Isaiah 42

King James Version

Full text for Isaiah Chapter 42

1¶ Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, [in whom] my soul delighteth; I have put my spirit upon him: he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles.

2He shall not cry, nor lift up, nor cause his voice to be heard in the street.

3A bruised reed shall he not break, and the smoking flax shall he not quench: he shall bring forth judgment unto truth.

4He shall not fail nor be discouraged, till he have set judgment in the earth: and the isles shall wait for his law.

5¶ Thus saith God the LORD, he that created the heavens, and stretched them out; he that spread forth the earth, and that which cometh out of it; he that giveth breath unto the people upon it, and spirit to them that walk therein:

6I the LORD have called thee in righteousness, and will hold thine hand, and will keep thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles;

7To open the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners from the prison, [and] them that sit in darkness out of the prison house.

8I [am] the LORD: that [is] my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images.

9Behold, the former things are come to pass, and new things do I declare: before they spring forth I tell you of them.

10Sing unto the LORD a new song, [and] his praise from the end of the earth, ye that go down to the sea, and all that is therein; the isles, and the inhabitants thereof.

11Let the wilderness and the cities thereof lift up [their voice], the villages [that] Kedar doth inhabit: let the inhabitants of the rock sing, let them shout from the top of the mountains.

12Let them give glory unto the LORD, and declare his praise in the islands.

13¶ The LORD shall go forth as a mighty man, he shall stir up jealousy like a man of war: he shall cry, yea, roar; he shall prevail against his enemies.

14I have long time holden my peace; I have been still, [and] refrained myself: [now] will I cry like a travailing woman; I will destroy and devour at once.

15I will make waste mountains and hills, and dry up all their herbs; and I will make the rivers islands, and I will dry up the pools.

16And I will bring the blind by a way [that] they knew not; I will lead them in paths [that] they have not known: I will make darkness light before them, and crooked things straight. These things will I do unto them, and not forsake them.

17They shall be turned back, they shall be greatly ashamed, that trust in graven images, that say to the molten images, Ye [are] our gods.

18¶ Hear, ye deaf; and look, ye blind, that ye may see.

19Who [is] blind, but my servant? or deaf, as my messenger [that] I sent? who [is] blind as [he that is] perfect, and blind as the LORD'S servant?

20Seeing many things, but thou observest not; opening the ears, but he heareth not.

21The LORD is well pleased for his righteousness' sake; he will magnify the law, and make [it] honourable.

22But this [is] a people robbed and spoiled; [they are] all of them snared in holes, and they are hid in prison houses: they are for a prey, and none delivereth; for a spoil, and none saith, Restore.

23Who among you will give ear to this? [who] will hearken and hear for the time to come?

24Who gave Jacob for a spoil, and Israel to the robbers? did not the LORD, he against whom we have sinned? for they would not walk in his ways, neither were they obedient unto his law.

25Therefore he hath poured upon him the fury of his anger, and the strength of battle: and it hath set him on fire round about, yet he knew not; and it burned him, yet he laid [it] not to heart.

AI Analysis

AI Summaries

Short Summary

Isaiah 42 introduces the Lord's chosen Servant, upon whom God's Spirit rests, who will gently bring judgment and truth to the Gentiles. God, the Creator, calls this Servant to be a covenant for the people and a light to the nations, promising to lead the blind. However, the chapter concludes with a sharp rebuke of Israel, God's own servant, for their spiritual blindness and disobedience, explaining their suffering as a consequence of forsaking His law.

Medium Summary

The chapter begins with a prophecy concerning the Lord's Servant, chosen and upheld by God, who will gently and effectively bring forth judgment and truth to the Gentiles without breaking the bruised reed or quenching the smoking flax. God, identifying Himself as the Creator of all things, affirms His calling of this Servant to be a covenant for the people and a light to the Gentiles, opening blind eyes and freeing prisoners. The prophet then calls for universal praise to the Lord from all the earth, acknowledging His mighty power. The Lord declares He will act powerfully, like a man of war, to destroy His enemies and lead the blind by unknown paths. Yet, the chapter concludes with a strong rebuke of Israel, God's own servant, for their spiritual deafness and blindness, attributing their plundered state to their disobedience to the Lord's law.

Long Summary

Isaiah 42 commences with a profound description of the Lord's chosen Servant, whom God upholds and in whom His soul delights, having placed His Spirit upon him. This Servant is characterized by gentleness, not crying aloud or breaking the bruised reed, yet he will steadfastly bring forth judgment and truth to the Gentiles until it is established globally. God then declares His identity as the sovereign Creator of the heavens and earth, who gives breath to all people. He affirms His righteous calling of the Servant, promising to hold his hand and keep him, appointing him as a covenant for the people and a light for the Gentiles, tasked with opening blind eyes and releasing those in darkness. The Lord asserts His unique glory, refusing to share His praise with graven images, and proclaims His foreknowledge of new things. A call then issues forth for all the earth, from the sea to the wilderness and mountains, to sing a new song and give glory to the Lord. The Lord declares He will emerge like a mighty warrior, stirring up zeal, roaring against His adversaries, and prevailing. After a long period of silence, He will act decisively, making waste the land and drying up waters, while simultaneously promising to lead the spiritually blind by unknown paths, making darkness light and crooked things straight for them. Those who trust in idols will be turned back and shamed. However, the chapter shifts to a lament and rebuke, questioning who is as blind as the Lord's own servant, Israel, who sees many things but observes not, and hears but does not understand. The Lord, pleased with His righteousness, intended to magnify the law, but Israel's disobedience led to them being robbed and spoiled, snared and imprisoned. The Lord Himself, against whom they sinned by not walking in His ways, allowed this suffering, yet they did not lay it to heart.

Core Concepts

  • The Lord's ServantA divinely chosen figure, upheld by God and endowed with His Spirit, who will gently but steadfastly bring forth judgment and truth to the nations.
  • Light to the GentilesThe Servant's mission extends beyond Israel, bringing spiritual illumination, a covenant, and freedom to those in darkness among the nations.
  • God as Creator and SovereignThe Lord identifies Himself as the supreme Creator of the heavens and earth, emphasizing His unique power, glory, and foreknowledge of all things.
  • Universal PraiseA call for all inhabitants of the earth, from the ends of the earth to the wilderness and mountains, to sing a new song and declare the Lord's glory.
  • Divine Intervention and JudgmentThe Lord declares He will act powerfully like a warrior against His enemies, while also promising to lead and restore the blind by unknown paths.
  • Spiritual Blindness of IsraelIsrael, identified as God's servant, is rebuked for their spiritual deafness and blindness, failing to observe or hear despite seeing many things.
  • Consequences of DisobedienceIsrael's state of being robbed and spoiled is attributed to their sin against the Lord, as they would not walk in His ways or obey His law.