Isaiah42
American Standard Version · Public Domain
1Behold, my servant, whom I uphold; my chosen, in whom my soul delighteth: I have put my Spirit upon him; he will bring forth justice to the Gentiles.
2He will not cry, nor lift up his voice, nor cause it to be heard in the street.
3A bruised reed will he not break, and a dimly burning wick will he not quench: he will bring forth justice in truth.
4He will not fail nor be discouraged, till he have set justice in the earth; and the isles shall wait for his law.
5Thus saith God Jehovah, he that created the heavens, and stretched them forth; he that spread abroad the earth and that which cometh out of it; he that giveth breath unto the people upon it, and spirit to them that walk therein:
6I, Jehovah, have called thee in righteousness, and will hold thy hand, and will keep thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles;
7to open the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners from the dungeon, and them that sit in darkness out of the prison-house.
8I am Jehovah, that is my name; and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise unto graven images.
9Behold, the former things are come to pass, and new things do I declare; before they spring forth I tell you of them.
10Sing unto Jehovah a new song, and his praise from the end of the earth; ye that go down to the sea, and all that is therein, the isles, and the inhabitants thereof.
11Let the wilderness and the cities thereof lift up their voice, the villages that Kedar doth inhabit; let the inhabitants of Sela sing, let them shout from the top of the mountains.
12Let them give glory unto Jehovah, and declare his praise in the islands.
13Jehovah will go forth as a mighty man; he will stir up his zeal like a man of war: he will cry, yea, he will shout aloud; he will do mightily against his enemies.
14I have long time holden my peace; I have been still, and refrained myself: now will I cry out like a travailing woman; I will gasp and pant together.
15I will lay waste mountains and hills, and dry up all their herbs; and I will make the rivers islands, and will dry up the pools.
16And I will bring the blind by a way that they know not; in paths that they know not will I lead them; I will make darkness light before them, and crooked places straight. These things will I do, and I will not forsake them.
17They shall be turned back, they shall be utterly put to shame, that trust in graven images, that say unto molten images, Ye are our gods.
18Hear, ye deaf; and look, ye blind, that ye may see.
19Who is blind, but my servant? or deaf, as my messenger that I send? who is blind as he that is at peace with me, and blind as Jehovah’s servant?
20Thou seest many things, but thou observest not; his ears are open, but he heareth not.
21It pleased Jehovah, for his righteousness’ sake, to magnify the law, and make it honorable.
22But this is a people robbed and plundered; they are all of them snared in holes, and they are hid in prison-houses: they are for a prey, and none delivereth; for a spoil, and none saith, Restore.
23Who is there among you that will give ear to this? that will hearken and hear for the time to come?
24Who gave Jacob for a spoil, and Israel to the robbers? did not Jehovah? he against whom we have sinned, and in whose ways they would not walk, neither were they obedient unto his law.
25Therefore he poured upon him the fierceness of his anger, and the strength of battle; and it set him on fire round about, yet he knew not; and it burned him, yet he laid it not to heart.
Study Guide
Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Isaiah 42.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: The character and coming of Christ. (1-4). The blessings of his kingdom. (5-12). The prevalence of true religion. (13-17). Unbelief and blindness reproved. (18-25).
vv1-4
This prophecy was fulfilled in Christ, Matt. 12:17. Let our souls rely on him, and rejoice in him; then, for his sake, the Father will be well-pleased with us. The Holy Spirit not only came, but rested upon him, and without measure. He patiently bore the contradiction of sinners. His kingdom is spiritual; he was not to appear with earthly honours. He is tender of those oppressed with doubts and fears, as a bruised reed; those who are as smoking flax, as the wick of a lamp newly lighted, which is ready to go out again. He will not despise them, nor lay upon them more work or more suffering than they can bear. By a long course of miracles and his resurrection, he fully showed the truth of his holy religion. By the power of his gospel and grace he fixes principles in the minds of men, which tend to make them wise and just. The most distant nations wait for his law, wait for his gospel, and shall welcome it. If we would make our calling and election sure, and have the Father delight over us for good, we must behold, hear, believe in, and obey Christ.
vv5-12
The work of redemption brings back man to the obedience he owes to God as his Maker. Christ is the light of the world. And by his grace he opens the understandings Satan has blinded, and sets at liberty from the bondage of sin. The Lord has supported his church. And now he makes new promises, which shall as certainly be fulfilled as the old ones were. When the Gentiles are brought into the church, he is glorified in them and by them. Let us give to God those things which are his, taking heed that we do not serve the creature more than the Creator.
vv13-17
The Lord will appear in his power and glory. He shall cry, in the preaching of his word. He shall cry aloud in the gospel woes, which must be preached with gospel blessings, to awaken a sleeping world. He shall conquer by the power of his Spirit. And those that contradict and blaspheme his gospel, he shall put to silence and shame; and that which hinders its progress shall be taken out of the way. To those who by nature were blind, God will show the way to life and happiness by Jesus Christ. They are weak in knowledge, but He will make darkness light. They are weak in duty, but their way shall be plain. Those whom God brings into the right way, he will guide in it. This passage is a prophecy, and is also applicable to every believer; for the Lord will never leave nor forsake them.
Key Words
הֵן: lo!; also (as expressing surprise) if
עֶבֶד: a servant
תָּמַךְ: to sustain; by implication, to obtain, keep fast; figuratively, to help, follow close
בָּחִיר: select
נֶפֶשׁ: properly, a breathing creature, i.e. animal of (abstractly) vitality; used very widely in a literal, accommodated or figurative sense (bodily or mental)
רָצָה: to be pleased with; specifically, to satisfy adebt
נָתַן: to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.)
רוּחַ: wind; by resemblance breath, i.e. a sensible (or even violent) exhalation; figuratively, life, anger, unsubstantiality; by extension, a region of the sky; by resemblance spirit, but only of a rational being (including its expression and functions)
עַל: above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
יָצָא: to go (causatively, bring) out, in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively, direct and proxim.
Cross References
Isaiah 42Explicitly quotes verses 1-3 as fulfilled in Jesus Christ's quiet and compassionate ministry.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole, JFB
Echoes 'my beloved, in whom my soul is well pleased' at Christ's baptism.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole, JFB
Parallels Christ having the Spirit put upon Him to preach deliverance to captives.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole, JFB
Direct Gospel verification that this Servant prophecy is fulfilled in the person of Jesus.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Applies Christ's charge of secrecy to His quiet, non-contentious fulfillment of Isaiah 42:2.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Identical language of the Spirit of the Lord being upon the anointed Servant.
Supported by JFB
Illustrates how Christ deals gently with the heavy laden and bruised.
Supported by JFB
Repeats the prophetic commission of the Servant to be a light to the Gentiles.
Supported by JFB
John's theology of Christ as the Light of men, illuminating global spiritual darkness.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Simeon's prophecy quotes this directly, identifying Jesus as a light to lighten the Gentiles.
Supported by JFB
Paul's commission to turn Gentiles from darkness to light, fulfilling the Servant's work.
Supported by Matthew Henry
The Father's voice at the Transfiguration echoes the delight declared in verse 1.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Parallels the tender care of the Shepherd for the weak and vulnerable.
Supported by JFB
Christ declares Himself the light of the world, fulfilling the promise of verse 6.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Christ comes for judgment, making the blind see and exposing those who claim sight.
Supported by JFB
Shows how God set forth Christ to demonstrate His righteousness, fulfilling verse 6.
Supported by Matthew Henry