Isaiah 42 summary meaning ai explained commentary

Isaiah 42 meaning explained in AI Summary

Chapter 42 of Isaiah introduces a key figure in the book: the Servant of the Lord. This chapter outlines the Servant's mission, character, and ultimate triumph.

Verses 1-4: God presents his chosen Servant, endowed with His Spirit. This Servant will bring justice to the nations, acting with quiet strength and unwavering faithfulness. He won't be flashy or loud, but will persevere until justice prevails.
Verses 5-9: God speaks, emphasizing His power as creator and His purpose in choosing the Servant. This Servant will be a covenant for the people and a light to the nations, opening blind eyes and freeing prisoners.
Verses 10-12: A hymn of praise erupts, calling on all creation to rejoice in the Lord and His salvation. This section highlights the universal impact of the Servant's mission.
Verses 13-17: God, described as a warrior, promises to act decisively. He will bring judgment upon those who oppose Him and will ultimately lead the blind in His righteous ways.
Verses 18-25: Despite God's power and promises, the people are blind and deaf to His message. They have turned away from Him, facing the consequences of their sin and disobedience. This section serves as a stark contrast to the Servant's faithfulness and obedience.

Key Themes:

The Servant of the Lord: This chapter introduces the Servant as a central figure, chosen by God to bring justice, light, and salvation.
Justice and Righteousness: The Servant's mission is characterized by bringing justice to the nations, not through force, but through quiet strength and unwavering faithfulness.
Light and Salvation: The Servant is a light to the nations, offering hope and liberation to those in darkness.
God's Sovereignty and Power: God is presented as the all-powerful creator who is actively working to fulfill His purposes through the Servant.
Humanity's Blindness and Disobedience: Despite God's clear call and the Servant's faithfulness, the people remain blind and disobedient, highlighting the need for redemption.

Overall, Isaiah 42 sets the stage for the Servant's mission, emphasizing his unique character and the global impact of his work. It also highlights the contrast between the Servant's faithfulness and humanity's need for God's grace and redemption.

Isaiah 42 bible study ai commentary

Isaiah 42 presents the first of the four "Servant Songs," introducing God's chosen agent of universal salvation. The chapter powerfully contrasts the gentle, effective, and global mission of this Servant with the futility of idols and the stunning spiritual blindness of God's own people, Israel. It affirms YHWH as the unique Creator and Lord of history, who declares future events and unfailingly brings them to pass, guaranteeing the success of His Servant and the coming of a new era of redemption.

Isaiah 42 context

This chapter is part of "Second Isaiah" (chapters 40-55), written during the Babylonian Exile (c. 586-539 BC). The Israelites were displaced, their temple destroyed, and their national identity shattered. In Babylon, they were surrounded by the worship of powerful deities like Marduk. The central message of this section is comfort and hope, assuring Israel that YHWH is sovereign over all nations and their gods. The prophecy of Cyrus the Persian conquering Babylon is a key "proof" of God's power. Isaiah 42 introduces an even greater agent, the Servant, whose work will surpass that of any earthly king.

Isaiah 42:1

Behold my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen, in whom my soul delights; I have put my Spirit upon him; he will bring forth justice to the nations.

In-depth-analysis

Behold my servant (‘ebed): This introduces a key figure. The term can refer to Israel (Isa 41:8-9), prophets, or kings. Here, it is an individual with a unique, divinely appointed role.
Whom I uphold: The Servant is not self-appointed; he is sustained and supported entirely by God.
My chosen... my soul delights: Expresses deep divine love and approval. This is not a reluctant agent but one who is in perfect harmony with God's will.
I have put my Spirit upon him: Divine empowerment for a specific task, echoing the anointing of Israel's leaders like David (1 Sam 16:13) and the messianic king (Isa 11:2).
Justice (mishpat) to the nations: The Servant's mission is universal, not just for Israel. Mishpat here means more than legal rulings; it signifies restoring the right order of things, establishing God's standard of righteousness and peace for the entire world.

