52:13 Behold, my servant. The last three verses of Isaiah 52 should really be the introduction to Isaiah 53, the whole constituting not only an amazing prophecy but also the fullest and clearest exposition of the substitutionary death of Christ in all the Bible.

52:13 be very high. The introduction to Messiah’s sufferings first foretells the final triumph. His “prudent” dealings will ultimately result in His being given the name above every name (see Philippians 2:5-9). “Exalted,” then “extolled,” then “be very high” seem to refer, respectively, to Christ’s resurrection, ascension, and session at the right hand of the Father.

52:14 astonied. “Astonied” means “made like a stone” or “petrified.” As the Old English form of “astonished,” it graphically portrays the “stunned” reaction of those who observe the perfect Son of Man so disfigured that He no longer even looked like a man. He was, literally, corruption itself (the meaning of “marred”), bearing the great curse of the sins of all men.

52:15 sprinkle. As many were stunned at the sight, so shall His blood “sprinkle” (same word as in Leviticus 16:19; etc.) many nations, as He died for the sin of the world (see Isaiah 49:7; Psalm 72:11).