Isaiah 42:19

19 Who is as blind as my servant, or as deaf as the messenger I send? Who is as blind as the one I rewarded, as blind as the servant of ADONAI?"

Isaiah 42:19 Meaning and Commentary

Isaiah 42:19

Who is blind, but my servant?
&c.] Kimchi, taking the former words to be spoken to the Jews, thinks this is their reply; who will say in answer to it, why do ye call us blind and deaf? who so blind and deaf as Isaiah the prophet, the servant of the Lord, his messenger, and a perfect one as he is called? but as the preceding words are spoken to the Gentiles, here the Lord does as it were correct himself, as if he should say, why do I call the Gentiles blind and deaf, when the people of the Jews, who call themselves my servants, and pretend to serve and worship me, yet there are none so blind as they in spiritual things? though they have so many opportunities and advantages of light and knowledge, yet shut their eyes wilfully against the light; hence the people and their guides, the Scribes and Pharisees, are often called "blind" by our Lord, to whose times this passage refers, ( Matthew 15:14 ) ( Matthew 23:16-19 Matthew 23:24 ) ; "or deaf, as my messenger that I sent?" not the Prophet Isaiah, but some other, who did not attend to what he was charged with, and did not perform his office aright; it may design in general the priests and Levites, who were the messengers of the Lord of hosts to instruct the people; and yet these were deaf to the messages that God gave them, and they were to deliver to the people: or it may be rendered, "or deaf, but, or as, to whom I send my messenger" ^F26; or messengers, as the Vulgate Latin version; and so the Targum,

``and sinners to whom I send my prophets;''

and so it may respect the body of the people as before, who were deaf to John the Baptist, the messenger sent before the Lord; to Christ himself, and his ministry, and to his apostles, who were first sent to them: who is blind, as he that is perfect?
who pretended to be so, as the young man who thought he had kept all the commandments, and as Saul before conversion, and all the Pharisees, those self-righteous persons who needed no repentance, and yet who so blind as they? and indeed, had they not been blind to themselves, they could never have thought themselves perfect; and yet when they were told they were so, could not bear it, ( Matthew 19:20 ) ( Philippians 3:6 ) ( Luke 15:7 ) ( John 9:41 ) : and blind, as the Lord's servant? which is repeated for the further confirmation of it, and more clearly to show whose servant is meant.

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FOOTNOTES:

F26 (xlva ykalmk vrxw) "et surdus, sicut (sub. [ad quem], vel [ad quos]) angelum sive nucium meum missurus sum", Forerius, ex V. L. and to this sense, Grotius.

Isaiah 42:19 In-Context

17 Those who trust in idols, who say to statues, 'You are our gods,' will be repulsed in utter shame.

18 Listen, you deaf! Look, you blind! - so that you will see!

19 Who is as blind as my servant, or as deaf as the messenger I send? Who is as blind as the one I rewarded, as blind as the servant of ADONAI?"

20 You see much but don't pay attention; you open your ears, but you don't listen.

21 ADONAI was pleased, for his righteousness' sake, to make the Torah great and glorious.