Bible references

Matthew 12:18-21: '“Behold, my servant whom I have chosen... and in his name the Gentiles will hope.”' (Direct quotation and identification of Jesus as this Servant).
Luke 3:22: '...the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form, like a dove...' (The Spirit coming upon Jesus at His baptism, commissioning His ministry).
John 1:32-34: '“I saw the Spirit descend from heaven like a dove... this is he who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.”' (John the Baptist testifies to Jesus' divine anointing).
Isaiah 61:1: 'The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me, because the LORD has anointed me...' (A parallel mission statement read by Jesus in Luke 4:18-19).

Cross references

Isa 49:1-7 (Second Servant Song), Isa 50:4-9 (Third Servant Song), Isa 52:13-53:12 (Fourth Servant Song), Acts 10:38 (God anointed Jesus with the Holy Spirit), Php 2:7 (Jesus took the form of a servant).

Isaiah 42:2

He will not cry aloud or lift up his voice, or make it heard in the street;

In-depth-analysis

This verse defines the methodology of the Servant's work.
Not cry aloud... or lift up his voice: His ministry will be unostentatious, meek, and gentle. It stands in stark contrast to the self-promoting, noisy spectacles of worldly conquerors or political demagogues.
His power is not in public spectacle or coercive force but in quiet, persistent, spiritual transformation.

Bible references

Matthew 12:19: '"He will not quarrel or cry aloud, nor will anyone hear his voice in the streets."' (Direct quotation applied to Jesus' quiet and non-confrontational style of ministry).
Matthew 11:29: '"...for I am gentle and lowly in heart..."' (Jesus' own self-description perfectly matches the Servant's character).

Cross references

Zech 9:9 (king comes humbly on a donkey), 2 Tim 2:24 (the Lord's servant must not be quarrelsome but kind), 1 Pet 2:23 (when reviled, he did not revile in return).

Isaiah 42:3

a bruised reed he will not break, and a faintly burning wick he will not quench; he will faithfully bring forth justice.

In-depth-analysis

Bruised reed he will not break: A reed was a common, cheap plant; a "bruised" one was worthless and would normally be discarded. This is a powerful metaphor for the Servant's compassion toward the weak, broken, and marginalized. He restores rather than discards.
Faintly burning wick he will not quench: A wick on its last embers, giving off more smoke than light, was typically extinguished. The Servant, however, nurtures even the faintest flicker of faith, hope, or life.
Faithfully bring forth justice: His gentleness should not be mistaken for weakness or ineffectiveness. His mission to establish mishpat (justice) is certain and will be completed with faithfulness ('emet - truth, faithfulness, reliability).

Bible references

Matthew 12:20: '"...a smoldering wick he will not quench, until he brings justice to victory."' (Direct quotation, linking Christ's gentleness to the certainty of His ultimate victory).
Psalm 147:3: 'He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.' (The character of God's work, which the Servant embodies).

Cross references

Eze 34:16 (I will seek the lost), Luke 7:13 (the Lord had compassion), 2 Cor 1:3-4 (God of all comfort).

Isaiah 42:4

He will not grow faint or be discouraged till he has established justice in the earth; and the coastlands wait for his law.

In-depth-analysis

Not grow faint or be discouraged: This highlights the Servant's divine perseverance. Despite the quiet nature of his work and the opposition he will face, he will not fail or give up. The Hebrew word for "discouraged" is yaruts, related to the word for "bruised" (ratsuts) in verse 3. He who does not crush the bruised reed will not himself be crushed.
Established justice in the earth: Re-emphasizes the global and permanent nature of his work. His mishpat is not a temporary fix but a permanent establishment.
The coastlands wait for his law (torah): The "coastlands" or distant islands represent the farthest reaches of the Gentile world. They are actively waiting—even longing—for his teaching, instruction, and divine order (torah).

Bible references

Isaiah 49:6: '...I will make you as a light for the nations, that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth.' (A parallel statement about the Servant's global reach).
Romans 1:16: 'For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.' (Paul's mission reflecting this universal scope).

