Isaiah 42:4

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 42:4

Divine persistency. "He shall not fail nor be discouraged." "He shall not burn dimly nor be crushed." The figure prominent in the mind of the prophet is not the actual Israel, the ideal Israel, Cyrus, or Judas Maccabaeus, but the Messiah who , in the deepest view of him, is the manifested God. And "though be meets with hard service and much opposition, and foresees how ungrateful the world will be, yet he goes on with his part of the work, till he is able to say, 'It is finished!' and he... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 42:4

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... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Isaiah 42:4

Isaiah 42:4. He shall not fail, nor be discouraged Though he be thus meek and gentle, yet he is also courageous and resolute, notwithstanding all the many and great difficulties and conflicts to which he will be exposed, and he will persevere till he have finished his work. Till he have set judgment in the earth Till, by his holy life, his extreme sufferings, his many miracles, his resurrection from the dead, his visible ascension into heaven, and the wonderful effusion of his Holy... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Isaiah 42:1-25

Success and failure of God’s servant (42:1-25)In the previous chapter the servant of Yahweh was identified with Israel (see 41:8). Israel is probably again the servant who is identified here, but the ideals outlined in this song never became a reality in the nation. They did, to some extent, characterize the faithful remnant, but they found their perfect expression only in the one who embodied the ideals God desired, Jesus Christ. The prophet foresees that this servant of Yahweh, though... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Isaiah 42:4

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 . read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Isaiah 42:4

Isaiah 42:4. He shall not fail, nor be discouraged— These words are to be referred to the success of this great teacher's doctrine; who, with admirable diligence and patience, without any remission of zeal or labour, should go on calmly and deliberately in its establishment, nor depart from the undertaking, till he had settled his doctrine and left a perfect canon of it to his disciples: a doctrine, not confined to the Jews, but to pass to the Gentiles—the isles of the earth, and to be by them... read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 42:4

4. fail—faint; man in religion may become as the almost expiring flax-wick ( :-), but not so He in His purposes of grace. discouraged—literally, "broken," that is, checked in zeal by discouragements (compare Isaiah 49:4; Isaiah 49:5). 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... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Isaiah 42:1-9

God’s promises to His servants 41:1-42:9The intent of this unit of material was to assure Israel that God had both the power and the desire to deliver her and to bring salvation to the whole world. It contains three basic themes: the pagans’ inability to refute Yahweh’s sovereignty, the promise to deliver fearful Israel, and the divine plan to use an ideal servant as redeemer. read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Isaiah 42:4

Not only would He not break or extinguish others, but the pressures and blows of others would not break or extinguish Him. This reflects the Spirit’s empowerment in His life (cf. Isaiah 42:1). He would complete His mission of establishing justice on the earth. The furthest reaches of the earth will, therefore, anticipate the coming of His law, as Israel did at the base of Mount Sinai (Exodus 19; cf. Isaiah 2:3). They would do so eager for justice to come to the earth, not necessarily eagerly... read more

John Dummelow

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - Isaiah 42:1-25

The Ideal Servant1-9. The characteristics and functions of Israel as the ideal Servant of Jehovah. 10-17 A song of praise to Jehovah. 18-25. The deficiencies of the actual Israel, considered as Jehovah’s Servant.1. My servant] On the conception of these chapters see Intro. Judgment] or ’right.’ The Servant’s office is to teach the world true religion. 2, 3. He will not be ostentatious nor unduly severe. How Christ corresponded to the ideal is noted in Matthew 12:17-21; 3. Smoking flax] RM... read more

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