Isaiah 53:12
"Numbered with the transgressors": Luke 22:37 and a verse added to Mark
"He was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors." In Luke 22:37 Jesus quotes the first phrase of himself at the Last Supper, the only explicit quotation of Isaiah 53 attributed to Jesus in the Gospels. The KJV's Mark 15:28 quotes it too, but that verse is missing from the oldest manuscripts of Mark and was added later. The Great Isaiah Scroll, 1QIsa-b and 4QIsa-d read "the sins of many" and "for their transgressions."
Manuscript variant: witnesses differ in wording
The family tree
Each row is a language or text tradition. Witnesses in the same row may share ancestry, revise one another, or have an uncertain relationship; the line under each box says which. A solid arrow appears only where direct copying or a documented revised edition is established. Order by date never implies copying. Scroll sideways on a phone.
✓ contains it · ✕ does not · ❝ quotes part of it · ⓘ reports on manuscripts · ▢ pages lost · – no copy survives
- Same line, through lost copies
- Translation
- Uncertain connection
- The oracle as first spoken or written8th–6th century BC (by section; debated)
- Great Isaiah Scroll (1QIsa-a), Qumran Cave 1c. 125 BC (palaeography; reported)Descends, through lost copies, from The oracle as first spoken or written
- 4QIsa-b (4Q56), Qumran Cave 41st century BC (reported)Descends, through lost copies, from The oracle as first spoken or written
- 1QIsa-b (1Q8), Qumran Cave 11st century BC – 1st century AD (reported)Descends, through lost copies, from The oracle as first spoken or written
- 4QIsa-d (4Q58), Qumran Cave 41st century BC – 1st century AD (reported)Descends, through lost copies, from The oracle as first spoken or written
- Masoretic Text (Leningrad Codex)AD 1008Descends, through lost copies, from The oracle as first spoken or written
- Luke 22:37 (Greek New Testament; library: Statistical Restoration text)1st century AD; edition 2010sUncertain relationship to the verse (which wording it followed is the question)
- Hebrews 9:28 (Greek New Testament; library: Statistical Restoration text)1st century AD; edition 2010sUncertain relationship to the verse (which wording it followed is the question)
- Mark 10:45 (Greek New Testament; library: Statistical Restoration text)1st century AD; edition 2010sUncertain relationship to the verse (which wording it followed is the question)
Every witness, in order
8th–6th century BC (by section; debated)
The oracle as first spoken or written
No original survives. The oldest copies of Isaiah are the Qumran scrolls: the Great Isaiah Scroll (1QIsa-a, about 125 BC, nearly complete), 1QIsa-b (1Q8) and some twenty other fragmentary manuscripts.
c. 125 BC (palaeography; reported)
Great Isaiah Scroll (1QIsa-a), Qumran Cave 1
How the site knows this: Described from a published transcription of the manuscript. Described in the site's own words from Martin Abegg's transcription (ETCBC/CACCHT Dead Sea Scrolls dataset v2.0.5); the transcription itself is not reproduced. Photographs and DJD XXXII not yet checked.
Hebrew numbering: Isaiah 53:12. Reads "the sins (plural) of many" and "for their transgressions" where the Masoretic Text has "the sin of many" and "for the transgressors"; "he interceded" in a slightly different form. Otherwise the differences are of spelling (fuller use of vowel letters) and small grammatical forms.
1st century BC (reported)
4QIsa-b (4Q56), Qumran Cave 4
How the site knows this: Described from a published transcription of the manuscript. Described in the site's own words from Martin Abegg's transcription (ETCBC/CACCHT Dead Sea Scrolls dataset v2.0.5); the transcription itself is not reproduced. Photographs and DJD XXXII not yet checked.
Hebrew numbering: Isaiah 53:12. A fragmentary copy: only parts of these verses survive, and in the transcription much of the passage is restored by the editors. Preserves part of the verse; the disputed words are restored.
1st century BC – 1st century AD (reported)
1QIsa-b (1Q8), Qumran Cave 1
How the site knows this: Described from a published transcription of the manuscript. Described in the site's own words from Martin Abegg's transcription (ETCBC/CACCHT Dead Sea Scrolls dataset v2.0.5); the transcription itself is not reproduced. Photographs and DJD XXXII not yet checked.