Cross references

Heb 12:2-3 (Jesus endured the cross), Isa 51:5 (my justice will go forth... the coastlands hope for me), Psa 72:8 (may he have dominion from sea to sea).

Isaiah 42:5-7

Thus says God, the LORD, who created the heavens and stretched them out, who spread out the earth and what comes from it, who gives breath to the people on it and spirit to those who walk in it: "I am the LORD; I have called you in righteousness; I will take you by the hand and keep you; I will give you as a covenant for the people, a light for the nations, to open the eyes that are blind, to bring out the prisoners from the dungeon, from the prison those who sit in darkness."

In-depth-analysis

Verse 5: YHWH asserts His authority as the universal Creator of all things and the Giver of all life. This is His credential. The one who can create the cosmos can certainly fulfill this new promise. This is a direct polemic against lifeless idols.
Verse 6:
- Called you in righteousness: The Servant's calling is part of God's righteous, world-redeeming plan.
- Take you by the hand and keep you: A promise of intimate guidance, protection, and preservation for the Servant in his difficult mission.
- A covenant (berit) for the people: The Servant doesn't just bring a covenant; he embodies it. He is the living contract, the person through whom God's relationship with humanity is restored.
- A light ('or) for the nations: He brings divine revelation and salvation to the Gentiles who are in spiritual darkness.
Verse 7: Defines the tangible effects of his ministry:
- Open the eyes that are blind: Spiritual enlightenment.
- Bring out the prisoners from the dungeon: Liberation from bondage, which is both literal and metaphorical (bondage to sin, death, and despair).

Bible references

Luke 1:78-79: '...whereby the sunrise shall visit us from on high to give light to those who sit in darkness...' (Zechariah's prophecy about Jesus' mission).
John 8:12: 'Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world.”' (Jesus' own self-identification).
Acts 26:17-18: '...to open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God...' (The commission given to Paul by the resurrected Christ, directly echoing Isa 42:7).
Jeremiah 31:31-33: 'Behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will make a new covenant...' (The Servant is the mediator of this New Covenant, as explained in Heb 8).

Cross references

Isa 49:8-9 (parallel mission), Isa 61:1 (proclaim liberty to the captives), Col 1:13 (transferred us from the domain of darkness), Luke 4:18 (anointed me...to set at liberty those who are oppressed).

Isaiah 42:8

I am the LORD; that is my name; my glory I give to no other, nor my praise to carved idols.

In-depth-analysis

I am the LORD (YHWH): This is God's personal, covenant name. It asserts his unique, self-existent being.
My glory I give to no other: A statement of exclusive divinity. YHWH will not share his honor, power, or authority. The work of the Servant will bring glory to YHWH alone, not to any idol, king, or empire.
Polemics: This is a direct attack on the polytheistic culture of Babylon. The Israelites in exile were tempted to think Babylon's gods were stronger because Babylon had conquered Judah. YHWH declares He is the only true God and all other deities are powerless, human-made "carved idols."

Bible references

Isaiah 48:11: '...My glory I will not give to another.' (A direct restatement of this principle).
John 17:4-5: 'I glorified you on earth... And now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had with you before the world existed.' (Jesus' mission brings glory to the Father, revealing their shared divine glory).
Exodus 20:3-5: '“You shall have no other gods before me... you shall not bow down to them or serve them...”' (The foundation of the covenant).

Cross references

Isa 44:6 (I am the first and I am the last), Psa 115:3-8 (description of lifeless idols).

Isaiah 42:9

Behold, the former things have come to pass, and new things I now declare; before they spring forth I tell you of them.

In-depth-analysis

This verse provides the proof of YHWH's exclusive claim in verse 8.
The former things: God's past prophecies that have been fulfilled, such as the rise and fall of empires or, in the immediate context, the prophecy of Cyrus defeating Babylon.
New things I now declare: The "new thing" is the unprecedented work of redemption through the Servant, a plan far greater than the first exodus.
Before they spring forth I tell you: This is the ultimate test of divinity. Only the sovereign God of history can accurately declare the future. Idols are mute and have no such power.

