The Suffering Servant

Isaiahchapter 42

25 verses · ASV

This chapter sends 481 cross-references outward and receives 509 — heaviest partner: Isaiah.

Chapter summary

"Behold, my servant, whom I uphold" opens the first Servant Song (42:1-4): Spirit-endowed, he brings forth justice to the Gentiles without lifting his voice in the street, neither breaking a bruised reed nor quenching a dimly burning wick — the messianic passage Matthew 12:18-21 quotes of Jesus. Jehovah, creator of the heavens, gives this servant as a covenant of the people and a light of the Gentiles, to open blind eyes and free prisoners, and will not give his glory to graven images. A new song rises from the sea, the isles, Kedar, and Sela as Jehovah goes forth like a man of war, crying out like a travailing woman, leading the blind by paths they know not. Then the chapter turns: Israel is the blind servant and deaf messenger, a people robbed and plundered, given to spoilers by Jehovah himself for sin, set on fire yet laying it not to heart.

Drafted from Matthew Henry, Calvin, Gill, Clarke, JFB, and Barnes.

Context

Prophecy · Isaiah — see the Isaiah overview for the book's full setting.

1–25 The Suffering Servant

1 Behold, my servant, whom I uphold; my chosen, in whom my soul delighteth: I have put my Spirit upon him; he will bring forth justice to the Gentiles.

2 He will not cry, nor lift up his voice, nor cause it to be heard in the street.

3 A bruised reed will he not break, and a dimly burning wick will he not quench: he will bring forth justice in truth.

4 He will not fail nor be discouraged, till he have set justice in the earth; and the isles shall wait for his law.

5 Thus saith God Jehovah, he that created the heavens, and stretched them forth; he that spread abroad the earth and that which cometh out of it; he that giveth breath unto the people upon it, and spirit to them that walk therein:

6 I, Jehovah, have called thee in righteousness, and will hold thy hand, and will keep thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles;

7 to open the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners from the dungeon, and them that sit in darkness out of the prison-house.

8 I am Jehovah, that is my name; and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise unto graven images.