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Isaiah 42

World English Bible

WEB

1“Behold, my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen, in whom my soul delights: I have put my Spirit on him. He will bring justice to the nations. 2He will not shout, nor raise his voice, nor cause it to be heard in the street. 3He won’t break a bruised reed. He won’t quench a dimly burning wick. He will faithfully bring justice. 4He will not fail nor be discouraged, until he has set justice on the earth, and the islands wait for his law.” 5God Yahweh, he who created the heavens and stretched them out, he who spread out the earth and that which comes out of it, he who gives breath to its people and spirit to those who walk in it, says: 6“I, Yahweh, have called you in righteousness. I will hold your hand. I will keep you, and make you a covenant for the people, as a light for the nations, 7to open the blind eyes, to bring the prisoners out of the dungeon, and those who sit in darkness out of the prison. 8“I am Yahweh. That is my name. I will not give my glory to another, nor my praise to engraved images. 9Behold, the former things have happened and I declare new things. I tell you about them before they come up.” 10Sing to Yahweh a new song, and his praise from the end of the earth, you who go down to the sea, and all that is therein, the islands and their inhabitants. 11Let the wilderness and its cities raise their voices, with the villages that Kedar inhabits. Let the inhabitants of Sela sing. Let them shout from the top of the mountains! 12Let them give glory to Yahweh, and declare his praise in the islands. 13Yahweh will go out like a mighty man. He will stir up zeal like a man of war. He will raise a war cry. Yes, he will shout aloud. He will triumph over his enemies. 14“I have been silent a long time. I have been quiet and restrained myself. Now I will cry out like a travailing woman. I will both gasp and pant. 15I will destroy mountains and hills, and dry up all their herbs. I will make the rivers islands, and will dry up the pools. 16I will bring the blind by a way that they don’t know. I will lead them in paths that they don’t know. I will make darkness light before them, and crooked places straight. I will do these things, and I will not forsake them. 17“Those who trust in engraved images, who tell molten images, ‘You are our gods,’ will be turned back. They will be utterly disappointed. 18“Hear, you deaf, and look, you blind, that you may see. 19Who is blind, but my servant? Or who is as deaf as my messenger whom I send? Who is as blind as he who is at peace, and as blind as Yahweh’s servant? 20You see many things, but don’t observe. His ears are open, but he doesn’t listen. 21It pleased Yahweh, for his righteousness’ sake, to magnify the law and make it honorable. 22But this is a robbed and plundered people. All of them are snared in holes, and they are hidden in prisons. They have become captives, and no one delivers, and a plunder, and no one says, ‘Restore them!’ 23Who is there among you who will give ear to this? Who will listen and hear for the time to come? 24Who gave Jacob as plunder, and Israel to the robbers? Didn’t Yahweh, he against whom we have sinned? For they would not walk in his ways, and they disobeyed his law. 25Therefore he poured the fierceness of his anger on him, and the strength of battle. It set him on fire all around, but he didn’t know. It burned him, but he didn’t take it to heart.”

World English Bible, 2020 stable text edition. Public domain; “World English Bible” is a trademark of eBible.org. eBible.org

Overview

Isaiah Chapter 42 presents a profound prophecy concerning the coming of the Servant of the Lord, who is often understood as a foreshadowing of #JesusChrist. The chapter begins with a declaration of God’s chosen servant, who will bring justice to the nations. This servant is described as gentle and compassionate, not breaking a bruised reed or extinguishing a dimly burning wick, which emphasizes the tender nature of his mission (Isaiah 42:1-3). The mission of this servant is not only to restore Israel but also to be a light to the Gentiles, revealing God’s salvation to the ends of the earth (Isaiah 42:6-7). This highlights the universal scope of God’s redemptive plan, extending beyond Israel to all humanity, fulfilling the promise made to Abraham that through his offspring, all nations would be blessed (Genesis12:3).

The chapter continues with a call to worship the Lord, who is the Creator and sustainer of all things. God reassures His people that He will not forsake them, even in their struggles (Isaiah 42:16). The passage also serves as a reminder of God’s sovereignty and faithfulness, as He declares that He will bring forth justice and righteousness, and that He will not be silent until His justice shines forth (Isaiah 42:13-14). This chapter ultimately points to the hope and restoration that God promises through His Servant, encouraging believers to trust in His plan and to look forward to the fulfillment of His promises.

Study

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Referenced by

  1. Psalms 96:1v10Both Psalm 96:1 and Isaiah 42:10 call for a new song to be sung to the Lord, emphasizing the theme of worship and praise for God's mighty acts and His salvation.
  2. Psalms 98:1v10Psalm 98:1 calls for a new song to the Lord for His marvelous deeds, similar to Isaiah 42:10, which also calls for a new song as a response to God's salvation and justice.
  3. Psalms 107:10-16v7Psalm 107:10-16 speaks of God freeing prisoners from darkness, which is echoed in Isaiah 42:7 where the Servant of the Lord is described as bringing light to those in darkness.
  4. Psalms 115:1v8Psalm 115:1 emphasizes giving glory to God alone, not to us, which aligns with Isaiah 42:8 where God declares He will not give His glory to another.
  5. Isaiah 48:3v9Isaiah 48:3 speaks of God declaring former things and bringing them to pass, which is echoed in Isaiah 42:9 where God announces new things before they spring forth.
  6. Matthew 12:18v1Matthew 12:18 cites Isaiah 42:1, identifying Jesus as the Servant of the Lord, chosen and beloved, who will bring justice to the nations.
  7. Matthew 12:21v4Matthew 12:21 refers to Isaiah 42:4, indicating that the Gentiles will hope in the name of Jesus, highlighting the universal scope of His mission.
  8. Luke 2:25-32v6Simeon's declaration in Luke 2:25-32 about Jesus being a light for revelation to the Gentiles aligns with Isaiah 42:6, which speaks of the Servant as a light to the nations.
  9. John 9:39v6In John 9:39, Jesus speaks of bringing sight to the blind and judgment to the world, echoing Isaiah 42:6-7, where the Servant of the Lord is described as a light to the nations, opening blind eyes, and freeing captives.
  10. Acts 17:24-25v5Acts 17:24-25 describes God as the Creator who does not dwell in temples made by man, resonating with Isaiah 42:5, which speaks of God as the Creator of the heavens and the earth.

Topics in this chapter

Related chapters

  • Isaiah 49Light to the NationsIslandsLight and Darkness in Scripture
  • Matthew 12Servant of the LordUniversal SalvationGentiles
  • Luke 2Light of the WorldUniversal SalvationGentiles
  • Isaiah 41IslandsKedarServant
  • Psalms 96New SongCreatorInclusivity
  • John 9Light of the WorldSpiritual BlindnessLight
  • Isaiah 61LiberationIsaiahMessianic Prophecy
  • Philippians 2Light of the WorldServantServanthood
  • John 8Light of the WorldLiberationLight
  • Isaiah 50Servant SongsServant of the LordRebuke
  • Matthew 3New BeginningsNew CreationProphecy Fulfilled
  • Acts 13GentilesLightMission

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