A sudden prophetic revelation marks a sharp transition from a long era of degradation and suffering to a future of unimaginable honor and greatness. Those who endured the plunder and misery of exile are destined to experience unprecedented success, rising to a supreme and elevated status.
The primary approach among commentators is that the servant mentioned in this prophecy represents the nation of Israel as a whole. The singular form acts as a collective term for the nation that suffered in exile yet remained fiercely loyal to God, much like a faithful servant to a master [רש״י, רד״ק, מצודת דוד, שד״ל, אברבנאל, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. Within this framework, some specify that the focus is on the righteous individuals within the nation [רש״י], any individual servant of God enduring the exile [אבן עזרא], or a symbolic figure who represents the entire populace [ביאור שטיינזלץ]. Because of this national interpretation, several commentators fiercely reject attempts to apply this prophecy to specific historical figures like Jeremiah or Josiah, to the King Messiah, or to Christian doctrines. They argue that the subsequent descriptions of suffering, a specific death, and a lack of descendants simply do not align with those individuals [אבן עזרא, שד״ל, אברבנאל].
Regarding the promise of future success, the primary approach among commentators is that the description does not necessarily imply intellectual brilliance, but rather profound prosperity. The nation will succeed so completely in all endeavors that it will appear as though every action was guided by immense wisdom [רש״י, מצודת דוד, מצודת ציון, רד״ק, שד״ל, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. Conversely, others take the concept literally, explaining it as true understanding and wisdom. According to this view, the Israelites, who were left ignorant and foolish during the long exile, will be blessed with a profound intellectual and spiritual awakening [אבן עזרא, אברבנאל].
The prophecy emphasizes this future greatness through a threefold description of elevation. Primarily, this repetition serves to highlight the sheer power, abundance, and immense scale of the future rule [רד״ק, מצודת דוד]. However, various commentators find distinct meaning in each stage of this ascent. One perspective explains that the first stage represents the ultimate peak of success, while the second stage represents the actual movement from a lowly state to a high position. Together, these two symbolize an abundance of external authority, honor, and status. The third stage describes the internal dimensions of the person, much like a tall, towering cedar tree, hinting at an intrinsic spiritual elevation rooted in wisdom and the fear of God [מלבי״ם].
Another approach views these descriptions as a precise parallel to four specific virtues that the Israelites lost in their grim exile and will regain in the ultimate redemption. The initial promise of wisdom represents the restoration of knowledge. The first stage of elevation marks the rise from the lowliness of exile back to the royal throne. The second stage, linguistically related to a prophetic burden, hints at the return of prophecy to the nation. Finally, the highest stage of exaltation expresses a renewed closeness and attachment to the Divine Presence, representing the highest spiritual realm [אברבנאל].
Even though the primary approach attributes this prophecy to the nation of Israel, an ancient Midrashic tradition applies the threefold elevation directly to the King Messiah, elevating his status above the greatest heroes of history and creation. According to this tradition, the Messiah will be higher than Abraham due to his pure, immense love and fear of God. He will be more elevated than Moses; while Moses only carried the nation out of Egypt, the Messiah will gather all of Israel from the farthest corners of the earth. Finally, he will be more exalted than the ministering angels, as his spiritual abundance will flow directly from God without any intermediaries, and his power will surpass all celestial princes and the spiritual forces that drive the other nations [אברבנאל].