Isaiah 42:6 kjv
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;
Isaiah 42:6 nkjv
"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,
Isaiah 42:6 niv
"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,
Isaiah 42:6 esv
"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,
Isaiah 42:6 nlt
"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.
Isaiah 42 6 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Isa 42:1 | "Behold, my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth..." | Fulfillment and echo in Matthew 12:18 (New Testament affirmation of the Servant) |
| Isa 49:6 | "And he said, It is a light thing that thou shouldest be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved of Israel..." | Further elaboration on the Servant's mission, including restoration and light |
| Luke 2:32 | "A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel." | Direct quote and fulfillment, showing Jesus as the light to the nations |
| John 1:9 | "That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world." | Equates Jesus with the true light, consistent with the Servant's role |
| John 8:12 | "Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world..." | Jesus identifies Himself as the light, directly linking to this passage |
| Acts 26:23 | "...that Christ should suffer, and that he should be the first that should rise from the dead, and should shew light unto the people, and to the Gentiles." | Connects Christ's resurrection to bringing light to people and Gentiles |
| Rom 2:14-15 | "For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things of the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves..." | Illustrates the natural yearning for divine light that the Servant fulfills |
| Eph 3:8-9 | "Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ..." | Paul's mission as a parallel to the Servant bringing light to the Gentiles |
| 1 Pet 2:9 | "But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people..." | Echoes the concept of a chosen people set apart for God's purposes |
| Mal 3:1 | "Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me..." | Precursor message about one preparing the way, aligning with the Servant's role |
| John 3:16 | "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son..." | Connects to God's loving action in sending His Son, the ultimate Servant |
| Gen 12:3 | "And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse them that curse thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed." | Abrahamic covenant principle of blessing to all nations, fulfilled in the Servant |
| Psa 22:27-31 | "...all the ends of the world shall remember and turn unto the LORD..." | Prophetic vision of nations turning to God, a result of the Servant's work |
| Isa 54:3 | "For thou shalt break forth on the right hand and on the left; and thy seed shall inherit the Gentiles..." | Reinforces the Servant's extensive reach to the nations |
| Isa 43:1 | "But now thus saith the LORD that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not..." | God's protective action towards Israel, paralleling the Servant's preservation |
| Isa 44:2, 24 | "Thus saith the LORD that made thee, and formed thee from the womb... Thus saith the LORD, thy redeemer, and he that formed thee from the womb..." | Emphasizes God's creation and redemptive power over His Servant |
| Rev 5:9-10 | "And hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation..." | Depicts the redeemed from all nations, a testament to the Servant's global impact |
| Heb 8:6, 8 | "But now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant..." | Introduces Jesus as the mediator of a better covenant |
| Isa 42:1-4 | "He shall not cry, nor lift up, nor cause his voice to be heard in the street..." | Further description of the Servant's humble yet effective ministry |
| Jer 31:31-33 | "Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel..." | Prophecy of the New Covenant, which the Servant establishes |
Isaiah 42 verses
Isaiah 42 6 Meaning
This verse proclaims God's sovereign choice and appointment of the Servant, who is characterized as a covenant for the people and a light to the nations. It highlights His gracious calling and preservation of this Servant for a divine purpose.
Isaiah 42 6 Context
Isaiah 42 is the first of the four "Servant Songs" in Isaiah. This section begins by introducing God's chosen Servant, who will faithfully bring justice to the nations. The historical context is within the Assyrian and Babylonian exilic periods, offering a message of hope and divine purpose to a people in distress. The Servant is portrayed as God's instrument for restoring Israel and being a light for all people. This vision serves as a testament to God's enduring plan amidst judgment and exile, highlighting His sovereign choice and unfailing commitment to His covenant people and His ultimate mission for all humanity. The emphasis is on divine enablement and the Servant's unique, divinely ordained role in executing God's redemptive will.
Isaiah 42 6 Word analysis
“I”: The personal pronoun of God (Yahweh), asserting His direct involvement and authorship.
“have”: Indicates possession or a state of being, here referring to the established reality of God's relationship with the Servant.
“called”: (Hebrew: qara) To summon, to name, to appoint. It signifies a divine summons and designation for a specific purpose. This is not just an invitation but an authoritative calling.
“you”: Refers to the chosen Servant. The address is direct and personal.
“in”: Denotes inclusion or by means of.
“righteousness”: (Hebrew: tzedek) In this context, it refers to God’s righteous act of choosing and calling, as well as the justice the Servant will establish. It also speaks to covenant faithfulness.
“and”: Connective particle.
“have”: Again, possession or established reality.
“taken”: (Hebrew: achaz) To grasp, seize, lay hold of. Implies that God has taken the Servant into His hand for His purposes, securing and empowering Him.
“hold”: (Hebrew: yad) Literally "hand." God actively holds, possesses, and upholds the Servant. It suggests ownership and empowerment.
“thee”: The Servant, referring back to the object of God’s calling and taking.
Words-group by words-group analysis:
- "I have called you in righteousness": This phrase emphasizes that God’s calling is not arbitrary but grounded in His inherent justice and faithfulness. His choice of this Servant is aligned with His own righteous character and plan.
- "and have taken you by the hand": This signifies a close, supportive, and possessive relationship. God not only called but actively holds, guides, and empowers the Servant, ensuring His success and security. It’s an intimate grasp of appointment and enablement.
Isaiah 42 6 Bonus section
The term "righteousness" (tzedek) here likely encompasses both God's faithfulness to His covenant promises and the ethical standard the Servant embodies and will bring to the world. The Hebrew word for "taken hold of" (achaz) suggests a secure grasp, not a casual holding. It implies a purpose and a plan that God actively executes through the Servant. This specific servant, foretold here, is understood by Christians to be Jesus Christ, who embodies divine righteousness and is eternally held and empowered by God the Father for His redemptive mission. This initial statement sets the stage for the Servant's unique and crucial role throughout the subsequent verses of this chapter and the broader redemptive plan of God.
Isaiah 42 6 Commentary
God personally selects and sustains His chosen Servant, grounding this appointment in His own righteousness. This calling isn't merely an invitation but a divine endowment and empowerment. The imagery of "taking by the hand" conveys a deep intimacy, assurance, and active support, illustrating God's direct involvement in the Servant's life and mission. This highlights that the Servant is not acting independently but is fully empowered and guided by God. This establishes the Servant as God's instrument, empowered for righteousness and destined for global impact.