Isaiah 42:6
in Isaiah 42“I, the LORD, have called you for a righteous purpose, and I will take hold of your hand. I will keep you and appoint you to be a covenant for the people and a light to the nations,
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
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;
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;
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This verse in Isaiah 42
Commentary
12 notes on this verseA covenant of the people “A covenant to the people” - For עם am, two MSS. of Dr. Kennicott’s, and of my own, read עולם olam, the covenant of the age to come, or the everlasting covenant; which seems to give a clearer and better sense. But I think the word ברית berith, here, should not be translated covenant, but covenant sacrifice, which meaning it often has; and undoubtedly in this place. This gives a still stronger and clearer sense.
This site's exposition
He who created the heavens
on Isaiah 42:5-7
The second movement names the speaker as God the LORD, who created the heavens. The servant is called for a righteous purpose and made a light to the nations, a light Simeon sees in Jesus at Luke 2:32. His work is to open the eyes of the blind.
This site's exposition
a covenant for the people
The Servant is Himself the covenant for the people and the light to the nations. Matthew Henry calls Him its mediator and guarantee. Clarke renders berith as covenant sacrifice, and Jamieson, Fausset and Brown join the line to Isaiah 49:8, where God appoints Him, and to Hebrews 8:6.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers3 voices
Moses then received it, but they proved themselves unworthy. Learn now how we have received it. Moses, as a servant, received it; but the Lord himself, having suffered in our behalf, hath given it to us, that we should be the people of inheritance. But …
A commentator
Lucius Caecilius Firmianus LactantiusDIVINE INSTITUTES 4:20 · Written before 325.
proposed
Since, therefore, we were as though blind before, and when we sat as though enclosed by the prison house of foolishness in the darkness, not knowing God and his truth, we were enlightened by him who adopted us by his gracious treatment (his will in our favor). And when he had freed us as from evils and bonds and brought us into the light of wisdom, he recognized us as the heirs of his heavenly kingdom.
(Verses 6-7) 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, to open eyes that are blind, to free captives from prison and to release from the dungeon those who sit in darkness.
The Medieval Church1 voice
Second, he foretells the sending, setting out the exaltation of the one sent: I the Lord have called you, my Son, from eternity predestining to the unity of the divine person, in justice, that is, that I may be just, fulfilling my promise: who was …
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
Note, Those whom God calls he will own and help, and will hold their hands. The great intentions of this commission speak abundance of comfort to the children of men. He was given for a covenant of the people, for a mediator, or guarantee, of the covenant of grace, which is all summed up in him.
4 more voices on this verse
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
There shall be churches set up in Gentile nations and they shall sing a new song. The conversion of the Gentiles is often foretold under this notion, as appears, Rom. xv. It is here promised that the praises of God's grace shall be sung with joy and thankfulness, 1.
I the Lord have called thee in righteousness,....
