Structure of Isaiah 53

In his monograph on Isaiah 53 in the Light of Homecoming After Exile (Forschungen Zum Alten Testamentbears ) (46-49), Fredrik Hagglund offers a helpful outline of the chapter. The following scheme is a modification of his work:

A. Exaltation of the Servant, 52:13-15

B. Question from Yahweh: Who has believed our report? 53:1

C. Physical appearance of the Servant, 53:2-3 (four bicolons)

D. Evaluation of the Servant by “we,” 53:4-5

E. Confession: All we like sheep have gone astray, 53:6a

D’. Servant bears iniquity like sheep, 53:6b-7 (three and a half bicolons, the final half-line is a “silent” blank)

C’. Cut off from living, 53:8-9

A’. Exaltation of the Servant, 53:10-12a (Hagglund splits verse 10 off from the rest)

B’. Yahweh’s summary: He interceded for the transgressors, 53:10b