Isaiah 42:4
in Isaiah 42He will not grow weak or discouraged before He has established justice on the earth. In His law the islands will put their hope.”
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
He will not fail nor be discouraged, till he have set justice in the earth; and the isles shall wait for his law.
KJV
He shall not fail nor be discouraged, till he have set judgment in the earth: and the isles shall wait for his law.
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This verse in Isaiah 42
Commentary
14 notes on this verse(Verse 4) He will not be sad or discouraged, until he establishes justice on earth: and the coastlands will wait for his law. LXX: he will shine and not be broken, until he establishes justice upon the earth: and the nations will hope in his name. But what follows: It will shine, and will not be crushed, until He establishes judgment upon the Earth, the Evangelist Matthew did not include (Mat. XII): or perhaps between judgment and judgment, they were omitted due to an error by the writer.
This site's exposition
A bruised reed He will not break
on Isaiah 42:3-4
The gentleness is given two pictures, A bruised reed He will not break and a smoldering wick, which Matthew 12:20 quotes of Jesus. The first movement closes on endurance, He will not grow weak or discouraged before He has established justice. In His law the islands will put their hope.
This site's exposition
He will not grow weak or discouraged
Grow weak shares its root with the smoldering wick, and discouraged, which Clarke gives as yaruts, with the bruised reed. So the Servant will Himself never burn low or be crushed. Where the Hebrew has His law, the Septuagint that Jerome cites and Matthew 12:21 have His name.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers2 voices
With truth and boldness to all, he proclaims the judgment of God, which has not ceased to operate. Rather, God's judgment is like light shining through the resurrection of the dead, which the prophetic word announced, saying, "He will give light and not be crushed." For those who planned Christ's death tried to crush him and extinguish him. For it is the nature of all mortal species to be crushed by death. But it did not crush him. Christ was the only person of all time who was shown to be stronger than death.
What does it mean that it is written in Matthew: 'A bruised reed shall he not break, and smoking flax shall he not quench' (Matthew 12:20). For the explanation of this passage, the whole testimony that Matthew takes from the Prophet Isaiah must be set forth, even the words of Isaiah (Isaiah 42): according to the Septuagint interpreters and the Hebrew itself, to which Theodotus, Aquila, and Symmachus agree. Thus of the four Evangelists, only Matthew relates: "And Jesus knowing it, retired from thence: and many followed him, and he healed them all. And he charged them that they should not make him known. That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaias the prophet, saying: Behold my servant whom I have chosen, my beloved in whom my soul hath been well pleased. I will put my spirit upon him, and he shall shew judgment to the Gentiles." (Chapter 12, verses 15-18) He will not strive, nor cry out, nor will anyone hear his voice in the streets. A bruised reed he will not break, and smoking flax he will not extinguish, until he brings forth judgment unto victory. And in his name the Gentiles will hope" (Matthew 12:15 and following). For which in Isaiah, according to the Septuagint interpreters, it is thus written: "Jacob my servant, I will uplift him. My chosen one, my soul has received him. I have given my spirit upon him, he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles. He shall not cry, nor have respect to person, neither shall his voice be heard abroad. The bruised reed he shall not break: and smoking flax he shall not extinguish: but he shall bring forth judgment unto truth. He shall shine, and shall not be broken, until he set judgment in the earth: and the countries shall wait for his law." However, we translate it from Hebrew like this, "Behold my servant, I will uphold him; my chosen, my soul has delighted in him. […]
The Medieval Church1 voice
To which he joins his pleasantness: he shall not be sad, in his heart, nor troublesome, in his face, for he was always cheerful and pleasant, keeping evenness of mind, even if, as to the sensible part, there was the suffering of sadness, not indeed …
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
He sets judgment in the earth. He erects his government in the world, a church for himself among men, reforms the world, and by the power of his gospel and grace fixes such principles in the minds of men as tend to make them wise and just. The isles of the Gentiles wait for his law, wait for his gospel, that is, bid it welcome as if it had been a thing they had long waited for.
4 He shall not fail nor be discouraged, till he have set judgment in the earth: and the isles shall wait for his law. We are sure that these verses are to be understood of Christ, for the evangelist tells us expressly that in him this prophecy was fulfilled, Matt. xii.
6 more voices on this verse
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
He shall not fail,.... For want of strength to go through the work of redemption: or, "grow dim" (i) and dark, as a lamp for want of oil, or as the wick of a candle ready to go out.
The Nineteenth Century5 voices
He shall not fail nor be discouraged “His force shall not be abated nor broken” - Rabbi Meir ita citat locum istum, ut post ירוץ yaruts, addat כוחו cocho, robur ejus, quod hodie Ilon comparet in textu Hebraeo, sed addendum videtur, ut sensus fiat planior. “Rabbi Meir cites this passage so as to add after ירוץ yarats כוחו cocho, his force, which word is not found in the present Hebrew text, but seems necessary to be added to make the sense more distinct.” Capell. Crit. Sac. p. 3
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
ROSENMULLER not so well translates, "He shall not be too slow on the one hand, nor run too hastily on the other." judgment--His true religion, the canon of His judgments and righteous reign. isles . . . wait, &c.--The distant lands beyond sea shall put their trust in His gospel way of salvation.
PREVIOUS verses at the close of the 41st Chapter indicate the utter failure of the hope of man from man. God Himself looked and behold, "there was no man; even among them, and there was no counselor that, when I asked of them could answer a word." How often it is so in human history—man fails to find leadership and help in man! Great men are raised up, now and then, and the tendency is to make idols of them and so to trust in an arm of flesh.
