For they persecute him whom thou hast smitten; and they talk to the grief of those whom thou hast wounded.
For they persecute him whom thou hast smitten ... they talk to the grief of those whom thou hast wounded - literally, 'in respect to the pain of thy (mortally) pierced ones.' 'They talk exultingly and derisively of the pain of thy wounded ones' - "the slain of the Lord" (Isaiah 66:16; Jeremiah 25:33). Messiah refers to Himself first, then to His people (Isaiah 53:4; Isaiah 53:10, "Him ... smitten of God"). The Jews, instead of being moved to compassion by the sad spectacle of Jesus' sufferings, clamoured for His crucifixion. They exulted when they ought to have wept, and persecuted when they ought to have ministered sympathy to the sufferer (cf. Psalms 41:8-9).