Isaiah 42 16

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 verses

Isaiah 42 16 Meaning

The verse proclaims God's unfailing promise to His people who find themselves lost, disoriented, or spiritually blind. He assures them that He will personally intervene to guide them through unforeseen ways and unfamiliar paths. He will transform their despair and confusion (darkness) into clarity and hope (light), and He will rectify seemingly impossible or morally twisted circumstances (crooked things) into straight, navigable paths. This divine intervention is coupled with an explicit pledge of enduring presence and steadfast faithfulness, ensuring He will never abandon them. It is a declaration of God's sovereign power to restore, enlighten, and sustain His chosen ones, irrespective of their current predicament.

Isaiah 42 16 Context

Isaiah 42:16 falls within the broader section of Isaiah 40-55, often called the "Book of Comfort," primarily addressing the exiled Israelites in Babylon. This section contrasts the impotence of the false gods of Babylon with the omnipotence and faithfulness of YHWH, who promises to deliver His people. Chapter 42 introduces the "Servant of the Lord," an enigmatic figure who brings justice to the nations. While the immediate verses (42:1-7) depict the ideal, perfect Servant, later in the chapter (e.g., 42:18-20), Israel itself is paradoxically identified as the "blind" and "deaf" servant who failed. Thus, verse 16 is God's compassionate promise to His blind, unseeing people—Israel in exile, and by extension, all humanity needing spiritual enlightenment. Despite their failure, God pledges to guide them back, both literally from exile and spiritually to His truth, assuring them of His unyielding presence and transformative power. This promise anticipates a new work of God, surpassing the first Exodus, characterized by divine guidance and light in bewildering circumstances.

Isaiah 42 16 Word analysis

• And I will bring the blind

  • And I will bring: Hebrew w'hôlaḵtî (וְהוֹלַכְתִּי). This emphasizes God's sovereign initiative and active involvement. He is the one initiating and executing this guidance.
  • the blind: Hebrew 'ivrim (עִוְרִים). While often denoting physical blindness, in Isaiah's prophetic context, it primarily signifies spiritual or intellectual blindness. It portrays a people disoriented, unable to discern God's hand or truth, characteristic of Israel in its apostasy and suffering during exile. It denotes utter helplessness and dependency on God.

• by a way that they knew not;

  • a way that they knew not: This highlights the unexpected and humanly unconceivable nature of God's divine guidance. It implies a departure from familiar or self-contrived paths, an unknown route divinely orchestrated to accomplish His purposes, signifying miraculous intervention.

• I will lead them

  • I will lead them: Hebrew 'adrikem (אַדְרִיכֵם). Similar to "bring," this reinforces God's direct, protective, and continuous guidance. It speaks of instruction and care, akin to a shepherd guiding his flock or a mentor teaching a student.

• in paths that they have not known:

  • in paths that they have not known: This is a poetic parallelism to "a way that they knew not," further stressing the novel and previously unrevealed nature of God's leading. It points to new methods of deliverance and spiritual revelation beyond human understanding.

• I will make darkness light before them,

  • I will make darkness light: Hebrew ḥōšeḵ ('חֹשֶׁךְ', darkness) and 'ōr (אֹור', light). Darkness is a symbol of despair, confusion, ignorance, suffering, or spiritual judgment. God promises a radical reversal: bringing clarity, understanding, hope, and spiritual illumination where there was confusion and despair. This light provides safe passage and removes uncertainty.
  • before them: Signifies a visible, tangible transformation, allowing His people to witness the path made clear before their eyes.

• and crooked things straight.

  • and crooked things straight: Hebrew ma'aqašîm (מַעֲקַשִׁים, crooked places, roughness, moral perversity) and mîšōr (מִישׁוֹר, level, straight, plain). "Crooked things" refers to obstacles, moral distortions, complex challenges, or geopolitical hindrances. God promises to rectify these, smoothing out difficulties and removing barriers, both in external circumstances and potentially in their moral orientation, making the journey easy and unambiguous.

• These things will I do unto them,

  • These things will I do unto them: A strong, declarative statement reaffirming God's absolute commitment and resolve to perform all these promises. It emphasizes divine agency and guarantees the fulfillment of His word.

• and not forsake them.

  • and not forsake them: Hebrew w'lō' 'e'ezvem (וְלֹא אֶעֶזְבֵם). This is a foundational covenant promise expressing God's unchanging faithfulness, steadfast love, and enduring presence. It assures His people that despite their failures or helplessness, His commitment to them remains unbroken, ensuring their ultimate security and completion of His salvific work.

Isaiah 42 16 Bonus section

The poetic structure of Isaiah 42:16, using striking parallelism, reinforces its profound message. The pairing of "a way that they knew not" and "paths that they have not known" underscores the entirely novel nature of God's guidance. Similarly, "I will make darkness light" and "crooked things straight" employ antithetical parallelism to powerfully depict God's ability to utterly reverse and transform negative realities. This vivid language paints a picture of comprehensive divine restoration. The fulfillment of this prophecy extends beyond the physical return of Israel from Babylonian exile. Christian theological interpretation views this as pointing to the greater spiritual deliverance brought by Jesus Christ, the true Servant of the Lord. Christ is the one who opens the eyes of the spiritually blind (Jn 9:39), is the "light of the world" (Jn 8:12), and makes the path of salvation straight, thereby ushering in a new era of spiritual sight and clear direction for all who believe, encompassing both Jews and Gentiles.

Isaiah 42 16 Commentary

Isaiah 42:16 powerfully illustrates God's grace-driven initiative to rescue and guide His spiritually blind and lost people. Despite Israel's lack of perception and moral wandering (as contextually indicated), God pledges His personal intervention. He will not merely observe but will actively lead them through unknown paths, turning their dire confusion and despair (darkness) into clarity and hope (light). Furthermore, He will remove formidable obstacles and straighten the morally circuitous routes (crooked things), ensuring a direct path. The declaration "These things will I do unto them, and not forsake them" acts as a divine guarantee. It underlines that His steadfast commitment is unwavering, rooted in His nature and covenant, not on human merit. This verse serves as an enduring assurance of God's constant presence, His transformative power in dire situations, and His unfailing faithfulness to guide His people through life's ambiguities towards His ordained purposes, both individually and collectively, echoing through the ultimate light found in Christ.