Isaiah 42:1-9

The Servant's Mission

1 "This is My Servant; I strengthen Him, [this is] My Chosen One; I delight in Him. I have put My Spirit on Him; He will bring justice^[a] to the nations.

2 He will not cry out or shout or make His voice heard in the streets.

3 He will not break a bruised reed, and He will not put out a smoldering wick; He will faithfully bring justice.

4 He will not grow weak or be discouraged until He has established justice on earth. The islands will wait for His instruction."

5 This is what God the Lord says- who created the heavens and stretched them out, who spread out the earth and what comes from it, who gives breath to the people on it and life^[b] to those who walk on it-

6 "I, the Lord, have called you for a righteous [purpose],^[c] and I will hold you by your hand. I will keep you, and I make you a covenant for the people [and] a light to the nations,

7 in order to open blind eyes, to bring out prisoners from the dungeon, [and] those sitting in darkness from the prison house.

8 I am Yahweh, that is My name; I will not give My glory to another, or My praise to idols.

9 The past events have indeed happened. Now I declare new events; I announce them to you before they occur."

Isaiah 42:1-9 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO ISAIAH 42

This chapter begins with a prophecy concerning the Messiah, under the character of the servant of the Lord, and his elect, whom he supported, and was well pleased with; whose work is pointed at, and for which he was well qualified with the Spirit without measure, Isa 42:1 and is described by his humility and meekness, Isa 42:2, by his tenderness to weak and ignorant persons, Isa 42:3 and by his courage and resolution, Isa 42:4 then follow his call to his work, and the several parts of it, introduced with setting forth the greatness of God that called him, as the Creator of the heavens and of the earth, and of men upon it, Isa 42:5-7, whose name is Jehovah, and whose glory is incommunicable to a creature, and whose knowledge reaches to future things, which are predicted by him, Isa 42:8,9, and then Gentiles are called upon to praise the Lord, and give glory to him, partly for the above promises concerning the Messiah, Isa 42:10-12, and partly for the destruction of his enemies, Isa 42:13-15, and also for his gracious regard to such who had been blind and ignorant, Isa 42:16, the confusion of idolaters is prophesied of, and an exhortation is given them to make use of the means of light and knowledge, Isa 42:17,18, and the blindness, ignorance, and stupidity of the Jews, are exposed, though there was a remnant among them with whom the Lord was well pleased, for the sake of the righteousness of his Son, Isa 42:19-21, but as for the body of the people, they were to be given up to the spoilers and robbers for their sins and disobedience, and be the butt of the divine wrath and vengeance, Isa 42:22-24.

Footnotes

• [a]. DSS read His justice
• [b]. Lit spirit
• [c]. Or you by [My] righteousness; lit you in righteousness