Like a sapling he grew up before him, like a root in arid ground. He had no form or charm to attract us, no beauty to win our hearts. (Is 53:2)
וַיַּ֨עַל כַּיּוֹנֵ֜ק לְפָנָ֗יו וְכַשֹּׁ֨רֶשׁ֙ מֵאֶ֣רֶץ צִיָּ֔ה לֹא־תֹ֥אַר לֹ֖ו וְלֹ֣א הָדָ֑ר וְנִרְאֵ֥הוּ וְלֹֽא־מַרְאֶ֖ה וְנֶחְמְדֵֽהוּ׃
Et ascendit sicut virgultum coram eovet sicut radix de terra sitienti. Non erat species ei neque decor, ut aspiceremus eum, et non erat aspectus, ut desideraremus eum.
ἀνηγγείλαμεν ἐναντίον αὐτοῦ ὡς παιδίον, ὡς ῥίζα ἐν γῇ διψώσῃ, οὐκ ἔστιν εἶδος αὐτῷ οὐδὲ δόξα· καὶ εἴδομεν αὐτόν, καὶ οὐκ εἶχεν εἶδος οὐδὲ κάλλος.
A treelet carries the promise of life, gentle shade on a hot day, fruit when the time comes to ripe. Trees are faithful, they can always be found where we planted them. Isaiah uses a significant image because this young shoot etymologically comes from a verb meaning breastfeeding, sucking – יָנַק [yânaq]. So this is a baby, an infant, someone who needs care and protection because he is completely dependent. Therefore, the LXX translates this word as παιδίον [paidion], i.e. child. This thought is more appropriate to Christmas, when we saw Jesus wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger. Today they will wrap Him in burial cloths and lay Him in the grave. But this young shoot has the power to split the rock of death.
