Isaiah was the prophet who presented God’s Messiah (Christ) as “My Servant” or the “Suffering Servant.” Rarely does the idea appear in the rest of the Old Testament, although Jeremiah and Zechariah mention Him. It is a messianic prophetic name of Jesus (Yeshua‘ ).
My Servant (Avdi) in the Hebrew text of Zech. 3:8.
My Servant in Hebrew:
‘Avdi
Strong’s Concordance number: 5650
Bible references: Isa. 42:1; 52:13; 53:11; Zech. 3:8
Now listen, Joshua the high priest, you and your friends who are sitting in front of you—indeed they are men who are a symbol, for behold, I am going to bring in My servant the Branch. (Zechariah 3:8)
The Greek Old Testament translation of Isaiah 42:1 has the phrase ho pais mou, which Matthew quotes in one verse.
“Behold My Servant (pais),” in Matt. 12:18 which is a quotation of Isa. 42:1
Servant in Greek:
Pais
Strong’s Concordance number: 3816
Bible references: Matt. 12:18; Acts 3:13; 26
The God of Abraham Isaac and Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified His servant Jesus, the one whom you delivered and disowned in the presence of Pilate, when he had decided to release Him. (Acts 3:13)
The King James Version translates the word pais as “Son.” However, that Greek word is rarely translated that way in the Greek Old Testament and the context strongly suggests that “servant” is the meaning.
A similar name of Jesus in the Old Testament is “My Righteous Servant” and the “servant of rulers.” In the New Testament He is also called God’s “Holy Servant” and a “servant to the circumcision.”
