kings and queens. which are the leaders of the nations, will grovel at the feet of Israel.

Just be patient and wait for Yahuweh to act and you will not be ashamed!

In Isa.49:24-26 Yahuweh put forth some arguments about this and ends it with:

Then shall know all flesh that I Yahuweh Moshiyech and goalech abiyr Ya'akov.

In the Tanakh Israel is often referred to in the feminine gender. Moshiyech Is the feminine form of "your Moshiya" or "your deliverer."
Likewise is Goalech "your goel" or your redeemer.
Abiyr is usually translated as mighty, but it is the very old Hebrew way of indicating the almighty deity.

For our correct understanding of all the Tanakh prophesies, we should notice that it is here clearly stated that YHVH, Yahuweh is the Moshiya and goel of Israel! This simply excludes any other being from being the Moshiya and redeemer.

In Isa.50:1-3. Yahuweh tells Israel that they were abandoned because of their transgressions, but that He is mighty enough to deliver them.

Especially in the beginning of his mission of turning Israel back to Yahuweh, Isaiah did not succeed and must have had a lot of opposition. More so because he prophesied about Israel's punishment. This is what Isaiah relates to in Isa.50:4-11. In Isaiah 53, Yahuweh through Isaiah addresses Israel which is made clear from Isa.51:1-2

You listen to me the ones pursuing righteousness from the ones seeking to find Yahuweh You pay attention to rock you be hewn from and to hole of the pit you are dug out from. You look to Abraham your father and to sarah who brought you forth when echad I called him and blessed him and multiplied him.

When echad, means that Abraham was alone when Yahuweh called him. In other words Yahuweh tells them to look at their beginnings and see what He has done with them.
In Isa.51:3 Yahuweh states that indeed He still takes care of them. In Isa.51:4-20, Yahuweh confirms this and tells Israel to take heart and not be afraid because His Salvation shall come because His righteousness is forever.

Notice that the assurance is not given to the whole of Israel, but to those who try to be righteous and who are seeking Yahuweh.Isa.51:1 & 7.
The servant therefore represents the believing remnant of Israel.

In Isa.51:17, Yahuweh reminds them why all these things have happened.

Be triumphant be triumphant stand up yerushalaim that drank from the hand Yahuweh the cup of His burning anger the dregs cup the reeling drank to drain out.

They had provoked the anger of Yahuweh. This is why Israel at the present is still reeling from what has happened and is happening to them.
However there is relieve in sight according to Isa.51:22

So says Your Adonay Yahuweh your Elohiem conducting a case for His people,"behold I am taking out of your hand the cup the reeling the dregs cup my burning anger not you again to drink anymore"

Many translations say:"I have taken out of your hand." The Hebrew however is in the perfect mood. This expresses an action in the future which is so realistic that it is described as a present happening. Also the addressing is all done in the feminine gender indicating not a person but the nation and the city.
The next verse tells us that Yahuweh's anger shall be turned against them that torment Israel.
This is not very good news for a lot of nations.