Isaiah 42:4

4 He shall not be sorrowful, neither troubled, till he set doom in [the] earth, and isles shall abide his law. (He shall not have sorrow, nor be troubled, until he hath brought forth justice, or judgement, upon the earth, and the islands shall wait for his Law.)

Isaiah 42:4 Meaning and Commentary

Isaiah 42:4

He shall not fail
For want of strength to go through the work of redemption: or, "grow dim" F9 and dark, as a lamp for want of oil, or as the wick of a candle ready to go out. Hence the Septuagint version, "he shall shine F11"; in the glory of his person, as the Son of God; in the fulness of his grace, as Mediator, which shall never fail; and in the hearts of his people by his Spirit; and in his Gospel published to the world: nor be discouraged;
at the number, power, and menaces of his enemies, he had to grapple with, sin, Satan, the world, and death: or, nor be broken
F12; with the weight of all the sins of his people upon him; and with a sense of divine wrath; and with the whole punishment due unto them, inflicted on him, enough to have broke the backs and spirits of men and angels; but he stood up under the mighty load, and did not sink beneath it, but endured all with an invincible courage and resolution of mind: till he have set judgment in the earth;
fully satisfied the justice of God for the sins of his people, and performed the work of their redemption in righteousness; and then he sent and settled his Gospel in the world, proclaiming the same; and fixed a set of Gospel ordinances to continue the remembrance of it, till his second coming. Maimonides


FOOTNOTES:

F13 produces this passage to prove that the Messiah shall die, because it is said, "he shall not fail--till"; but this does not signify that he should fail afterwards, but that he should continue always: and the isles shall wait for his law;
his doctrine or Gospel, the law or doctrine of faith, particularly that of justification by his righteousness, with every other; this the inhabitants of the islands, or distant countries, the Gentiles, should be desirous of hearing, readily embrace and receive, and trust in Christ, made known to them in it. The Septuagint version is, "and in his name shall the Gentiles trust"; and so in ( Matthew 12:20 ) ( Acts 28:28 ) ( Acts 13:42 Acts 13:48 ) .
F9 (hhky al) , "non caligabit", Pagninus, Montanus.
F11 (analamqei) , Sept.
F12 (uwry) , "nec fraugetur", Paguinus, Montanus.
F13 Porta Mosis, p. 160.

Isaiah 42:4 In-Context

2 He shall not cry (out), neither he shall take a person, neither his voice shall be heard withoutforth.
3 He shall not break a shaken reed, and he shall not quench (the) smoking flax; he shall bring out doom in truth (but he shall bring forth justice, or judgement, and truth).
4 He shall not be sorrowful, neither troubled, till he set doom in [the] earth, and isles shall abide his law. (He shall not have sorrow, nor be troubled, until he hath brought forth justice, or judgement, upon the earth, and the islands shall wait for his Law.)
5 The Lord God saith these things, making (the) heavens of nought, and stretching forth them, making steadfast the earth, and those things that burgeon [out] of it, giving breath to the people, that is on it, and giving spirit to them that tread on it. (The Lord God saith these things, making the heavens out of nothing, and stretching them forth, making steadfast the earth, and those things that burgeon out of it, giving breath to the people who be on it, yea, giving spirit to those who tread upon it.)
6 I the Lord have called thee in rightfulness, and I took thine hand, and kept thee, and I gave thee into a bond of peace of the people, and into light of folks. (I the Lord have called thee in righteousness, and I took thy hand, and kept thee, and I gave thee to be a covenant for the people, and a light for the nations.)
Copyright © 2001 by Terence P. Noble. For personal use only.