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
50:8, 9). hold . . . hand--compare as to Israel, the type of Messiah, Ho 11:3. covenant--the medium of the covenant, originally made between God and Abraham (Isa 49:8). "The mediator of a better covenant" (Heb 8:6) than the law (see Isa 49:8;
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
I the Lord have called thee in righteousness - The phrase ‘in righteousness’ has been very differently understood by different expositors (see the note at Isa 41:10). The most probable meaning may be, ‘I have done it as a righteous and just God, or in the accomplishment of my righteous purposes. I am the just moral governor of the universe, and to accomplish my purposes of justice and fidelity, I have designated thee to this work.’ Lowth has well rendered it, ‘For a righteous purpose.’ In this work all was righteousness. God was righteous, who appointed him; it was because he was righteous, and could not save without a mediator and an atonement, that he sent him into the world; he selected one who was eminently righteous to accomplish his purpose; and he came that he might establish righteousness on the earth, and confirm the just government of God (see Isa 42:21). And will hold thine hand - I will take thee by the hand, as one does who guides and leads another. The phrase denotes the same as to guard, or keep - as we protect a child by taking him by the hand. And give thee for a covenant - This is evidently an abbreviated form of expression, and the meaning is, ‘I will give or appoint thee as the medium, or means by which a covenant shall be made with the people; or a mediator of the new covenant which God is about to establish with men’ (see Isa 49:8). A similar expression occurs in Mic 5:5, where it is said of the Messiah, ‘and this man shall be the peace;’ that is, he shall be the source of peace, or peace shall be established and maintained by him. So in Eph 2:14, it is said of him, ‘he is our peace.’ Of the people - It has been doubted whether this means the Jewish people, or the Gentiles. Grotius, Hengstenberg, Vitringa, and others understand it of the Jews; Rosenmuller and others, of the Gentiles. […]
The words behind it
12 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| אֲנִ֧י | ʾani | I | H589 → | 874 times |
| יְהוָ֛ה | yahweh | Yahweh | H3068 → | 6520 times |
| קְרָאתִ֥יךָֽ | keraticha | I have called you | H7121 → | 733 times |
| בְצֶ֖דֶק | vetzedek | in righteousness | H6664 → | 119 times |
| וְאַחְזֵ֣ק | veachzek | and I may take hold | H2388 → | 291 times |
| בְּיָדֶ֑ךָ | beyadekha | on hand your | H3027 → | 1618 times |
| וְאֶצָּרְךָ֗ | veetzarekha | and I may watch over you | H5341 → | 63 times |
| וְאֶתֶּנְךָ֛ | veetenkha | and I may make you | H5414 → | 2011 times |
| לִבְרִ֥ית | livrit | <into> a covenant of | H1285 → | 284 times |
| עָ֖ם | ʾam | [the] people | H5971 → | 1873 times |
| לְא֥וֹר | leor | <into> a light of | H216 → | 121 times |
| גּוֹיִֽם׃ | goyim | [the] nations | H1471 → | 561 times |
אֲנִ֧יI
ʾaniH589 →874 times
יְהוָ֛הYahweh
yahwehH3068 →6520 times
קְרָאתִ֥יךָֽI have called you
keratichaH7121 →733 times
בְצֶ֖דֶקin righteousness
vetzedekH6664 →119 times
וְאַחְזֵ֣קand I may take hold
veachzekH2388 →291 times
בְּיָדֶ֑ךָon hand your
beyadekhaH3027 →1618 times
וְאֶצָּרְךָ֗and I may watch over you
veetzarekhaH5341 →63 times
וְאֶתֶּנְךָ֛and I may make you
veetenkhaH5414 →2011 times
לִבְרִ֥ית<into> a covenant of
livritH1285 →284 times
עָ֖ם[the] people
ʾamH5971 →1873 times
לְא֥וֹר<into> a light of
leorH216 →121 times
גּוֹיִֽם׃[the] nations
goyimH1471 →561 times
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
Isaiah 26:3You will keep in perfect peace the steadfast of mind, because he trusts in You.
it leads to
- Philippians 4:7
And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
- John 16:33
I have told you these things so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take courage; I have overcome the world!”
- John 14:27
Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled; do not be afraid.
- Jeremiah 17:7–8
But blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence is in Him.
- Psalms 9:10
Those who know Your name trust in You, for You, O LORD, have not forsaken those who seek You.
- Philippians 4:7
Through
John 8:12Once again, Jesus spoke to the people and said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows Me will never walk in the darkness, but will have the light of life.”
it leads to
- John 12:46
I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in Me should remain in darkness.
- John 9:5
While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”
- John 12:35
Then Jesus told them, “For a little while longer, the Light will be among you. Walk while you have the Light, so that darkness will not overtake you. The one who walks in the…
- John 12:46
Where this verse is studied
By subject
Covenant34 verses
On this page
Studies3
On this chapter
About Isaiah
This page draws on 11 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Epistle of Barnabas, The Epistle of Barnabas, Chapter XIV; Franz Delitzsch, Biblical Commentary on the Prophecies of Isaiah; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; Jerome, Commentary on Isaiah; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763); Lucius Caecilius Firmianus Lactantius, DIVINE INSTITUTES 4:20; Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible and Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on Isaiah.