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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Isaiah 42:5-12

Here is I. The covenant God made with and the commission he gave to the Messiah, Isa. 42:5-7, which are an exposition of Isa. 42:1; Behold my servant, whom I uphold. 1. The royal titles by which the great God here makes himself known, and distinguishes himself from all pretenders, speak very much his glory (Isa. 42:5): Thus saith God the Lord. And who are thou, Lord? Why, he is the fountain of all being and therefore the fountain of all power. He is the fountain of being, 1. In the upper... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 42:7

To open the blind eyes ,.... Of the idolatrous Gentiles, who were spiritually blind, and knew not the wretchedness of their case; the exceeding sinfulness of sin; their need of a Saviour, and who he was; as they did, when their eyes were opened by means of the Gospel sent among them, through the energy of the divine Spirit; for this is a work of almighty power and efficacious grace: to bring out the prisoners from the prison ; who were concluded in sin, shut up in unbelief, and under the... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Isaiah 42:7

To open the blind eyes - In this verse the prophet seems to set forth the spiritual redemption, under images borrowed from the temporal deliverance. Out of the prison house "And from the dungeon" - The Septuagint, Syriac, and four MSS., one ancient, add the conjunction ו vau , ומבית umibbeith , and from the house. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 42:1-7

The servants of God, and the one true Servant. It must be admitted By all that the expression "Servant of God" or "Servant of Jehovah," is used in Scripture in various senses. All who work out God's purposes, however unconsciously or even unwillingly, are called by the sacred writers "God's servants," in respect of the service, albeit unconscious or unwilling, which they render him. Thus Jeremiah calls Nebuchadnezzar "God's servant" ( Jeremiah 25:9 ; Jeremiah 27:6 , etc.), and Ezekiel... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 42:1-7

The Servant of Jehovah. "Behold!" Let all the world hearken and attend to the new revelation. It is admitted that the conception is substantially that of Christ in the Gospels. According to one critic, indeed, the prophetic passage springs from the time of Herod II . Let us think, then, of Jesus and his mission. I. THE ELECT OF GOD . Six times does the word occur in this portion of Isaiah; it is found also in Psalms 89:3 ; Psalms 105:6 , Psalms 105:43 ; Psalms 106:5 , ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 42:1-8

ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE SERVANT OF THE LORD , AND THE WORK WHICH HE WILL PERFORM . There are comparatively few who deny that, in this place at any rate, the "Servant of the Lord" is the Messiah. (So the Targum on the passage; so Abar-barnel; so, among moderns, Oehler, Delitzsch, and Mr. Cheyne.) The portraiture has "so strong an individuality and such marked personal features, that it cannot possibly be a mere personified collective;" and it goes so "infinitely ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 42:5-8

God and man: refusal, retribution, restoration. I. THE DIVINE COMMAND . God demands the glory which is his due ( Isaiah 42:8 ). His claim is based on: 1 . What he is in himself. "I am the Lord (Jehovah); that is my Name." As the Eternal One, who only hath immortality, the Underived and Everlasting One, who in the very fullest, deepest, and highest sense is God over all, he rightly demands our reverence, our homage, our worship. 2 . What he has done for our race. He... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 42:5-9

Mission of Jehovah's Servant. "A new revelation defines the mission of the Servant with greater precision. The plan of the mission requires an exhibition of the Divine wisdom and power on as large a scale as in creation and preservation (cf. Zechariah 12:1 )" (Cheyne). I. THE RELATION OF GOD To THE WORLD . He is the God—the only God (cf. Psalms 85:9 ). He can admit no rival; he stands in a unique relation to the world—is alone to be worshipped. He is the Creator: his... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 42:7

To open the blind eyes . The Messiah was to cure both physical and. spiritual blindness (see Isaiah 29:18 ; Isaiah 32:3 ; Isaiah 35:5 , etc.). Here it is spiritual blindness that is specially intended, as appears both by the symbolic language of the two conjoined clauses, and by the comment of Isaiah 42:16-19 . To bring out the prisoners from the prison ; rather, to bring out prisoners. To deliver from the bondage of sin such as are its slaves, and shut up in its prison-houses.... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 42:7

To open the blind eyes - This is equivalent to saying that he would impart instruction to those who were ignorant. It relates to the Jews as well as to the Gentiles. He would acquaint them with God, and with the way of salvation. The condition of the world is often represented as one of darkness and blindness. Men see not their true character; they see not their real condition; they are ignorant of God, and of the truths pertaining to their future existence; and they need, therefore, some one... read more

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