This first line of verse 11 concludes the speech of the servant’s disciples, while verses 11b-12 are words of the LORD (see the introductory comments on this section [52.13–53.12]).
He shall see the fruit of the travail of his soul is literally “from the labor of his self he will see.” In the Hebrew text of Masoretic Text there is no object for the verb see. However, the word “light” is the object of this verb in Dead Sea Scrolls and the Septuagint, so it seems this term was mistakenly omitted from Masoretic Text. Since the verb see in Hebrew always requires an object, Revised Standard Version suggests fruit, referring to the outcome or results of an action. Most modern versions follow Dead Sea Scrolls and the Septuagint by adding “light,” which Hebrew Old Testament Text Project recommends. According to Hebrew Old Testament Text Project, “to see the light” means “to live.” New International Version expresses this by saying “he will see the light of life” (similarly Bible en français courant [1997]). However, the Hebrew text is vague about what God’s servant will see, even if “the light of life” is added. The travail of his soul (nephesh in Hebrew) refers to the inner turmoil and anguish of the servant. New Revised Standard Version says “Out of his anguish,” which expresses the sense well. Other helpful renderings are “After a life of suffering” (Good News Translation), “After having undergone so much suffering” (Bible en français courant), “After the ordeal he has endured” (New Jerusalem Bible), and “after his suffering” (Revised English Bible).
And be satisfied is the servant’s reaction to what he “sees.” He will feel his work is complete. Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch says “and be satisfied with what he sees,” and New Jerusalem Bible has “and be content.” Good News Translation combines this clause with the verb see, saying “he will again have joy.”
Several versions have a different understanding of the first line of verse 11 than that in Revised Standard Version. They take the Hebrew word rendered “by his knowledge” in verse 11b to be the object of the verb be satisfied; for example New Revised Standard Version says “he shall find satisfaction through his knowledge.” Other versions also link the Hebrew word for “by his knowledge” to the verb be satisfied, but they give it a different sense. They see it as referring to the servant’s experience or devotion; for example, Bible en français courant has “he will have a perfect experience of it [the light of life],” and New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh says “He shall enjoy it to the full through his devotion.” Since there is no consensus on whether “by his knowledge” goes with the preceding verb be satisfied or with the following verb “make … to be accounted righteous,” translators may link it with either verb.
Translation examples for verse 11a are:
• Out of his anguish he will come to see light,
and find satisfaction.
• He will see the light of life,
and be satisfied [through his knowledge].
Since there is a change in speakers here from the servant’s disciples to Yahweh, this change should be marked in some manner, for example by placing a blank line between verse 11a and 11b. Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch adds the quote frame “About him the LORD says.” New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh makes verses 11b-12 a separate stanza and places quote marks around it.
By his knowledge shall the righteous one, my servant, make many to be accounted righteous: As noted in the comments on verse 11a, some versions link by his knowledge with the previous verb “be satisfied.” However, most link it with the following verb phrase, make many to be accounted righteous. So it will be by means of his knowledge that the servant will either find satisfaction or make others righteous. Just how knowledge can achieve either of these results is difficult to say. In this context his knowledge does not refer to the servant’s intellectual understanding, but to the painful experiences he endured, so Revised English Bible says “his humiliation,” and New American Bible has “his suffering.”
The righteous one, my servant is a hendiadys, meaning “my righteous servant.” For the righteous one, see comments on 3.10. Many commentators omit this phrase as being a scribal error, but there is no textual evidence to support this. My servant forms an inclusio for the fourth Servant Song since it also occurs in 52.13. Good News Translation renders the hendiadys as “My devoted servant, with whom I am pleased.”
Make many to be accounted righteous is literally “make the many righteous.” New Revised Standard Version is closer to the Hebrew with “make many righteous.” New International Version, Revised English Bible, and New Jerusalem Bible are similar to Revised Standard Version by saying “justify many.” Throughout Second Isaiah the Hebrew root (tsdq) for the verb rendered make … to be accounted righteous has the sense of rescue or deliverance. It is quite probable that here it means the suffering of the servant will lead to the rescue from exile of the Judeans in Babylonia. So this verb may have a physical sense, rather than a purely “spiritual” one. In English the verb “save” allows for both senses (see the examples below). The adjective many refers generally to all those who observed what was happening to the servant (see the comments on 52.14).
And he shall bear their iniquities indicates again that the servant suffered for the sake of others. He will carry the burden of the sins of the many. He was not guilty of the sins for which he suffered. The Hebrew term for bear is the same one rendered “carried” in verse 4, and the word for iniquities occurred earlier in verses 5-6. Revised English Bible and New Jerusalem Bible render their iniquities as “their guilt,” and New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh has “their punishment.” Both these models are acceptable here (compare verse 6).
Good News Translation reverses the last two lines of verse 11, probably for the sake of logic and clarity: “will bear the punishment of many and for his sake I will forgive them.” However, this model is too free, so we do not recommend it.
Translation examples for verse 11b-d are:
• The experience of the righteous one, my servant, will save many,
and he will bear the burden of their sin.
• By his suffering the righteous one, my servant, will make many righteous,
and bear the burden of their sin.
• Because of his knowledge my servant, the righteous one, will save many,
and bear the burden of their guilt.
Quoted with permission from Ogden, Graham S. and Sterk, Jan. A Handbook on Isaiah. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2011. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .