Isaiah 53:9
And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth.
ISAIAH 53:9
This line sits in the powerful servant-song of Isaiah 53, a chapter deeply embedded in the Jewish and early Christian imagination about a suffering servant. Verse 9 foregrounds two contrasts: the servant’s grave with the wicked and with the rich in his death. Historically, crucifixion or execution among the poor was common, but burial among the wealthy was unusual for someone deemed guilty or accursed. The verse signals that Jesus (as Christians read it) would die a death outside the usual honorable burial practices, yet paradoxically be assigned a tomb with the rich—likely a foreshadowing of Jesus being laid in the tomb of Joseph of Arimathea, a wealthy seeker after Jesus. The phrase “made his grave with the wicked” emphasizes the servant’s solidarity with sinners and the accursed (a role Israel often bore) while the note “with the rich in his death” points to a provisionary honor connected to his atoning work. The verse also underscores the servant’s innocence: “he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth.” In sum, the verse sets up the paradox of humiliation and exaltation tied to the servant’s righteous suffering for others.
This verse crystallizes the paradox at the heart of the atonement: the righteous One bears the consequences of others’ sin in a death that seems dishonorable, yet is sovereignly ordered by God for redemption. The innocent status of the servant—no violence, no deceit—confirms the effectiveness and integrity of his sacrifice. The juxtaposition with the wealthy burial highlights God’s sovereignty over human status and honor; the wisdom of God’s plan often flips human expectations. For Christian readers, the verse helps ground why the crucifixion is both a scandal and salvation: the servant’s righteous life is offered as a substitute for the guilty, fulfilling moral law and divine justice.
We may not face a death as public as the servant, but we encounter “burials with the wicked” in small ways: taking the blame for a coworker’s error, choosing grace over retaliation, or suffering injustice without vindication. This verse invites trust that God’s plan uses apparent defeats to secure a greater good—reconciliation, healing, and transformation. Practically, consider how you steward others’ sin and guilt: refuse to retaliate, pray for those who oppose you, and extend costly mercy, even when it costs you socially or economically. The verse also invites humility about status—your reputation is not the ultimate measure of God’s approval. Like the servant, you can pursue righteousness even when it leads to seeming disadvantage, trusting that God’s purposes include honoring the innocent in his timing.
Cross-References: Luke 23:50-56; 1 Peter 2:22-24; Psalm 22:18; Isaiah 53:4-6; Matthew 27:57-60