Isaiah 42:16 kjv
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.
Isaiah 42:16 nkjv
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.
Isaiah 42:16 niv
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.
Isaiah 42:16 esv
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.
Isaiah 42:16 nlt
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.
Isaiah 42 16 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Isaiah 42:16 | "I will bring the blind by a way that they know 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." | Isa 42:16 |
| Psalm 23:2-3 | "He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake." | Ps 23:2-3 |
| Psalm 139:2-3 | "Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off. Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways." | Ps 139:2-3 |
| Proverbs 3:5-6 | "Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths." | Pr 3:5-6 |
| Isaiah 40:31 | "But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint." | Isa 40:31 |
| John 8:12 | "Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life." | Jn 8:12 |
| John 14:6 | "Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." | Jn 14:6 |
| 1 Corinthians 1:30 | "But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:" | 1 Cor 1:30 |
| 1 John 1:7 | "But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin." | 1 Jn 1:7 |
| Romans 8:28 | "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose." | Rom 8:28 |
| Isaiah 43:1-2 | "But now thus saith the LORD that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine. When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee." | Isa 43:1-2 |
| Psalm 73:23-24 | "Nevertheless I am continually with thee: thou hast holden me by my right hand. Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel, and afterward receive me to glory." | Ps 73:23-24 |
| Proverbs 2:7-8 | "He layeth up sound wisdom for the righteous: he is a buckler to them that walk uprightly. He keepeth the paths of judgment, and preserveth the way of his saints." | Pr 2:7-8 |
| Jeremiah 31:9 | "They shall come with weeping, and with supplications will I lead them: I will lead them beside the rivers of waters in a straight way, wherein they shall not stumble: for I am a father to Israel, and Ephraim is my firstborn." | Jer 31:9 |
| Matthew 1:21 | "And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins." | Mt 1:21 |
| Acts 13:47 | "For so hath the Lord commanded us, saying, I have set thee to be a light of the Gentiles, that thou shouldest be the means of salvation unto the end of the earth." | Ac 13:47 |
| 2 Peter 1:19 | "We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:" | 2 Pet 1:19 |
| Philippians 2:14-15 | "Do all things without murmurings and disputings: That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;" | Phl 2:14-15 |
| Hebrews 12:13 | "And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed." | Heb 12:13 |
| Psalm 18:28 | "For thou wilt light my candle: the LORD my God will enlighten my darkness." | Ps 18:28 |
Isaiah 42 verses
Isaiah 42 16 Meaning
This verse speaks of God's unwavering commitment to His people, promising guidance and protection, especially during difficult times. It assures that even if Israel stumbles or goes through darkness, God will not abandon them but will lead them to a new path, ensuring their safety and prosperity.
Isaiah 42 16 Context
This verse is part of the second major section of Isaiah, often called "Deutero-Isaiah," which addresses the exilic community in Babylon. The prophecies here focus on comfort, restoration, and God's sovereign plan for His people. Isaiah 42 begins by introducing the "Servant of the Lord," a figure who will bring justice to the nations. Verses 1-4 in this chapter describe this Servant's gentle and persistent approach to ministry. Following this, Isaiah 42:5-9 shifts to God's divine commissioning of His Servant. Verses 10-17 then pivot to a hymn of praise and a declaration of God's faithfulness and power, emphasizing His role as Redeemer and King who will bring salvation to Israel and light to the nations. Verse 16 fits within this broader declaration of God's steadfastness amidst hardship. It's a promise given to a people who, by the time Isaiah is writing (or at least during the period of the Babylonian exile), might have felt spiritually blind and lost, in a "darkness" of oppression and despair.
Isaiah 42 16 Word Analysis
וְהוֹלַכְתִּי (və-hō-w-lác-tî): "and I will lead." This is the Piel (causative) imperfect of the verb הָלַךְ (hâlakh), meaning "to walk" or "to go." The Piel here emphasizes God's active and direct agency in guiding. It’s not just about letting them walk, but about making them walk along a specific path. This signifies God's intentional involvement.
