John Calvin Commentary Isaiah 52:14

"Like as many were astonished at thee (his visage was so marred more than any man, and his form more than the sons of men)," — Isaiah 52:14 (ASV)

As many. He uses an anticipation, because the exalted state of Christ was not visible at first sight, and for this reason it might be rejected. Therefore, he informs them that Christ must first be rejected and humbled, and he anticipates the doubt that might have arisen from His singularly debased and unseemly condition. It is as if he had said, “There is no reason why people should be shocked at that unseemliness and disgrace which will be quickly followed by eternal happiness.”

So marred by men. I have translated כן (ken) as meaning so; for it is a mistake to suppose that it opens the second part of the comparison. I consider מאיש (meish) to mean “by men”; for I do not consider מ (mem) to be a particle denoting comparison, as others explain it—that is, “more than” men, or “beyond” what is usually found among men; but I adopt a simpler meaning, which is, that Christ was disfigured among people, or that His beauty was defaced by the perverse judgment of people.

Were amazed. This “amazement” is considered by some commentators to denote the astonishment that people felt on account of the miracles performed by Christ, and then, that when He had to come to the cross, He was immediately rejected by them. But they have not grasped the Prophet’s meaning, for he says that Christ will be such that all people will be shocked at Him. He came into the world to be everywhere despised; His glory lay hidden under the humble form of the flesh. For though a majesty worthy of the only-begotten Son of God (John 1:14) shone forth in Him, yet the greater part of people did not see it. On the contrary, they despised that deep abasement which was the veil or covering of His glory.

The cause of their astonishment was this: He dwelt among people without any outward show, and the Jews did not think that the Redeemer would come in that condition or attire. When He came to be crucified, their horror was greatly increased. Paul describes this humiliation and subsequent exaltation of Christ when he says:

Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to make himself equal to God, but emptied himself, taking upon him the form of a servant, made in the likeness of man, and found in fashion as a man, humbled himself, being made obedient even to death, and the death of the cross. Wherefore also God hath raised him to the highest exaltation, and hath given him a name which is above every name; that at the name of Jesus should bow every knee of those that are in heaven and in earth and in hell; and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (Philippians 2:6–11)

It was therefore necessary that Christ should first be humbled and covered with shame, and the exaltation to which He was about to be raised was not visible all at once. But the shame of the cross was followed by a glorious resurrection attended by the highest honor.