Bible references

Isaiah 43:19: 'Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?' (The theme of God's "new" work of redemption).
Revelation 21:5: 'And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.”' (The ultimate fulfillment of God's declaration).

Cross references

Isa 41:22-23 (challenge to idols to declare the future), Jer 1:5 (before I formed you I knew you).

Isaiah 42:10-17

Sing to the LORD a new song... Let the desert and its cities lift up their voice... the LORD goes out like a mighty man... I have been silent for a long time... Now I will cry out... I will turn the darkness before them into light... But those who trust in carved idols shall be turned back...

In-depth-analysis

This section is a hymn of praise in response to the announcement of the Servant, followed by a dramatic "theophany" (divine appearance) where God speaks as a divine warrior.
Verse 10: New song: A new act of God requires a new expression of praise. This call to praise is global, involving the sea, coastlands, and deserts.
Verse 13: The gentle Servant is backed by the power of YHWH the Divine Warrior. The God who goes forth "like a mighty man" guarantees the success of the Servant who does "not cry aloud."
Verse 14: God describes the period of exile as a time of self-restrained silence. Now, that silence is over. The "crying out" of God in judgment and deliverance contrasts with the Servant's quietness in ministry.
Verse 16: I will lead the blind: God himself will guide his blind people (Israel), turning their darkness (exile, despair) into light. This is a promise of restoration.
Verse 17: Idols shamed: The climax of this section is the complete and utter humiliation of those who trust in idols. God's dramatic action will prove their futility once and for all.

Bible references

Psalm 96:1: 'Oh sing to the LORD a new song; sing to the LORD, all the earth!' (The universal call to praise for God's saving acts).
Exodus 15:3: 'The LORD is a man of war; the LORD is his name.' (The classic depiction of God as a warrior, recalled here).
Hosea 2:14: '“Therefore, behold, I will allure her, and bring her into the wilderness, and speak tenderly to her.”' (God's promise to lead and restore his people).

Isaiah 42:18-20

"Hear, you deaf, and look, you blind, that you may see! Who is blind but my servant, or deaf as my messenger whom I send? Who is blind as my dedicated one, or blind as the servant of the LORD? He sees many things, but does not observe them; his ears are open, but he does not hear."

In-depth-analysis

A dramatic and ironic shift in focus. The Servant in vv. 1-9 came to open the eyes of the blind, but here, God's own servant, Israel, is exposed as deaf and blind.
My servant... my messenger: The titles previously used for the ideal Servant are now used ironically for covenant Israel, which was supposed to be God's witness to the world but failed catastrophically.
This is Israel's core problem: they have witnessed God's mighty acts throughout their history (sees many things) but fail to perceive the spiritual meaning or respond with obedience (does not observe).

Bible references

Matthew 13:14-15: '“‘You will indeed hear but never understand, and you will indeed see but never perceive...’”' (Jesus quoting Isaiah 6:9-10 to explain the spiritual dullness of the people who were rejecting His message).
Romans 11:8: '...as it is written, “God gave them a spirit of stupor, eyes that would not see and ears that would not hear...”' (Paul applying this theme of Israel's hardness to his own time).
Jeremiah 5:21: '“Hear this, O foolish and senseless people, who have eyes, but see not, who have ears, but hear not.”' (A common prophetic rebuke).

Cross references

Deu 29:4 (God has not given you a heart to understand), Mar 8:18 (having eyes do you not see?).

Isaiah 42:21-25

The LORD was pleased, for his righteousness' sake, to magnify his law and make it glorious. But this is a people plundered and looted... For who among you will give ear to this...? Who gave up Jacob to the looter, and Israel to the plunderers? Was it not the LORD, against whom we have sinned...? So he poured on him the heat of his anger and the might of war...

