Tim Maas Supporter Retired Quality Assurance Specialist with the U.S. Army

Multiple locations in the Bible (both the Old and New Testaments) portray believers as sheep over whom God (or Christ) is their shepherd who goes seeking them when they wander away from the flock (in the case of believers, through sin), and also protects them from danger or predators (such as Satan, the sinful world, and their own fallen natures), going so far as to forfeit his own life in their defense.

In this context, and because God made clear that the forgiveness of human sin required the shedding of blood (which was the purpose of the animal sacrifices offered on Israel's behalf in the Old Testament) (Leviticus 17:11; Hebrews 9:22), God ultimately became a sinless human in the person of Christ to offer Himself (through His death by crucifixion) in humanity's place as the full and final atoning sacrifice for the sin, with the sufficiency of that sacrifice in God's sight being proven by Christ's subsequent resurrection from the dead.

As a result, humans who place their faith in Christ (rather than in their own imperfect righteousness) to be made acceptable in God's sight can obtain eternal life in God's presence.

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Jack Gutknecht Supporter Arizona Bible College graduate and Dallas Seminary graduate

That illustrates the universal sinfulness of humanity and the substitutionary suffering of the Messiah. Let's focus on the imagery of sheep and the phrase "attack him" (NET), which is often translated as "laid on him" (ESV, KJV) or "caused to fall on him."

1. The Sheep Imagery

The Bible frequently uses sheep to describe God's people, often highlighting their waywardness, vulnerability, and dependence (Psalm 23; John 10). Here, the comparison to sheep emphasizes how:

All humanity is guilty—"All of us had wandered off like sheep."

Sin is not just an occasional mistake but a habitual straying—"Each of us had strayed off on his own path."

People choose their own ways instead of God's—just as sheep mindlessly wander into danger.

Sheep without a shepherd are prone to getting lost, falling into trouble, and being defenseless. This paints a picture of mankind’s rebellion and helplessness apart from God.

2. "Attack Him" or "Laid Upon Him"

The phrase "the Lord caused the sin of all of us to attack him" (NET) is a striking translation. Other versions translate it as "laid on Him", but the Hebrew word (פָּגַע pāga‘) can imply a violent striking or an encounter with force.

This wording emphasizes:

The weight and violence of sin—Sin was not gently placed on Him; it came with force.

God’s sovereign action—The Lord Himself was the one who placed this burden on the Messiah.

Substitutionary atonement—The Messiah (Jesus) took the full impact of sin’s punishment, even though He was innocent.

Why Does This Matter?

It shows that sin is serious and destructive. Our wandering, like sheep, has real consequences.

It highlights the sacrificial love of Christ, who took on the punishment we deserved.

It confirms the prophecy of Jesus’ substitutionary suffering on the cross, where He bore our sins so that we might be made righteous (2 Corinthians 5:21 - "For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.")

Conclusion

Isaiah 53:6 paints a vivid picture of both human rebellion and divine mercy. We, like sheep, were lost in sin, but God intervened—not by punishing us, but by placing that punishment on Christ. The phrase "caused to attack him" underscores the intensity of Jesus’ suffering as He bore the full force of sin’s judgment, fulfilling God's plan of redemption.

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