Sprinkle
Sprinkle – used 24 times in the Bible….
Starting the study in Isaiah 52:13 – Key verse in question is: Isaiah 52:15 and the use of the word sprinkle“sprinkle” to mean what?
Isaiah 52:13-15 (ESV)
13 Behold, my servant shall act wisely; he shall be high and lifted up, and shall be exalted.
14 As many were astonished at you— his appearance was so marred, beyond human semblance, and his form beyond that of the children of mankind—
15 so shall he sprinkle many nations; kings shall shut their mouths because of him; for that which has not been told them they see, and that which they have not heard they understand.
V.13-15 – Demeanor (the outward manner that the servant bears himself…)and Disfigurement
He was pierced for Our Transgressions:
Isaiah is describing Jesus Christ. His mission into this world succeeded.
V.13 “…shall act wisely” Saying Jesus knew what to do to achieve his purpose on earth.
V.13 – The Lord’s word, spoken by the prophet, presents the servant’s demeanor in terms of prosperity and dignity. This is about what the Servant will accomplish and what will happen to him.
“demeanor” – the outward manner in which the servant bears himself in the face of aggression and brutality. Such is the demeanor of royalty. So kings and nations are astonished that a mere servant should exhibit prosperity and dignity
Acted in dignity… the Hebrew verb śakal (H7919) (prosper; act wisely, NIV) is to have insight or to have success.
H7919. שָׂכַל sâkal, saw-kal´; a prim. root; to be (caus. make or act) circumspect and hence intelligent:—consider, expert, instruct, prosper, (deal) prudent (-ly), (give) skill (-ful), have good success, teach, (have, make to) understand (-ing), wisdom, (be, behave self, consider, make) wise (-ly), guide wittingly.
V.14 – “astonished”…“his appearance was so marred…”
How repulsive Jesus became in suffering for us and yet effective in purifying us. Beaten badly at the Roman soldiers that one their might wonder how any human could withstand it.
Disfigurement Provides an image – Quote “Belivers Bible Commentary”:
Kings and nations express surprise at the sight of the Lord’s servant disfigured yet resolute. His mission to the nations rests on the shock effect of a royal figure submitting to suffering rather than inflicting it. Kings and nations represent the sentinels of law and justice. What they see and understand, however, shocks them into silence (52:15). They are shocked because they realize that in this disfigured servant lies the power of God to bring healing and forgiveness and reconciliation to the world (cf. Hanson: 154–55). But does this new awareness lead to behavior characterized by a change of heart? The history of kings and nations suggests otherwise.[1]
V.15 – “..shall he sprinkle (H5137) (to sprinkle) many nations; kings…” (Exod 29:21; Lev 4:6,17; 5:9; 6:27)
Many nations and people may now be able to be ‘sprinkled’ by the blood of Jesus and made clean.
It was Jesus very goal to cleanse the very ones dehumanizing him.
H5137. נָזָה nâzâh, naw-zaw´; a prim. root; to spirt, i.e. besprinkle (espec. in expiation):—sprinkle.
24 times this Hebrew word is found in the Hebrew Cannon. It was translated by the ESV team as follows:
20 times as “sprinkle, sprinkled, sprinkles…”
2 times as: “Spattered” (2 Ki. 9:33 and Is. 63:3)
Used 2 times a in Lev. 6:27 and translated as: “Splashed”
24 times this Hebrew word is found in the Hebrew Cannon. It was translated by the NKJV team as follows:
1 time as “Spattered” in 2 Kings 9:33
23 times as “sprinkle, sprinkled, sprinkles”
24 times this Hebrew Word in the NASB
22 times as “sprinkle, sprinkled, sprinkles”
2 times as “splashes or splashed” – as word is twice in Lev. 6:27
Some translators have used the word or words that mean “startle” instead of ‘sprinkle’….
23 Times this Hebrew Word in the NLT – Several different verbiage used.
18 times – Sprinkle, Sprinkled, Sprinkling
2 times – “Spatters” – Lev. 6:27 – 2 Kings 9:33
1 times “Startle” – Is. 52:15
1 time as “as if they were grapes” – Isa 63:3
1 time as “dip..and sprinkle” As word used twice in Lev. 16:14
Compare the NLT and other translations that use “Startle” – “Amazed” – “wonder”.
Isaiah 52:15 (NLT)
15 And he will startle many nations. Kings will stand speechless in his presence. For they will see what they had not been told; they will understand what they had not heard about.
Isa. 52:15 (NET)
52:15 his form was so marred he no longer looked human— so now he will startle many nations.
Kings will be shocked by his exaltation, for they will witness something unannounced to them,
and they will understand something they had not heard about.
Isaiah 52:15 (NCV)
But now he will surprise many nations. Kings will be amazed and shut their mouths.
They will see things they had not been told about him, and they will understand things they had not heard.”
Isaiah 52:15 (LXX)
15 Thus shall many nations wonder at him; and kings shall keep their mouths shut: for they to whom no report was brought concerning him, shall see; and they who have not heard, shall consider.
Lexham Greek-English Interlinear Septuagint: H.B. Swete Edition – Note where white arrow is pointing.
