Bible Commentaries
Isaiah 42

Verse 1

My Servant: i.e. Messiah. See note on Isaiah 37:35 .

My soul = I Myself. Hebrew. nephesh. App-13 .

delighteth = is well-pleased.

put = bestowed.

My spirit. Hebrew. ruach ( App-9 ). Here is the doctrine of the Trinity: (1) The Father, the speaker; (2) My "Servant", the Messiah, the Son; and (3) My Spirit. See note on "stretched out" in Isaiah 42:5 .

Verse 2

cry. See the Divine interpretation "strive" (Matthew 12:19 ).

Verse 3

the smoking flax: i.e. the wick (made of flax) that is burning dim.

flax. Put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Cause), for the wick made of it.

not quench: i.e. not put it out, but trim it and make it burn brightly. This was the servant's work.

unto = in accordance with.

Verse 4

fail = go out (as a lamp).

be discouraged = break, or break down.

in = upon.

isles = maritime countries. The Divine interpretation = "Gentiles" (Matthew 12:18-21 ). See note on Isaiah 11:11 .

wait. Reference to Pentateuch (Genesis 8:12 "stayed").

and stretched them out = they that stretched them out. Compare "us", "our" (Genesis 1:26 ). Compare "image" (singular).

breath. Hebrew. neshmah , App-16 ). See note on Isaiah 2:22 .

Verse 6

a light of the Gentiles. Quoted in Luke 2:32 . Compare Isaiah 49:6 .

Verse 7

To open the blind eyes. Renewing the prophecy of Isaiah 35:5 .

prisoners. See Isaiah 49:9 ; Isaiah 61:1 .

sit. Put by Figure of speech Synecdoche (of Species), for being in a permanent condition.

Verse 8

I am. Reference to Pentateuch (Exodus 3:15 ). App-92 .

will I not give. Reference to Pentateuch (Exodus 20:5 ).

another: i.e. a strange god.

praise. Hebrew. lullal. Not confined to the "former" part of Isaiah, as alleged. See Isaiah 13:10 ; Isaiah 38:18 . See App-79 .

Verse 9

the former things, &c. Referring to his prophecies, among others, concerning Sennacherib, Isaiah 10:0 and Isaiah 37:0 .

new things, &c. Thus uniting the predictions of the earlier chapters with the so-called "second" part. See App-79 .

Verse 13

go forth. This is an enlargement of Isaiah 41:15 , Isaiah 41:16 . Still more so in Revelation 6:2 ; Revelation 19:11 .

mighty man. Hebrew. gibbor.

stir up = awaken, incite. See note on Song of Solomon 2:7 .

jealousy. Reference to Pentateuch (Exodus 20:6 ). App-92 .

cry . . . roar. Figure of speech Anthropopatheia.

Verse 16

I will lead = I have led.

I will lead them, &c. Some codices, with Septuagint, Syriac, and Vulgate, commence this sentence with "And".

These things, &c. Reference to Pentateuch (Deuteronomy 31:6 ).

will I do = have I done.

and not = and have not.

Verse 17

trust = confide. Hebrew. batah. App-69 .

that say, &c. Reference to Pentateuch (Exodus 32:4 ). App-92 .

Verse 18

Hear. Note the call to hear in the Structure, corresponding with the call in Isaiah 42:23 .

Verse 19

My servant. This is Israel. See the Structures above; and see note on Isaiah 37:35 . Not the same "servant" as in Isaiah 42:1 .

perfect = an intimate friend or trusted one. Hebrew. me'shullam (plural of shalam), to be at peace with. Compare 2 Samuel 20:19 . Job 22:21 .Psalms 7:4 . It is from this word we have Mussulman and Moslem. Israel, in the presence of the foe, was, in Jehovah's sight, thus perfect. See Numbers 23:21 .

Verse 20

Seeing . . . opening the ears. As Israel had done. Reference to Pentateuch (Deuteronomy 29:1 , Deuteronomy 29:2 ). But Israel was blind and deaf (Isaiah 42:19 ). Compare Jeremiah 5:21 ; Jeremiah 6:10 . Ezekiel 12:2 .Matthew 13:14 , &c.

he. Some codices, with Syriac, read "thou" (as in the preceding clause); others read "ye". The pronoun refers to Israel. See Isaiah 42:19 .

Verse 21

He will magnify the law. Note the correspondence with Isaiah 42:24 .

Verse 22

this is a People. Showing most clearly that Israel is the subject of this member.

Verse 23

Who . . . ? The other "call to hear" emphasized by the Figure of speech Erotesis .

Verse 24

Jacob . . . Israel. See notes on Genesis 32:28 ; Gen 32:43 , &c.

Verse 25

strength = strength (for prevailing). Not the same word as in Isaiah 41:1 , Isaiah 41:10 . Hebrew. 'azaz : i.e. battle that prevailed against Israel.