Isaiah 53:4-8

The Worship Initiative's “Isaiah 53:4-8,” with Shane & Shane, sets the suffering-servant passage to music almost word for word. The verse begins with “Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows,” then notes how the servant was seen: “Yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God and afflicted.” The tone is restrained, and the melody leaves the text to speak for itself.

The chorus moves from observation to what the suffering accomplished. “He was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities” is followed by the exchange at the center of the passage, “Upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed.” The second verse widens to the confession, “All we like sheep have gone astray... And the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.”

The text is Isaiah 53, which Christians read as pointing to Jesus's death. Verses 4, 5 and 6 are all sung here, with the sheep image of verse 6 closing the song. 1 Peter 2:24 quotes the chapter in describing the cross.