Isaiah 42 6

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 verses

Isaiah 42 6 Meaning

In Isaiah 42:6, God declares His direct and purposeful call to His Servant. This call is rooted in His perfect righteousness and accompanied by His steadfast commitment to sustain and protect the Servant. The divine purpose for the Servant is dual: to establish a covenant relationship for His chosen people (Israel) and, through that, to extend His truth and salvation universally as a light to all Gentile nations. This verse signifies God's comprehensive plan for redemption, starting with a chosen instrument and extending to the entire world.

Isaiah 42 6 Context

Isaiah 42:6 is part of the first of four "Servant Songs" (Isa 42:1-4, 49:1-6, 50:4-9, 52:13-53:12) which are central to the book of Isaiah, especially in the context of chapters 40-55. These chapters, known as "Second Isaiah" or "Deutero-Isaiah," shift from warnings of judgment to promises of restoration and hope for the exiled people of Israel. Immediately preceding this verse, God has declared Himself as the Creator and sustainer, affirming His sole authority against the impotence of idols (Isa 40-41). He contrasts His own power and truth with the worthlessness of the gods of the nations, a direct polemic against prevailing idolatry. The "Servant" figure, chosen and empowered by YHWH, is introduced as the instrument through whom God's righteous plan for justice and salvation will be implemented globally. This chapter marks a critical juncture, revealing the unique identity and mission of the Servant, who brings not just peace to Israel but also enlightenment to the entire world, establishing a new and lasting relationship between God and humanity.

Isaiah 42 6 Word analysis

• I, the LORD (אֲנִי יְהוָה - Ani YHWH): This is an emphatic self-declaration by God. YHWH (Yahweh) is the sacred covenant name of God, underscoring His unique, eternal, and personal identity. It highlights divine authority and sovereignty behind the subsequent promises and commissioning. The statement confirms that the caller is the God who actively fulfills His word and establishes covenant.
• have called you (קְרָאתִיךָ - kerātîkā): A completed divine action. "Called" denotes selection, appointment, and summons to a specific purpose or mission. The "you" refers to the "Servant" introduced in 42:1. It emphasizes divine initiative; the Servant did not choose the mission but was chosen by God.
• in righteousness (בְצֶדֶק - beṣedeq): This adverbial phrase describes both the manner and the moral quality of God's call. It means "rightly," "justly," and "with righteous purpose." God's every action, including this call, flows from His unchanging character of perfect justice and moral integrity. The call itself serves a righteous purpose—to establish justice in the world.
• I will take hold of your hand (וְאַחְזֵק בְּיָדֶךָ - wĕ’aḥzēq bĕyādekā): Signifies intimate and active support, guidance, protection, and strength. It's a promise of continuous divine help and close relationship. God is not merely commissioning but also actively sustaining the Servant for the arduous task ahead, providing direct empowerment.
• I will keep you (וְאֶצָּרְךָ - wĕ’eṣṣārekā): Translates as "I will guard you" or "preserve you." This is a promise of divine protection. Given the monumental and challenging nature of the Servant's mission, this assurance is crucial. It guarantees the Servant's survival and continuity for the successful accomplishment of God's will despite opposition.
• and will make you (וְאֶתֶּנְךָ - wĕ’ettenkā): Lit., "I will give you." This points to divine designation and transformation. The Servant is not just doing something for God, but becoming something profound. This emphasizes the divine purpose that defines the Servant's very being and identity for the assigned role.
• a covenant for the people (לִבְרִית עָם - livrît ‘am): The Servant embodies the covenant. This is significant because covenants are usually agreements. Here, the Servant Himself becomes the means, guarantee, and fulfillment of God’s covenantal promises. "The people" (am) primarily refers to Israel, implying restoration and renewal of God's relationship with them, though not exclusively, given the following phrase. This foreshadows a New Covenant realized through the Servant.
• a light for the Gentiles (לְאוֹר גּוֹיִם - lĕ’ôr gôyim): This declares the universal scope of the Servant's mission. "Gentiles" (goyim) refers to all non-Israelite nations. The Servant is destined to bring divine revelation, truth, guidance, and salvation to all humanity. This transcends any nationalistic boundaries, revealing God's saving grace is intended for the entire world.
• Words-group: a covenant for the people and a light for the Gentiles: These two phrases are linked by the Hebrew "and" (waw conjunction), indicating that these are two inextricably connected and complementary aspects of the Servant's single, unified mission. The restoration and renewal of God's covenant with His people (Israel) is directly instrumental and foundational for the universal revelation of God's glory and salvation to all nations. This demonstrates that God's plan is holistic: it addresses both His chosen nation and humanity at large, not as separate plans but as two facets of one divine purpose realized through one Servant.

Isaiah 42 6 Bonus section

The "Servant" in Isaiah has a dynamic identity throughout the book, sometimes referring to Israel (Isa 41:8, 44:1), sometimes to a righteous remnant, and, critically, to an individual figure. In Isaiah 42, particularly within the Christian tradition, this Servant is most profoundly identified with Jesus Christ. He perfectly embodies God's righteousness, receives divine empowerment and protection, and is uniquely "the covenant for the people" (fulfilling the New Covenant by His life, death, and resurrection, e.g., in His blood, Lk 22:20) and "the light for the Gentiles" (Jn 8:12, Acts 13:47). This prophecy thus not only lays out the scope of God's plan for Israel but intricately weaves in the universal mission that would later define the Christian movement.

Isaiah 42 6 Commentary

Isaiah 42:6 stands as a profound declaration of God's sovereign choice and eternal purpose centered on His unique Servant. This Servant is not merely an agent but is divinely called, commissioned, and supernaturally empowered "in righteousness" – meaning with moral perfection and to fulfill a righteous agenda for the world. God's unwavering support, indicated by "taking hold of your hand" and "keeping you," ensures the Servant's success and protection against all odds.

The pivotal roles ascribed to the Servant are foundational: to be "a covenant for the people" and "a light for the Gentiles." The Servant, therefore, doesn't just deliver a covenant but is the living embodiment and mediator of a renewed, personal relationship between God and His people (initially Israel, then extended). This profound shift points to the New Covenant anticipated in Jeremiah and established definitively through Jesus Christ. Simultaneously, the Servant's mission is explicitly global. As a "light for the Gentiles," the Servant transcends ethnic boundaries, extending God's saving knowledge, justice, and truth to all nations that lie in spiritual darkness. This universal scope underlines God's ultimate desire for all humanity to come to Him. This verse eloquently prophesies the global redemptive work, ultimately fulfilled in Jesus Christ, who perfectly embodied both the covenant for God's people and the light for all humanity.