Hebrew numbering: Isaiah 53:12. Reads "the sins of many" and "for their transgressions," like 1QIsa-a; several words restored.
1st century BC – 1st century AD (reported)
4QIsa-d (4Q58), Qumran Cave 4
How the site knows this: Described from a published transcription of the manuscript. Described in the site's own words from Martin Abegg's transcription (ETCBC/CACCHT Dead Sea Scrolls dataset v2.0.5); the transcription itself is not reproduced. Photographs and DJD XXXII not yet checked.
Hebrew numbering: Isaiah 53:12. A fragmentary copy: only parts of these verses survive, and in the transcription much of the passage is restored by the editors. Reads "the sins of many" and "for their transgressions" (the last word partly preserved).
1st century AD; edition 2010s
Luke 22:37 (Greek New Testament; library: Statistical Restoration text)
How the site knows this: Read in the site's library text: the Greek New Testament editions in the library (Textus Receptus, Byzantine Textform, Statistical Restoration).
Λέγω γὰρ ὑμῖν ὅτι τοῦτο τὸ γεγραμμένον, δεῖ τελεσθῆναι ἐν ἐμοί, τό ‘Καὶ μετὰ ἀνόμων ἐλογίσθη’· καὶ γὰρ τὸ περὶ ἐμοῦ τέλος ἔχει.”
For I tell you that this which is written must be fulfilled in me: And he was counted with the lawless; for what concerns me has its end
Luke's report of Jesus' words at the Last Supper: an explicit quotation placed in Jesus' mouth, unlike Matthew 8:17, which is the narrator's. Words attributed to Jesus. KJV: "For I say unto you, that this that is written must yet be accomplished in me, And he was reckoned among the transgressors: for the things concerning me have an end."
1st century AD; edition 2010s
Hebrews 9:28 (Greek New Testament; library: Statistical Restoration text)
How the site knows this: Read in the site's library text: the Greek New Testament editions in the library (Textus Receptus, Byzantine Textform, Statistical Restoration).
οὕτως καὶ ὁ ˚Χριστός ἅπαξ προσενεχθεὶς εἰς τὸ πολλῶν ἀνενεγκεῖν ἁμαρτίας, ἐκ δευτέρου χωρὶς ἁμαρτίας ὀφθήσεται τοῖς αὐτὸν ἀπεκδεχομένοις εἰς σωτηρίαν.
so Christ, offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time…
Near-quotation of 53:12 in Hebrews. KJV: "So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation."
1st century AD; edition 2010s
Mark 10:45 (Greek New Testament; library: Statistical Restoration text)
How the site knows this: Read in the site's library text: the Greek New Testament editions in the library (Textus Receptus, Byzantine Textform, Statistical Restoration).
Καὶ γὰρ ὁ Υἱὸς τοῦ Ἀνθρώπου οὐκ ἦλθεν διακονηθῆναι, ἀλλὰ διακονῆσαι, καὶ δοῦναι τὴν ψυχὴν αὐτοῦ λύτρον ἀντὶ πολλῶν.”
For the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many
Mark's report of Jesus' words. Allusion, not a quotation. Debated. Words attributed to Jesus. KJV: "For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many."
Jerome c. AD 400, from Hebrew; edition 1592
Latin Vulgate (Clementine)
How the site knows this: Read in the site's library text: Clementine Vulgate (1592 edition).
Ideo dispertiam ei plurimos, et fortium dividet spolia, pro eo quod tradidit in mortem animam suam, et cum sceleratis reputatus est, et ipse peccata multorum tulit, et pro transgressoribus rogavit.
Latin numbering: Isaiah 53:12. Jerome translated Isaiah from Hebrew (c. AD 400).
AD 1008
Masoretic Text (Leningrad Codex)
How the site knows this: Read in the site's library text: Westminster Leningrad Codex, a digital transcription of the Leningrad Codex.
לָכֵ֞ן אֲחַלֶּק־ל֣וֹ בָרַבִּ֗ים וְאֶת־עֲצוּמִים֮ יְחַלֵּ֣ק שָׁלָל֒ תַּ֗חַת אֲשֶׁ֨ר הֶעֱרָ֤ה לַמָּ֙וֶת֙ נַפְשׁ֔וֹ וְאֶת־פֹּשְׁעִ֖ים נִמְנָ֑ה וְהוּא֙ חֵטְא־רַבִּ֣ים נָשָׂ֔א וְלַפֹּשְׁעִ֖ים יַפְגִּֽיעַ׃
…because he poured out his life to death and was counted with transgressors; and he bore the sin of many and intercedes for transgressors
Hebrew numbering: Isaiah 53:12.