The DBD (Enhanced Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew and English Lexicon) – shows this:
5214-DBD – Note where White Arrow is pointing:
The “FaithLife Study Bible” gives this explanation for the use of “startle” Vs “sprinkle”…
52:15 he shall sprinkle many nations The Hebrew verb used here, nazah, typically refers to sprinkling (Exod 29:21; Lev 4:6,17; 5:9; 6:27). The translator of the Greek Septuagint, however, used a Greek verb denoting astonishment or surprise (thaumazō). The Greek translator may have inferred this meaning for the Hebrew word nazah based on the following parallel phrase about the kings’ silence. However, the translator may also have known of a Hebrew homonym for nazah meaning “startle” since Arabic (a Semitic language related to Hebrew) attests nazah with that meaning.
many nations Or “many peoples”—not just the Israelites, but people from all over the earth.
kings Likely foreign kings; perhaps enemies of Yahweh, His Servant, and His people.
shall shut their mouths Foreshadows Isa 53:7. The graciousness of the Servant’s response to the unjust pain inflicted upon him will shut the mouths of kings.
When Jesus of Nazareth was beaten, kings and rulers shut their mouths. Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor of Judah, refused to act; instead, he symbolically washed his hands of the incident (Matt 27:24–26; John 18:28–32). Likewise, King Herod (of the Jews) was perplexed by Jesus (Luke 9:7–9) and ultimately chose not to issue judgment on Him (Luke 23:6–16).
they shall see Prior to the Servant, the kings had not “seen” in the prophetic sense—they had not understood, or perceived, what God was doing among them. Now, the Servant brings Yahweh’s work to the forefront of their thought: They are confronted with who He is and what He is doing among them.[2]
Vernon McGee write this:
I don’t feel that we should move into the realm of being crude in describing Him, because the next verse says:
So shall he sprinkle many nations; the kings shall shut their mouths at him: for that which had not been told them shall they see; and that which they had not heard shall they consider [Isa. 52:15].
“So shall he sprinkle many nations” could be translated, “So shall He make with astonishment many nations.” This carries the thought that His death will startle people when they properly understand it. The death of Christ should never become commonplace to anyone. His death was different. We have not explained it properly unless it startles people.
This prepares us for the profound mystery of the next marvelous chapter.[3]
New American Commentary:
The word translated “sprinkle” in Isaiah 52:15 can be translated “startle,” but most likely it refers to the ceremonial cleansing that was an important part of the Mosaic sacrificial system (Lev. 14:1–7, 16; 16:14–15; Num. 8:7). While the sprinkling of blood, water, and oil did not take away sins, it did make the recipient ceremonially clean and accepted before God. Because of the sacrifice of Christ, we can tell all the nations that forgiveness and redemption are offered free to all who will receive Him (1 Peter 1:1–2).[4]
The Believers Church Bible Commentary states this:
The disfigurement provides an image, a preview really, of what the servant experienced under due process (52:14–15). Kings and nations express surprise at the sight of the Lord’s servant disfigured yet resolute. His mission to the nations rests on the shock effect of a royal figure submitting to suffering rather than inflicting it. Kings and nations represent the sentinels of law and justice. What they see and understand, however, shocks them into silence (52:15). They are shocked because they realize that in this disfigured servant lies the power of God to bring healing and forgiveness and reconciliation to the world (cf. Hanson: 154–55). But does this new awareness lead to behavior characterized by a change of heart? The history of kings and nations suggests otherwise.[5]
Apparently most translation teams choose to use “Sprinkle” as an acceptable translation for the Hebrew word used in Isa. 52:15. However, there were a few that choose to use “Startle” or something similar to that from their research in the Greek Septuagint translation as their guide.
Point: we are at the mercy of the translation team for what Bible translation we read. Therefore, it is very important that we don’t take any particular translation and lock in on one word to develop our theology. Read several translations and then moderate your view accordingly still fitting with the theology guidance of your church. The church is there to help protect us from straying into wrong or miss-guided views. Don’t let one word or one verse dictate to self as an establishment of a ‘Bible doctrine’. Worse yet to think that you have been given a revelation that is unique to your understanding.
Thoughts:
Does the message change because of “Startle” or “Sprinkled”? Not really, however a different view is developed in one’s concept as to what is being said. It does not change the foundation of truth that Christ redeems by His Blood. One can be startled at learning what Christ went through at the cross. For sure, the nations would not understand that such torture melted out to Christ was part of God’s plan for world-wide redemption. Jesus submitted to His Father’s plan and obeyed till death. He agreed to endure such human suffering for the sake of the human family.
Connecting that thought as the High Priest Jesus being the ONLY the one that can truly “sprinkle” his blood to bring a lasting ‘cleansing’, ‘purified’, ‘ceremonial clean’ etc. to any who ‘bow the knee’. He would want the entire earth family to be cleansed from their sinful state and yet only a few will place themselves under his arm.
Below are two Bible Translations showing where the Hebrew word “H5137” was translated for the 26 times in the Bible.
[1] Friesen, I. D. (2009). Isaiah (p. 332). Scottdale, PA; Waterloo, ON: Herald Press.
[2] Barry, J. D., Mangum, D., Brown, D. R., Heiser, M. S., Custis, M., Ritzema, E., … Bomar, D. (2012, 2016). Faithlife Study Bible (Is 52:15). Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press.
[3] McGee, J. V. (1991). Thru the Bible commentary: The Prophets (Isaiah 36-66) (electronic ed., Vol. 23, p. 107). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.
[4] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). Be Comforted (p. 135). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
[5] Friesen, I. D. (2009). Isaiah (p. 332). Scottdale, PA; Waterloo, ON: Herald Press.