In-depth-analysis

Verse 21: States God's original intention: He wanted to exalt His Torah (law, instruction) through Israel, making it glorious in the sight of the nations.
Verse 22: The stark reality: because of their disobedience, Israel itself is "plundered and looted," trapped and hidden away (a clear description of the exile).
Verse 24: A series of rhetorical questions driving home the central point: Israel's suffering is not an accident or a sign of YHWH's weakness. It was YHWH himself who handed them over to judgment because of their sin.
Verse 25: The exile is described as God's fiery wrath poured out. The final, tragic line reveals their utter lack of perception: this fiery judgment was all around them, yet "he did not take it to heart." Their blindness persists even in punishment.

Bible references

Lamentations 2:1-5: 'How the Lord in his anger has set the daughter of Zion under a cloud!... The Lord has become like an enemy...' (A poetic description of God's judgment on Jerusalem).
Deuteronomy 28:49, 64: 'The LORD will bring a nation against you from far away... and the LORD will scatter you among all peoples...' (The curses of the covenant, which Israel's disobedience activated).
2 Kings 17:7-8: 'And this occurred because the people of Israel had sinned against the LORD their God...' (The historical explanation for the downfall of the northern kingdom, based on the same principle).

Isaiah chapter 42 analysis

The Paradox of the Servant: The chapter presents a significant tension. The Servant of vv. 1-9 is a perfect, gentle, effective agent of global salvation. The servant of vv. 18-22 is blind, deaf, and disobedient Israel. The Christian interpretation resolves this by identifying the first Servant as the Messiah, Jesus, who is the ideal Israel. He succeeds where corporate Israel failed, thereby becoming the "covenant for the people" and restoring the very nation that was blind to His identity.
Justice and Righteousness (mishpat and tsedeq): These are not just legal terms but cosmic ones. Tsedeq (righteousness) is God's salvific action and commitment to His covenant. Mishpat (justice) is the result—the new, right ordering of the world that flows from God's righteous act. The Servant's work is to implement this on a global scale.
Polemic: Creator vs. Idol: Isaiah 42 repeatedly grounds God's authority in His role as Creator (v. 5). This is his primary argument against the idols of Babylon. A god who cannot create life or declare the future is not a god at all. The entire prophecy of the Servant is a testament to YHWH's exclusive power to act in history.
The 'New Thing': The mission of the Servant is a 'new song' and a 'new thing' (vv. 9-10). It surpasses the 'former things' like the Exodus from Egypt. While the first Exodus created a single nation, this new redemptive act through the Servant is for all humanity ('the nations,' 'the coastlands').

Isaiah 42 summary

Isaiah 42 introduces God's chosen Servant, a messianic figure empowered by God's Spirit to gently but surely establish universal justice. God, the sole Creator, commissions this Servant to be a covenant for Israel and a light to the Gentiles, opening blind eyes and freeing prisoners. This hopeful vision is starkly contrasted with the reality of Israel, who as God's "blind servant," has ignored His commands and whose current suffering in exile is a direct, though unrecognized, consequence of their sin.

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Isaiah 42 AI Image Audio and Video

Isaiah chapter 42 kjv

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.
² He shall not cry, nor lift up, nor cause his voice to be heard in the street.
³ A bruised reed shall he not break, and the smoking flax shall he not quench: he shall bring forth judgment unto truth.
⁴ He 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:
⁶ I 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;
⁷ To open the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners from the prison, and them that sit in darkness out of the prison house.
⁸ I am the LORD: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images.
⁹ Behold, the former things are come to pass, and new things do I declare: before they spring forth I tell you of them.
¹⁰ Sing 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.
¹¹ Let 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.
¹² Let 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.
¹⁴ I 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.
¹⁵ I 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.
¹⁶ And 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.
¹⁷ They 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.
¹⁹ Who 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?
²⁰ Seeing many things, but thou observest not; opening the ears, but he heareth not.
²¹ The LORD is well pleased for his righteousness' sake; he will magnify the law, and make it honourable.
²² But 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.
²³ Who among you will give ear to this? who will hearken and hear for the time to come?
²⁴ Who 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.
²⁵ Therefore 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.