1611
King James Bible
How the site knows this: Read in the site's library text: King James Version (1769 text).
Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.
1611
Mark 15:28 (King James Version; later scribal addition)
How the site knows this: Read in the site's library text: King James Version (1769 text).
And the scripture was fulfilled, which saith, And he was numbered with the transgressors.
Not in the oldest Greek manuscripts of Mark; omitted by modern critical editions, including the library's Greek New Testament (where the verse is empty). Probably added from Luke 22:37.
Greek translation c. 2nd century BC; French 1872
Greek Isaiah (library: Giguet's French)
How the site knows this: Known here only through a translation.
C’est pourquoi il aura pour héritage une grande multitude; il partagera les dépouilles des forts, en récompense de ce que sa vie aura été livrée au supplice, qu’il aura été regardé comme un pécheur, qu’il aura porté sur lui les péchés de beaucoup d’hommes, et que, pour leurs iniquités, il aura été livré à la mort.
Greek (digital file) numbering: Isaiah 53:12. Giguet's 1872 French of a printed Greek text (D check only); a C check needs Ziegler's Göttingen Isaiah or Rahlfs–Hanhart.
What changed, and why
Classification: manuscript variants (sin/sins; transgressors/their transgressions) in three Qumran copies; a New Testament textual variant (Mark 15:28) about the quotation; later quotation in Luke; allusions in Hebrews 9:28 and Mark 10:45.
The Greek reads "he was delivered up because of their sins" at the end, echoed in Romans 4:25 ("delivered for our offences").
"Made intercession" (yafgia) is the verb of 53:6 ("laid on him"); Luke 23:34 ("Father, forgive them") has been connected with it, but that verse is itself missing in some early manuscripts of Luke.
What the evidence shows
- Luke 22:37 attributes the quotation to Jesus.
- Mark 15:28 is absent from the oldest manuscripts.
- 1QIsa-a, 1QIsa-b and 4QIsa-d read "sins" and "their transgressions." Described from transcriptions.
Sources
Related lessons
- Isaiah 53: A Man of Sorrows →The song that began at 52:13 continues in the voice of an astonished "we": "Who hath believed our report?" The servant grew up like a root in dry ground, without beauty; "despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief" (53:1–3). "Surely he hath borne our griefs": we thought him struck by God, but "he was wounded for our transgressions… and with his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray… and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all" (vv. 4–6). Oppressed, he did not open his mouth, "as a lamb to the slaughter"; taken away by oppression and judgment, cut off from the land of the living, given a grave with the wicked and with a rich man, though he had done no violence (vv. 7–9). God willed his crushing; if his life is made a guilt offering, he will see offspring and prolong his days (v. 10). After his suffering he will see (light) and be satisfied; the righteous servant will make many righteous and bear their iniquities; because he poured out his life to death and was numbered with the transgressors, bore the sin of many and interceded for them, he receives a portion with the great (vv. 11–12).
- Investigation: The Fourth Servant Song, Phrase by Phrase →The fifteen verses of Isaiah 52:13–53:12 are among the most studied in the Bible. This investigation takes each significant phrase in turn: what the Hebrew says and where it is uncertain, what the Qumran copies and the Greek read, and how ancient Jewish and early Christian readers used it. It gives special attention to the phrases Max asked to be examined: rejected, wounded, bearing suffering, silent before accusers, cut off, assigned a grave, making many righteous, and bearing the sins of many.
- Investigation: Isaiah 53 in the New Testament →The New Testament quotes Isaiah 52:13–53:12 explicitly about seven times and alludes to it more often. Each writer uses it for a different purpose: Matthew for Jesus' healings, Luke for his being counted among lawbreakers, John and Paul for unbelief, Acts for a scene of interpretation on the road to Gaza, 1 Peter for suffering slaves who follow Jesus' example. This investigation takes each use separately, compares its wording with the Hebrew and the Greek, and does not merge them into one doctrine.