Isaiah 42:18-25

Israel Blind and Deaf

18 “Hear, you deaf; look, you blind, and see!
19 Who is blind but my servant, and deaf like the messenger I send? Who is blind like the one in covenant with me, blind like the servant of the LORD?
20 You have seen many things, but you pay no attention; your ears are open, but you do not listen.”
21 It pleased the LORDfor the sake of his righteousness to make his law great and glorious.
22 But this is a people plundered and looted, all of them trapped in pits or hidden away in prisons. They have become plunder, with no one to rescue them; they have been made loot, with no one to say, “Send them back.”
23 Which of you will listen to this or pay close attention in time to come?
24 Who handed Jacob over to become loot, and Israel to the plunderers? Was it not the LORD, against whom we have sinned? For they would not follow his ways; they did not obey his law.
25 So he poured out on them his burning anger, the violence of war. It enveloped them in flames, yet they did not understand; it consumed them, but they did not take it to heart.

Isaiah 42:18-25 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.

Cross References 21

  • 1. S Isaiah 35:5
  • 2. Isaiah 43:8; Ezekiel 12:2
  • 3. Isaiah 41:8-9
  • 4. Isaiah 44:26; Haggai 1:13
  • 5. Isaiah 26:3
  • 6. Isaiah 6:9-10; Isaiah 43:8; Jeremiah 5:21; Jeremiah 6:10
  • 7. Isaiah 43:25
  • 8. S ver 4; 2 Corinthians 3:7
  • 9. S Judges 6:4; S 2 Kings 24:13
  • 10. S Isaiah 24:18
  • 11. S Psalms 66:11; S Isaiah 24:22
  • 12. S Isaiah 5:29
  • 13. Deuteronomy 32:29; Psalms 81:13; Isaiah 47:7; Isaiah 48:18; Isaiah 57:11
  • 14. S 2 Kings 17:6; Isaiah 43:28; Isaiah 47:6
  • 15. Isaiah 10:5-6
  • 16. S Isaiah 30:15
  • 17. S Joshua 1:7; S Psalms 119:136; Isaiah 5:24; Jeremiah 44:10
  • 18. S 2 Kings 22:13; S Job 40:11; S Isaiah 51:17; S Ezekiel 7:19
  • 19. 2 Kings 25:9; Isaiah 66:15; Jeremiah 4:4; Jeremiah 21:12; Lamentations 2:3; Nahum 1:6
  • 20. S Isaiah 1:3
  • 21. Isaiah 29:13; Isaiah 47:7; Isaiah 57:1,11; Hosea 7:9
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