Isaiah chapter 42 nkjv

¹ "Behold! My Servant whom I uphold, My Elect One in whom My soul delights! I have put My Spirit upon Him; He will bring forth justice to the Gentiles.
² He will not cry out, nor raise His voice, Nor cause His voice to be heard in the street.
³ A bruised reed He will not break, And smoking flax He will not quench; He will bring forth justice for truth.
⁴ He will not fail nor be discouraged, Till He has established justice in the earth; And the coastlands shall wait for His law."
⁵ Thus says God the LORD, Who created the heavens and stretched them out, Who spread forth the earth and that which comes from it, Who gives breath to the people on it, And spirit to those who walk on it:
⁶ "I, the LORD, have called You in righteousness, And will hold Your hand; I will keep You and give You as a covenant to the people, As a light to the Gentiles,
⁷ To open blind eyes, To bring out prisoners from the prison, Those who sit in darkness from the prison house.
⁸ I am the LORD, that is My name; And My glory I will not give to another, Nor My praise to carved images.
⁹ Behold, the former things have come to pass, And new things I declare; Before they spring forth I tell you of them."
¹⁰ Sing to the LORD a new song, And His praise from the ends of the earth, You who go down to the sea, and all that is in it, You coastlands and you inhabitants of them!
¹¹ Let the wilderness and its cities lift up their voice, The villages that Kedar inhabits. Let the inhabitants of Sela sing, Let them shout from the top of the mountains.
¹² Let them give glory to the LORD, And declare His praise in the coastlands.
¹³ The LORD shall go forth like a mighty man; He shall stir up His zeal like a man of war. He shall cry out, yes, shout aloud; He shall prevail against His enemies.
¹⁴ "I have held My peace a long time, I have been still and restrained Myself. Now I will cry like a woman in labor, I will pant and gasp at once.
¹⁵ I will lay waste the mountains and hills, And dry up all their vegetation; I will make the rivers coastlands, And I will dry up the pools.
¹⁶ I will bring the blind by a way they did not know; I will lead them in paths they have not known. I will make darkness light before them, And crooked places straight. These things I will do for them, And not forsake them.
¹⁷ They shall be turned back, They shall be greatly ashamed, Who trust in carved images, Who say to the molded images, 'You are our gods.'
¹⁸ "Hear, you deaf; And look, you blind, that you may see.
¹⁹ Who is blind but My servant, Or deaf as My messenger whom I send? Who is blind as he who is perfect, And blind as the LORD's servant?
²⁰ Seeing many things, but you do not observe; Opening the ears, but he does not hear."
²¹ The LORD is well pleased for His righteousness' sake; He will exalt the law and make it honorable.
²² But this is a people robbed and plundered; All of them are snared in holes, And they are hidden in prison houses; They are for prey, and no one delivers; For plunder, and no one says, "Restore!"
²³ Who among you will give ear to this? Who will listen and hear for the time to come?
²⁴ Who gave Jacob for plunder, and Israel to the robbers? Was it not the LORD, He against whom we have sinned? For they would not walk in His ways, Nor were they obedient to His law.
²⁵ Therefore He has poured on him the fury of His anger And the strength of battle; It has set him on fire all around, Yet he did not know; And it burned him, Yet he did not take it to heart.