PREVIOUS verses at the close of the 41st Chapter indicate the utter failure of the hope of man from man. God Himself looked and behold, "there was no man; even among them, and there was no counselor that, when I asked of them could answer a word." How often it is so in human history—man fails to find leadership and help in man! Great men are raised up, now and then, and the tendency is to make idols of them and so to trust in an arm of flesh. These die and then their fellows look out in the Church and in the world for other men upon whom they may dote after the same manner. But it sometimes happens that they look in vain—none arise whom they can elect for leaders. Just now I think it is so in more departments than one. Look where you may, where will you see the man who is equal to the crisis? Somehow or other, in the Providence of God, every hour has, in due time, had its man, but if our hopes are fixed in men, we must feel at this time sorely pressed. In expounding the one verse which I have selected for a text, I shall need to open up the whole passage. Follow me, therefore, with opened Bibles and obey the first word of the Chapter, which is, Behold. We are commanded at all times to behold the Son of God. There is never a season in which He is not a fit subject for contemplation and expectation. "Behold the Lamb of God" is the standing rule from generation to generation, from the first of January to the last of December. But specially in cloudy and dark days ought we to behold Him.
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
He shall not fail - He shall not be weak, feeble, or disheartened. However much there may be that shall tend to discourage, yet his purpose is fixed, and he will pursue it with steadiness and ardor until the great work shall be fully accomplished. There may be an allusion in the Hebrew word here (יכהה yı̂kheh) to that which is applied to the flax (כהה kēhâh); and the idea may be that he shall not become in his purposes like the smoking, flickering, dying flame of a lamp. There shall never be any indication, even amidst all embarrassments, that it is his intention to abandon his plan of extending the true religion through all the world. Such also should be the fixed and determined purposes of his people. Their zeal should never fail; their ardor should never grow languid. Nor be discouraged - Margin, ‘Broken.’ The Hebrew word ירוּץ yârûts may be derived either from רצץ râtsats, to break, to break in pieces; or from רוץ rûts to run, to move hastily, to rush upon any one. Our translators have adopted the former. Gesenius also supposes that this is the true interpretation of the word, and that it means, that he would not be broken, that is, checked in his zeal, or discouraged by any opposition. The latter interpretation is preferred by Vitringa, Rosenmuller, Hengstenberg, and others. The Chaldee renders it, ‘Shall not labor,’ that is, shall not be fatigued, or discouraged. […]
The words behind it
11 Hebrew wordsEvery Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Hebrew | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| לֹ֤א | lo' | not | H3808 → | 5168 times |
| יִכְהֶה֙ | yikhheh | he will grow dim | H3543 → | |
| וְלֹ֣א | velo' | and not | H3808 → | 5168 times |
| יָר֔וּץ | yarutz | he will be crushed | H7533 → | 19 times |
| עַד־ | ʾad- | until | H5704 → | 1261 times |
| יָשִׂ֥ים | yasim | he will establish | H7760 → | 584 times |
| בָּאָ֖רֶץ | baaretz | on the earth | H776 → | 2504 times |
| מִשְׁפָּ֑ט | mishpat | justice | H4941 → | 422 times |
| וּלְתוֹרָת֖וֹ | uletorato | and for instruction his | H8451 → | 219 times |
| אִיִּ֥ים | ʾiyim | islands | H339 → | 36 times |
| יְיַחֵֽילוּ׃ פ | yeyacheilu | they will wait | H3176 → |
לֹ֤אnot
lo'H3808 →5168 times
יִכְהֶה֙he will grow dim
yikhhehH3543 →
וְלֹ֣אand not
velo'H3808 →5168 times
יָר֔וּץhe will be crushed
yarutzH7533 →19 times
עַד־until
ʾad-H5704 →1261 times
יָשִׂ֥יםhe will establish
yasimH7760 →584 times
בָּאָ֖רֶץon the earth
baaretzH776 →2504 times
מִשְׁפָּ֑טjustice
mishpatH4941 →422 times
וּלְתוֹרָת֖וֹand for instruction his
uletoratoH8451 →219 times
אִיִּ֥יםislands
ʾiyimH339 →36 times
יְיַחֵֽילוּ׃ פthey will wait
yeyacheiluH3176 →
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Genesis 49:10The scepter will not depart from Judah, nor the staff from between his feet, until Shiloh comes and the allegiance of the nations is his.
it leads to
- Numbers 24:17
I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near. A star will come forth from Jacob, and a scepter will arise from Israel. He will crush the skulls of Moab and…
- Luke 1:32–33
He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David,
- Isaiah 9:6
For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given, and the government will be upon His shoulders. And He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of…
- Psalms 60:7
Gilead is Mine, and Manasseh is Mine; Ephraim is My helmet, Judah is My scepter.
- Numbers 24:17
Through
Psalms 22:27All the ends of the earth will remember and turn to the LORD. All the families of the nations will bow down before Him.
it leads to
- Psalms 86:9
All the nations You have made will come and bow before You, O Lord, and they will glorify Your name.
- Isaiah 45:22
Turn to Me and be saved, all the ends of the earth; for I am God, and there is no other.
- Revelation 7:9–12
After this I looked and saw a multitude too large to count, from every nation and tribe and people and tongue, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes…
- Psalms 2:8
Ask Me, and I will make the nations Your inheritance, the ends of the earth Your possession.
- Psalms 86:9
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies3
On this chapter
About Isaiah
This page draws on 12 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes on the Book of Isaiah; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Charles Spurgeon, The Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit, Sermon No. 1945: “Christ's Work No Failure” (lightly modernized text, CCEL edition); Eusebius of Caesarea, COMMENTARY ON ISAIAH 2:22; Franz Delitzsch, Biblical Commentary on the Prophecies of Isaiah; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; Jerome, Commentary on Isaiah; Jerome, Letter 121, Chapter 2; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763); Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible and Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on Isaiah.