עִוְרִים (ʿiv-rîm): "blind." From the root עָוַר (ʿâ-war), meaning "to be blind." This can be literal blindness, but prophetically often symbolizes spiritual blindness—an inability to see or understand God’s ways, truth, or the path of salvation. The people of Israel might have felt spiritually disoriented, unable to perceive God’s hand in their midst or to discern the way forward.
דֶּרֶךְ (dé-reḵ): "way" or "path." A common word signifying a road, journey, or manner of living.
לֹא־יָדְעוּ (lōʾ-yā-də-ʿū): "they knew not." Negation of the verb יָדַע (yā-dhaʿ), meaning "to know." This reinforces the idea of an unfamiliar path, a route unknown to them. It underscores God's power to lead them through the unexpected.
וּנְתַתִּי (wə-nə-tât-tî): "and I will make." From the root נָתַן (nâ-than), meaning "to give" or "to put." In this context, "make" or "appoint." God will constitute or establish the darkness as light.
חֹשֶׁךְ (ḥō-šeḵ): "darkness." Represents ignorance, sin, distress, oppression, and the absence of divine favor or presence. The exilic situation was a literal and figurative darkness for many Israelites.
אוֹר (ʾōr): "light." Symbolizes divine revelation, truth, salvation, hope, and the presence of God. God's intervention transforms the dark situation into one of clarity and guidance.
וּמִשֹּׁרִים (wə-miš-šō-rîm): "and crooked things" or "and rugged places." Derived from a root possibly related to "level" or "plain." When used with a negative prefix, it can imply roughness or unevenness. Here, it speaks of difficult terrain, obstacles, or twisted circumstances.
לְאָשׁוּר (lə-ʾâ-šûr): "into a level place" or "straight." Again from a root meaning "to be straight" or "level." God will transform the rough or convoluted paths into smooth, straight ones, removing impediments.
אֶת־דְּבָרִים (ʾet-də-ḇā-rîm): "these things" or "matters." Refers to the previously mentioned actions—leading the blind, making darkness light, and straightening the crooked.
וְלֹא־אַעֲזֹב (wə-lōʾ-ʾa-ʿă-ḇō-ḇ): "and not forsake." Negation of the verb עָזַב (ʿâ-zav), meaning "to forsake," "abandon," or "leave." This is a strong assurance of God's enduring faithfulness and presence, a direct refutation of any possibility of abandonment.
Group Analysis: The parallel structure between leading the "blind" on "paths they know not" and making "darkness" into "light" and "crooked things" into "straight" paths highlights a complete divine reversal of their adverse circumstances. It's a holistic transformation where God personally handles all aspects of their disorientation and struggle. The repeated use of the first-person singular pronoun ("I will") emphasizes God’s personal commitment and powerful intervention on behalf of His people.
Isaiah 42 16 Bonus Section
The imagery of God leading the blind is particularly striking. In ancient cultures, blindness was a profound disability, often associated with vulnerability and helplessness. God presenting Himself as the one who actively leads the blind through unknown territory emphasizes His tender care and sovereign ability to manage even the most challenging predicaments. This speaks volumes about His character—He doesn't just set a general direction; He meticulously guides the vulnerable, step by step. Furthermore, the promise of making darkness light and crooked things straight serves as a profound theological metaphor. Darkness represents sin, confusion, and God’s hiddenness, while crooked paths symbolize error, deviation from righteousness, and societal breakdown. God's promise is to rectify these deep-seated problems through His redemptive work, preparing a smooth and illuminated path for His people, both physically and spiritually. This connects deeply with the New Testament understanding of Jesus Christ as the Light of the World who makes straight the paths of righteousness for believers.
Isaiah 42 16 Commentary
This verse powerfully encapsulates God's role as the ultimate Guide and Redeemer. For an exiled people feeling lost and in spiritual darkness, God promises a direct, personalized intervention. He will lead them out of their confusion (blindness) onto paths they've never experienced, making the seemingly insurmountable (darkness, crookedness) manageable and clear. The emphasis is on God's active, unwavering faithfulness ("I will not forsake them"). This passage underscores that divine guidance is not always in ways we would expect or understand from our limited human perspective, but it is always purposeful and loving. It points to God's ability to transform impossible situations into paths of salvation and progress, assuring His people of His constant presence through every trial.