Isaiah chapter 42 niv

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.
⁸ "I am the LORD; that is my name! I will not yield my glory to another or my praise to idols.
⁹ See, the former things have taken place, and new things I declare; before they spring into being I announce them to you."
¹⁰ Sing to the LORD a new song, his praise from the ends of the earth, you who go down to the sea, and all that is in it, you islands, and all who live in them.
¹¹ Let the wilderness and its towns raise their voices; let the settlements where Kedar lives rejoice. Let the people of Sela sing for joy; let them shout from the mountaintops.
¹² Let them give glory to the LORD and proclaim his praise in the islands.
¹³ The LORD will march out like a champion, like a warrior he will stir up his zeal; with a shout he will raise the battle cry and will triumph over his enemies.
¹⁴ "For a long time I have kept silent, I have been quiet and held myself back. But now, like a woman in childbirth, I cry out, I gasp and pant.
¹⁵ I will lay waste the mountains and hills and dry up all their vegetation; I will turn rivers into islands and dry up the pools.
¹⁶ I will lead the blind by ways they have not known, along unfamiliar paths I will guide them; I will turn the darkness into light before them and make the rough places smooth. These are the things I will do; I will not forsake them.
¹⁷ But those who trust in idols, who say to images, 'You are our gods,' will be turned back in utter shame.
¹⁸ "Hear, you deaf; look, you blind, and see!
¹⁹ Who is blind but my servant, and deaf like the messenger I send? Who is blind like the one in covenant with me, blind like the servant of the LORD?
²⁰ You have seen many things, but you pay no attention; your ears are open, but you do not listen."
²¹ It pleased the LORD for the sake of his righteousness to make his law great and glorious.
²² But this is a people plundered and looted, all of them trapped in pits or hidden away in prisons. They have become plunder, with no one to rescue them; they have been made loot, with no one to say, "Send them back."
²³ Which of you will listen to this or pay close attention in time to come?
²⁴ Who handed Jacob over to become loot, and Israel to the plunderers? Was it not the LORD, against whom we have sinned? For they would not follow his ways; they did not obey his law.
²⁵ So he poured out on them his burning anger, the violence of war. It enveloped them in flames, yet they did not understand; it consumed them, but they did not take it to heart.

Isaiah chapter 42 esv

¹ Behold my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen, in whom my soul delights; I have put my Spirit upon him; he will bring forth justice to the nations.
² He will not cry aloud or lift up his voice, or make it heard in the street;
³ a bruised reed he will not break, and a faintly burning wick he will not quench; he will faithfully bring forth justice.
⁴ He will not grow faint or be discouraged till he has established justice in the earth; and the coastlands wait for his law.
⁵ Thus says God, the LORD, who created the heavens and stretched them out, who spread out the earth and what comes from it, who gives breath to the people on it and spirit to those who walk in it:
⁶ "I am the LORD; I have called you in righteousness; I will take you by the hand and keep you; I will give you as a covenant for the people, a light for the nations,
⁷ to open the eyes that are blind, to bring out the prisoners from the dungeon, from the prison those who sit in darkness.
⁸ I am the LORD; that is my name; my glory I give to no other, nor my praise to carved idols.
⁹ Behold, the former things have come to pass, and new things I now declare; before they spring forth I tell you of them."
¹⁰ Sing to the LORD a new song, his praise from the end of the earth, you who go down to the sea, and all that fills it, the coastlands and their inhabitants.
¹¹ Let the desert and its cities lift up their voice, the villages that Kedar inhabits; let the habitants of Sela sing for joy, let them shout from the top of the mountains.
¹² Let them give glory to the LORD, and declare his praise in the coastlands.
¹³ The LORD goes out like a mighty man, like a man of war he stirs up his zeal; he cries out, he shouts aloud, he shows himself mighty against his foes.
¹⁴ For a long time I have held my peace; I have kept still and restrained myself; now I will cry out like a woman in labor; I will gasp and pant.
¹⁵ I will lay waste mountains and hills, and dry up all their vegetation; I will turn the rivers into islands, and dry up the pools.
¹⁶ And I will lead the blind in a way that they do not know, in paths that they have not known I will guide them. I will turn the darkness before them into light, the rough places into level ground. These are the things I do, and I do not forsake them.
¹⁷ They are turned back and utterly put to shame, who trust in carved idols, who say to metal images, "You are our gods."
¹⁸ Hear, you deaf, and look, you blind, that you may see!
¹⁹ Who is blind but my servant, or deaf as my messenger whom I send? Who is blind as my dedicated one, or blind as the servant of the LORD?
²⁰ He sees many things, but does not observe them; his ears are open, but he does not hear.
²¹ The LORD was pleased, for his righteousness' sake, to magnify his law and make it glorious.
²² But this is a people plundered and looted; they are all of them trapped in holes and hidden in prisons; they have become plunder with none to rescue, spoil with none to say, "Restore!"
²³ Who among you will give ear to this, will attend and listen for the time to come?
²⁴ Who gave up Jacob to the looter, and Israel to the plunderers? Was it not the LORD, against whom we have sinned, in whose ways they would not walk, and whose law they would not obey?
²⁵ So he poured on him the heat of his anger and the might of battle; it set him on fire all around, but he did not understand; it burned him up, but he did not take it to heart.

