Isaiah 42:8-13

8 "¹I am the LORD, that is ²My name; I will not give My ³glory to another, Nor My praise to graven images.

9 "Behold, the ⁴former things have come to pass, Now I declare ⁵new things; Before they spring forth I proclaim them to you."

10 Sing to the LORD a ⁶new song, Sing His praise from the ⁷end of the earth! ⁸You who go down to the sea, and ⁹all that is in it. You ¹⁰islands, and those who dwell on them.

11 Let the ¹¹wilderness and its cities lift up their voices, The settlements where ¹²Kedar inhabits. Let the inhabitants of ¹³Sela sing aloud, Let them shout for joy from the tops of the ¹⁴mountains.

12 Let them ¹⁵give glory to the LORD And declare His praise in the ¹⁶coastlands.

13 ¹⁷The LORD will go forth like a warrior, He will arouse His ¹⁸zeal like a man of war. He will utter a shout, yes, He will raise a war cry. He will ¹⁹prevail against His enemies.

Isaiah 42:8-13 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. Is 43:3, 11, 15
• 2. Exodus 3:15; Psalms 83:18
• 3. Exodus 20:3-5; Isaiah 48:11
• 4. Isaiah 48:3
• 5. Isaiah 43:19; Isaiah 48:6
• 6. Psalms 33:3; Psalms 40:3; Psalms 98:1
• 7. Isaiah 49:6; Isaiah 62:11
• 8. Psalms 65:5; Psalms 107:23
• 9. Exodus 20:11; 1 Chronicles 16:32; Psalms 96:11
• 10. Isaiah 42:4
• 11. Isaiah 32:16; Isaiah 35:1, 6
• 12. Isaiah 21:16; Isaiah 60:7
• 13. Isaiah 16:1
• 14. Isaiah 52:7; Nahum 1:15
• 15. Isaiah 24:15
• 16. Isaiah 42:4
• 17. Exodus 15:3
• 18. Isaiah 9:7; Isaiah 26:11; Isaiah 37:32; Isaiah 59:17
• 19. Isaiah 66:14-16

Footnotes

• [a] Or "idols"