Isaiah 42:1-9

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Isaiah 42:1-4

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. 12:17-21. Behold with an eye of faith, behold and observe, behold and admire, my servant, whom I uphold. Let the Old-Testament saints behold and remember him. Now what must we behold and consider concerning him? I. The Father's concern for him and relation to him, the confidence he put and the complacency he took in him. This put an honour upon him,... read more

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 42:1

Behold my servant, whom I uphold ,.... The Targum is, "behold my servant the Messiah;' and Kimchi on the place says, this is the King Messiah; and so Abarbinel F6 Mashmiah Jeshuah, fol. 9. col. 1. 2. Chizzuk Emunah, p. 299. interprets it of him, and other Jewish writers, and which is right; for the prophet speaks not of himself, as Aben Ezra thinks; nor of Cyrus, as Saadiah Gaon; nor of the people of Israel, as Jarchi; but of Christ, as it is applied, Matthew 12:17 who is spoken... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 42:2

He shall not cry ,..... According to Aben Ezra and Kimchi, as a judge in court is obliged to extend his voice that he may be heard: the Evangelist Matthew renders it, "he shall not strive"; or contend in a disputatious way, about mere words and things to no profit, or litigate a point in law; he shall bring no complaints, or enter an action against any, but rather suffer wrong, as he advises his followers, Matthew 5:40 , for this does not respect the lowness of his voice in his ministry;... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 42:3

A bruised reed shall not break ,.... The tenderness of Christ to weak and ignorant persons is here and in the next clause expressed; by whom young converts or weak believers seem to be designed; who are compared to a "reed", because worthless with respect to God, whom they cannot profit; and in the view of men, who reckon them as nothing; and in themselves, and in their own view, who judge themselves unworthy of the least of mercies; and because they are weak, not only as all men are, of... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 42:4

He shall not fail ,.... For want of strength to go through the work of redemption: or, "grow dim" F9 לא יכהה , "non caligabit", Pagninus, Montanus. and dark, as a lamp for want of oil, or as the wick of a candle ready to go out. Hence the Septuagint version, "he shall shine F11 αναλαμψει , Sept. "; in the glory of his person, as the Son of God; in the fulness of his grace, as Mediator, which shall never fail; and in the hearts of his people by his Spirit; and in his Gospel... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 42:5

Thus saith God the Lord ,.... The God of the world, as the Targum. This, with what follows, is a preface to the call of Christ, to the great work of redemption; setting forth the greatness of God as a Creator, that calls him to it, and thereby encouraging him as man and Mediator in it, as well as the faith of his people to regard him as their Saviour and Redeemer, and believe that this work he was called unto should be performed by him; for what is it that God, the Creator of all things,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 42:6

I the Lord have called thee in righteousness ,.... Not the Prophet Isaiah, as Jarchi and Aben Ezra interpret it; nor the people of Israel, as Kimchi; but the Messiah, whom Jehovah called to the office of Mediator, in a righteous way and manner, consistent with his own perfections; and not against the will of Christ, but with his full consent: or, "unto righteousness", as some F14 "Ad, sive in justitiam", Sanctius. ; so the Arabic version; to fulfil his righteous purposes, concerning... 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

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 42:8

I am the Lord, that is my name ,.... Jehovah, a name expressive of his self-existence, eternity, and immutability; a name by which be made himself known to Israel of old, and which is peculiar to him, and does not belong to another, and so distinguishes him from all false gods; see Exodus 3:14 or, "Hu is my name" F16 הוא שמי ; to which αυτος , "he himself the same", answers; see Psalm 102:27 , compared with Hebrews 13:8 and this is one of the names of God with the Jews ... read more

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