Isaiah chapter 42 nlt

¹ "Look at my servant, whom I strengthen.
He is my chosen one, who pleases me.
I have put my Spirit upon him.
He will bring justice to the nations.
² He will not shout
or raise his voice in public.
³ He will not crush the weakest reed
or put out a flickering candle.
He will bring justice to all who have been wronged.
⁴ He will not falter or lose heart
until justice prevails throughout the earth.
Even distant lands beyond the sea will wait for his instruction. "
⁵ God, the LORD, created the heavens and stretched them out.
He created the earth and everything in it.
He gives breath to everyone,
life to everyone who walks the earth.
And it is he who says,
⁶ "I, the LORD, have called you to demonstrate my righteousness.
I will take you by the hand and guard you,
and I will give you to my people, Israel,
as a symbol of my covenant with them.
And you will be a light to guide the nations.
⁷ You will open the eyes of the blind.
You will free the captives from prison,
releasing those who sit in dark dungeons.
⁸ "I am the LORD; that is my name!
I will not give my glory to anyone else,
nor share my praise with carved idols.
⁹ Everything I prophesied has come true,
and now I will prophesy again.
I will tell you the future before it happens."
¹⁰ Sing a new song to the LORD!
Sing his praises from the ends of the earth!
Sing, all you who sail the seas,
all you who live in distant coastlands.
¹¹ Join in the chorus, you desert towns;
let the villages of Kedar rejoice!
Let the people of Sela sing for joy;
shout praises from the mountaintops!
¹² Let the whole world glorify the LORD;
let it sing his praise.
¹³ The LORD will march forth like a mighty hero;
he will come out like a warrior, full of fury.
He will shout his battle cry
and crush all his enemies.
¹⁴ He will say, "I have long been silent;
yes, I have restrained myself.
But now, like a woman in labor,
I will cry and groan and pant.
¹⁵ I will level the mountains and hills
and blight all their greenery.
I will turn the rivers into dry land
and will dry up all the pools.
¹⁶ I will lead blind Israel down a new path,
guiding them along an unfamiliar way.
I will brighten the darkness before them
and smooth out the road ahead of them.
Yes, I will indeed do these things;
I will not forsake them.
¹⁷ But those who trust in idols,
who say, 'You are our gods,'
will be turned away in shame.
¹⁸ "Listen, you who are deaf!
Look and see, you blind!
¹⁹ Who is as blind as my own people, my servant?
Who is as deaf as my messenger?
Who is as blind as my chosen people,
the servant of the LORD?
²⁰ You see and recognize what is right
but refuse to act on it.
You hear with your ears,
but you don't really listen."
²¹ Because he is righteous,
the LORD has exalted his glorious law.
²² But his own people have been robbed and plundered,
enslaved, imprisoned, and trapped.
They are fair game for anyone
and have no one to protect them,
no one to take them back home.
²³ Who will hear these lessons from the past
and see the ruin that awaits you in the future?
²⁴ Who allowed Israel to be robbed and hurt?
It was the LORD, against whom we sinned,
for the people would not walk in his path,
nor would they obey his law.
²⁵ Therefore, he poured out his fury on them
and destroyed them in battle.
They were enveloped in flames,
but they still refused to understand.
They were consumed by fire,
but they did not learn their lesson.