Why isn't Isaiah 53 read in the synagogue?
The haftarah readings (prophets read after the Torah portion) go from Isaiah 51:12-52:12 (Shoftim) to Isaiah 54:1-10 (Ki Tetze). Isaiah 52:13-53:12 falls between them and isn't read.
Each Shabbat a passage from the Prophets, the haftarah, is read. The seven "haftarot of consolation" after Tisha b'Av are all from Isaiah: 40:1-26, 49:14-51:3, 54:11-55:5, 51:12-52:12, 54:1-10, 60:1-22 and 61:10-63:9. None of them includes 52:13-53:12.
Why the cycle skips this passage isn't recorded. Many haftarot skip verses, and the cycle was fixed long ago. Whatever the reason, the result is that many Jewish people go their whole lives without hearing Isaiah 53 read aloud.
You can read it now, in Hebrew and the JPS 1917 translation, and decide for yourself who it describes.
In the Scriptures
12כִּ֣י לֹ֤א בְחִפָּזוֹן֙ תֵּצֵ֔אוּ וּבִמְנוּסָ֖ה לֹ֣א תֵלֵכ֑וּן כִּֽי־הֹלֵ֤ךְ לִפְנֵיכֶם֙ יְהוָ֔ה וּמְאַסִּפְכֶ֖ם אֱלֹהֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃
12For ye shall not go out in haste, Neither shall ye go by flight; For the LORD will go before you, And the God of Israel will be your rearward.
Isaiah 52:12 (Hebrew & JPS 1917)
1רָנִּ֥י עֲקָרָ֖ה לֹ֣א יָלָ֑דָה פִּצְחִ֨י רִנָּ֤ה וְצַהֲלִי֙ לֹא־חָ֔לָה כִּֽי־רַבִּ֧ים בְּֽנֵי־שׁוֹמֵמָ֛ה מִבְּנֵ֥י בְעוּלָ֖ה אָמַ֥ר יְהוָֽה׃
1Sing, O barren, thou that didst not bear, Break forth into singing, and cry aloud, thou that didst not travail; For more are the children of the desolate Than the children of the married wife, saith the LORD.
Isaiah 54:1 (Hebrew & JPS 1917)
The servant who carried our pain Ask about it
Sources
- Haftarot of consolation: Va'etchanan (Isaiah 40:1-26), Ekev (49:14-51:3), Re'eh (54:11-55:5), Shoftim (51:12-52:12), Ki Tetze (54:1-10), Ki Tavo (60:1-22), Nitzavim (61:10-63:9)
