Some Mss. have it, “Surely our afflictions he hath borne, and our sorrows he carrieth them.” (Seventeen MSS., two being ancient, belonging to Dr. Kennicott’s collection, and two of De Rossi’s, have the word, hu, “he” before sebalam, “carrieth them,” in the text. (Dr. Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Old Testament, Vol.. IV, p. 206, published by G. Lane & P. P. Sanford, New York City, 1843) Dr. Clarke observes, “This adds force to the sense, and elegance to the construction.”
In spite of the service the Servant rendered, and all else He did, we judge that God had stricken Him, inflicting upon Him the appearance of that which was considered impure, or unnatural. We withdrew from His presence as though we heard a voice crying, “Unclean, unclean!”
The victims of dread leprosy were, in ancient times, thought to be grievously afflicted by Providence because of some transgression known only to the one stricken. Some commentators believe that Isaiah had this in mind, when he likened the Servant’s appearance to one whose aspect was pitiable to behold.