Isaiah 42:1-7

The Servant of the LORD

1 “Here is my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen one in whom I delight; I will put my Spirit on him, and he will bring justice to the nations.

2 He will not shout or cry out, or raise his voice in the streets.

3 A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out. In faithfulness he will bring forth justice;

4 he will not falter or be discouraged till he establishes justice on earth. In his teaching the islands will put their hope.”

5 This is what God the LORD says— the Creator of the heavens, who stretches them out, who spreads out the earth with all that springs from it, who gives breath to its people, and life to those who walk on it:

6 “I, the LORD, have called you in righteousness; I will take hold of your hand. I will keep you and will make you to be a covenant for the people and a light for the Gentiles,

7 to open eyes that are blind, to free captives from prison and to release from the dungeon those who sit in darkness.

Isaiah 42:1-7 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

• 1. S Isaiah 20:3; S Matthew 20:28
• 2. S Isaiah 14:1; Isaiah 43:10; Luke 9:35; Luke 23:35; 1 Peter 2:4,6
• 3. Matthew 3:17
• 4. S Isaiah 11:2; S Isaiah 44:3; Matthew 3:16-17; S John 3:34
• 5. S Isaiah 9:7
• 6. S Genesis 49:10
• 7. Proverbs 8:1-4
• 8. S Isaiah 36:6
• 9. S Job 30:24
• 10. S Job 13:25
• 11. Psalms 72:2; Psalms 96:13
• 12. S Isaiah 2:4
• 13. ver 21; Exodus 34:29; Isaiah 51:4
• 14. S Isaiah 11:11
• 15. S Genesis 49:10; Matthew 12:18-21*
• 16. S Genesis 1:6; Psalms 102:25; Isaiah 48:13
• 17. S Genesis 1:1
• 18. Psalms 24:2; Acts 17:24
• 19. S Genesis 2:7; Acts 17:25
• 20. Exodus 31:2; S Judges 4:10; Isaiah 41:9-10; Isaiah 43:1
• 21. Isaiah 45:24; Jeremiah 23:6; Daniel 9:7
• 22. Isaiah 41:13; Isaiah 45:1
• 23. Isaiah 26:3; Isaiah 27:3
• 24. Isaiah 49:8; Isaiah 54:10; Isaiah 59:21; Isaiah 61:8; Jeremiah 31:31; Jeremiah 32:40; Malachi 3:1; S Luke 22:20
• 25. S Isaiah 9:2
• 26. S Isaiah 26:18; S Luke 2:32; Acts 13:47
• 27. S Psalms 146:8; S Isaiah 32:3; Matthew 11:5; Isaiah 35:5
• 28. Isaiah 49:9; Isaiah 61:1; Isaiah 51:14; Isaiah 52:2; Zechariah 2:7
• 29. S Psalms 66:11; S Isaiah 24:22; Isaiah 48:20; Zechariah 9:11; S Luke 4:19; 2 Timothy 2:26; Hebrews 2:14-15
• 30. S Psalms 107:10,14; Acts 26:18