Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise him, he hath put him to grief.

When thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed,

he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his hand.

Isaiah 53, verse 10.

Hello, listeners, this is Nick from Book of Mormon Central, and today's podcast addresses

the question, why did Isaiah prophesy of a suffering Messiah?

Few prophetic passages in the Old Testament rival in beauty, power, and enduring impact

among devout Jews and Christians around the world,

then does Isaiah Chapter 53, also known as the Song of the Suffering Servant.

Naturally, given its importance to people of differing religious backgrounds,

its meaning has been hotly contested through the centuries,

and today scholars offer a wide variety of different

interpretations for this inspiring text. In antiquity, however, both Christians and Jews understood

this powerful prophecy to be about the Messiah, with Christians naturally applying it to Jesus

of Nazareth. The Nephite prophet Abinidaai likewise knew Isaiah chapter 53 and read it messianically,

using it to bolster his own prophecies of the coming of Christ. Thus, Latter-day Saints today

join with other Christians in recognizing Isaiah chapter 53 as a powerful prophecy of the

atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ.

Nonetheless, since revelations, including prophecies,

are typically inspired by specific questions and circumstances,

some have wondered just what inspired Isaiah's vivid revelation

of the future Messiah's suffering, death, and ultimate triumph.

...