Isaiah 53 is a wonderful chapter to memorize. Just imagine having these beautiful words describing our Savior hidden in your heart. Hidden so no one could ever take them away from you. Hidden so that when you find yourself in a difficult situation, possibly with no Bible at hand, these beautiful words can be a comfort and a strength.

It is also a difficult chapter to memorize. It uses a lot of words that are not used very often in our everyday conversation. There are phrases that are very similar to each other but different enough that they do not create a pattern. I was a little hesitant asking my class of 1st-2nd graders to memorize it. Originally I wanted them to memorize the whole chapter but I figured that was asking too much so I settled with verses 2-9. My two regular students memorized it with ease. I guess no one told them it was supposed to be difficult. :)

My boys (ages 15 and 13) and I took a break from our regular memory work (Randall’s list from Muscle and a Shovel) to memorize Isaiah 53 as well. We sort of have it memorized. As with all the memory work I ask my students or my kids or myself to do, I don’t necessarily expect a perfect recitation. My main goal is to feel very comfortable with the passage, know where it is found and what it means. My hope is that when my boys or I need it for our own edification or when teaching others we will do so confidently.

By the way, if you would like to join me in memorizing Randall’s list from Muscle and a Shovel, you can join my Scripture Typer group: Randall’s List

Most, if not all, the memory work found on this website comes from NKJV. For this one I used ESV. Those two students who worked so hard and did so well memorizing this passage both carry an ESV to Bible class. I wanted them to be able to read exactly what they were memorizing from their Bibles so we used the ESV.

There are several different PDFs you print out below to help your class memorize this passage. Each class session I want the students to See It / Say It / Copy It / Sing It.

Isaiah 53:2-9 Large Flash Cards PDF

 The large flash cards make it easy to “See It / Say It” together. I tried to choose pictures that would give a visual cue to help them memorize. When they get stuck during recitation they would say something like, “Is this the one with the swords?” Each class session, we read the flash cards together.

Isaiah 53:2-9 Small Flash Cards PDF

To help them review the passage at home, I gave each student a smaller version of the flash cards. These cards are about the size of a business card.

Isaiah 53:2-9 Copy Work Book PDF

This copy book is used during class. The passage (Isaiah 53:2-9) has been divided into 13 parts so each Wednesday night the students copied one of the pages.

Isaiah 53:2-9 Small Pictures PDF

The small “thumbs up” picture on the page is added by the student after the copy work is done for that page. It is the same picture found on the flash cards. Allowing the student to glue it on themselves gives them a little incentive to do the copy work and reinforces the association of the visual cue with the passage being copied. These same pictures are also used on the back of the project folder as they memorize the passage.

For the “Sing It” portion of our memory work, during each class we sang Glenda Schales hymn, He Carried My Sorrows and/or Hallelujah! What A Savior by PP Bliss. Not only have they hidden the beautiful prophecy about Christ’s suffering in their heart, but every time they sing one of these hymns they will, hopefully, automatically associate it with the scripture the hymn writers used as inspiration for these beautiful hymns. The song book we used during this quarter can be found here: God’s Prophets Song Book

This passage was memorized while studying God’s Prophets in The New Living Bible Lesson series. The project folder we made during that quarter along with all the other activities we did can be found here: God’s Prophets Project Folder. This memory book can be stored in the pocket found in the project folder.