Emmaus Road Ministries

Isaiah 53:5

“But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace (shalom) was upon Him, And by His STRIPE we are healed.”

Isaiah writing under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit.

“By his ‘stripe’ we are healed.”  Don’t you mean, “Stripes?”  No, it’s not a typo. The verse above from Isaiah is, obviously, the English translation. Translations, for those who may not know, are actually someone’s commentary on the original language. Since most people don’t read or speak Greek or Hebrew, this is all they have. Nothing wrong with a translation, of course but, as usual, the original Hebrew reveals something so AWESOME, so mind-blowing, 🤯 I guarantee you will never see this verse the same ever again.  I know, because that’s how I felt. This is something you would never find in any definition.

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Jewish Secretaries.

Isaiah, like the other scribes of the Bible, were not the authors of the books they wrote: They were actually just Jewish secretaries or scribes. They wrote down exactly what they were told to write by the Holy Spirit.  That’s why we can say that, though there were many different writers, there is only One Author. The only non-Jewish “secretary” of holy writ was Dr. Luke, who wrote the Gospel named after him as well as the book of Acts.

Though God chose certain people to write down His word, He made use of their individual personalities, strengths, and weaknesses (as only He can) to weave the beautiful tapestry we call the Bible.  Each one tells an important part of the greatest story ever told:  The matchless story of our Lord Jesus: Y’Shua, the Jewish Messiah. He purchased our redemption, demonstrating His awesome love for every one of us.  He is there in every letter, every word, every number, and every line of scripture.  Not one single word in scripture is there just to make the book thicker.  Even the order of words, individual Hebrew letters, and verses is often a message. 😮

Suffering Savior Or Conquering King?

In their writings are pictures of Y’Shua/Jesus in both His first AND second comings. Though they faithfully recorded what the Holy Spirit told them, none of them fully understood what they were documenting. They did not understand that Messiah would suffer in His first coming and reign over the whole world in His 2nd coming, an event to which we will all soon be witnesses.

Most Jewish people of the 1st century were expecting a glorious, conquering King Who would restore the visible kingdom to Israel and kick the foreign invaders out of their land. That’s one of the reasons why they missed their first visitation; why they’re still waiting. The King of Heaven came to live among us in the guise of a common man, though He was anything but common. So, even though they wrote about The suffering Messiah, it didn’t fit their narrative. 

Neither Isaiah nor the rabbis of ancient times had any idea that between the, “Child born” and “The Government shall be upon His shoulder” in Isaiah 9:6, there would be a span of some 2,000 years…and counting!

For a more in-depth discussion on the above subject, you may follow the link below:

Ancient Prophecies: Part 7 of 16: Rightly Dividing The Word Of God.

Secrets In The Hebrew Language.

I used the singular word, “Stripe” because the Hebrew word in this verse is “Chabburah.” Though translated as a plural word because it flows better in English, the word is actually singular: STRIPE.  Whenever you want to make a word in Hebrew plural, you add “im (ים)” at the end of the word. It functions like our English “s.”   “Stripes (plural) would be “Chabburim.”  That is why it would be more accurate to quote the verse this way:  “By His ‘STRIPE’ we are healed.”

Here’s why this is so significant:  The singular of this word can only be used when there actually is only one wound OR THERE ARE SO MANY THEY ALL TOGETHER APPEAR AS ONE LARGE GAPING WOUND; no flesh left at all!

{Box of tissues, please!}.

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That paints an entirely different picture, doesn’t it?  That’s the visual the Holy Spirit meant to convey by using the singular of this word. Jesus’ back did not appear to have “marks” of a whip; There was ONE raw wound: muscle and even bones and sinew were visible. 😭😭😭 Again, box of tissues please!

Bear in mind two other things. Our precious Lord, Y’Shua/Jesus, was in the hands of the Romans. Unlike the Jews, they had no law limiting them to “40 lashes minus one.” We have NO idea how many times He was struck.  He was beaten so badly that He did not even appear human! 😭😭😭 As if that weren’t bad enough, after He was scourged, they put His robe back on Him, brought Him in front of the ENTIRE GARRISON, then they ripped His robe back off again! 😭😭😭

Ever rip off a bandaide that has stuck onto a scab?  Yeah….OUCH!  Well, Jesus’ blood had dried all over His body after His unimaginably cruel beating and His clothing was stuck all over His body. When the soldiers ripped them back off…..well, I don’t have to describe to you what happened.  They opened up many more fresh wounds.  {More tissues please!} 😭😭😭

To add even more insult to injury, as if all that weren’t horrific enough, the entire Roman garrison spat on Him, jammed a crown of thorns on His head, and drove it deeper and deeper into His head with every blow of their sticks.

{Another box of tissues, please!!!} 😭😭😭

Here’s the real kicker:  Pilate had Jesus scourged because he knew He was innocent.  He wanted to see Him released.  You see, anyone who was scourged was not allowed to also be crucified. Or, if they were sentenced to die on a cross, they were not allowed to be scourged.  It was either-or, NOT BOTH.

OUR SAVIOR SUFFERED BOTH. 😭😭😭

I will NEVER EVER again read or think of this passage again without trembling in awe and utter gratitude for what Y’Shua/Jesus went through to redeem me. 

It’s a price I should have had to pay; but He took my place.  I’m reminded of it every time I partake of communion.  It brings tears to my eyes. 😭😭😭

Judgment For Our Sins.

But…..as awful as all the above torture was, it was as NOTHING compared to the stripes laid upon our Savior by His own Father.  No doubt with tear-srained face as His Father knowing what His beloved Son was enduring, as God He had to turn His back on Him and unleash all the judgment and fiery wrath for every one of our sins, PAST-PRESENT-FUTURE, that we rightfully deserved. 🫢

Bear in mind that, unlike us, God is outside time.  There is no past or future with Him; only present.  So when He said that ALL our sins were put away, He meant “ALL.”  That is why the sins you WILL commit in what is future to us are put away as well.  As believers, we walk under Y’Shua/Jesus’ covering and are not punished for them because He was punished for them in our place. Yes, there may be human consequences but God will not “visit” any on you. The war is over for believers.

Oh yes;  I am FOREVER GRATEFUL!

Folks, Jesus also paid the full price for your healing.  But your healing is far more than a promise:  IT’S A BLOOD BOUGHT RIGHT OF THE BLOOD-BOUGHT CONGREGATION–US.

The work of redemption is COMPLETE.  Jesus did a perfect work!  IT IS FINISHED!!!

…..so yes, Church:  By His “Stripe” We ARE Healed.

You may follow the link below where we will be studying our Savior’s seven last words:

The Seven Last Words Of Jesus: Passover Series Part 9.