Isaiah 42:21

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Isaiah 42:18-25

The prophet, having spoken by way of comfort and encouragement to the believing Jews who waited for the consolation of Israel, here turns to those among them who were unbelieving, for their conviction and humiliation. Among those who were in captivity in Babylon there were some who were as the evil figs in Jeremiah's vision, who were sent thither for their hurt, to be removed into all the kingdoms of the earth, for a reproach and a proverb, Jer. 24:9. In them there was a type of the Jews who... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 42:21

The Lord is well pleased for his righteousness sake ,.... This may be either understood of what the Lord had done for these people in time past, and which is mentioned as an aggravation of their stupidity, disobedience, and ingratitude; he had delighted in them, and chose them above all people upon the earth, and distinguished them with his favours, which he did for the sake of his own righteousness or faithfulness to his promises made to their fathers: he magnified them with the law, and... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Isaiah 42:21

He win magnify the law "He hath exalted his own praise" - For תורה torah , the law, the Septuagint read תודה todah , praise. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 42:10-25

A new song to Jehovah. Caught up in his ecstasy to a high place of vision, the prophet sees all the nations of mankind deriving blessing from the ministry of Israel, and calls upon them to join in a song of praise. God's goodness in providing a Redeemer demands the thanksgiving of all the world. I. THE SONG AND THE SINGERS . The new song is named in the Psalter ( Psalms 96:1 ; Psalms 98:1 ), meaning a song inspired by the sense of new mercies. All parts of the earth are to... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 42:18-25

ADDRESS TO CAPTIVE ISRAEL , CALLING UPON THEM TO TURN TO GOD , AND REMINDING THEM THAT THEY HAVE DESERVED THEIR AFFLICTIONS . By some critics the earlier verses of this passage ( Isaiah 42:19-21 ) are regarded as having reference to the "Servant of the Lord" depicted in Isaiah 42:1-7 , and as calling on the captive Jews to consider his voluntary humiliation, and the object of it. But this view seems to be strained. It requires "deaf" and "blind' to... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 42:18-25

The blindness of Israel. The "blindness" of Israel is a subject of continual remark in Scripture from the time of Moses ( Deuteronomy 28:28 , Deuteronomy 28:29 ) to that of St. Paul ( Romans 11:25 ). Four things may be noted of it. I. IT IS SELF - CAUSED . The Israelites "blinded themselves," and so became blind ( Isaiah 29:9 , with the comment). They "winked with their eyes," closed them against the light which shone on them from on high, and thus gradually by disuse... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 42:19-25

(latter part) The hidden hurt. I. THERE ARE PENALTIES WHICH ARE PALPABLE TO EVERY EYE . When vice or crime leads down to poverty, or to serious sickness, or to desertion and consequent loneliness, or to confinement in prison, there is no possibility of mistake. God is "pouring out his anger" against the transgressors of his Law; he is "magnifying his Law, and making it honourable" ( Isaiah 42:21 ). But— II. THERE ARE PENALTIES WHICH ARE UNDETECTED EVEN ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 42:21

The Lord is well pleased ; rather, the Lord was pleased , or it pleased the Lord. For his righteousness' sake ; "because of his own perfect righteousness." He will magnify the Law ; rather, to magnify the Law— to set it forth in its greatness and its glory before his people. It is not the original giving of the Law at Sinai only that is meant, but also its constant inculcation by a long series of prophets. Israel's experience (verse 29) had included all this; but they had not... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 42:21

The honouring of God's Law. Cheyne translates, "It was Jehovah's pleasure for his righteousness' sake to make the instruction great and glorious." The Revised Version gives this as a marginal reading. Only by a straining of this passage can it be made to bear any relation to Christ's obedience and righteousness. It is true, but it is not the truth presented or suggested here, that Christ "magnified the Law, and made it honourable." The point of the passage is well expressed by J. A.... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 42:21

The Lord is well pleased for his righteousness’ sake - There is great variety in the translation and interpretation of this verse. Lowth renders it:Yet Yahweh was gracious unto him for his truth’s sake;He hath exalted his own praise, and made it glorious.Noyes renders it:It pleased Yahweh for his goodness’ sakeTo give him a law great and glorious;And yet it is a robbed and plundered people.The Septuagint renders it, ‘The Lord God determined that he should be justified, and magnify his praise.’... read more

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