---
title: "Bullinger"
description: "My Servant: i.e. Messiah. See note on Isaiah 37:35 .  My soul = I Myself. Hebrew.  nephesh. App-13 .  delighteth = is well-pleased.  put = bestowed.  My"
image: "/images/missing.jpg"
url: "https://realbiblebelievers.com/commentaries/bullingers-companion-bible-notes/isaiah/42"
---

**My Servant:** i.e. Messiah. See note on [Isaiah 37:35](../../../kjv/isaiah/37/35) .
**My soul** = I Myself. Hebrew. *nephesh.* App-13 .
**delighteth** = is well-pleased.
**put** = bestowed.
**My spirit.** Hebrew. *ruach* ( App-9 ). Here is the doctrine of the Trinity: (1) The Father, the speaker; (2) My "Servant", the Messiah, the Son; and (3) My Spirit. See note on "stretched out" in [Isaiah 42:5](../../../kjv/isaiah/42/5) .

**cry.** See the Divine interpretation "strive" ([Matthew 12:19](../../../kjv/matthew/12/19) ).

**the smoking flax:** i.e. the wick (made of flax) that is burning dim.
**flax.** Put by Figure of speech *Metonymy* (of Cause), for the wick made of it.
**not quench:** i.e. not put it out, but trim it and make it burn brightly. This was the servant's work.
**unto** = in accordance with.

**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](../../../kjv/matthew/12/18-21) ). See note on [Isaiah 11:11](../../../kjv/isaiah/11/11) .
**wait.** Reference to Pentateuch ([Genesis 8:12](../../../kjv/genesis/8/12) "stayed").
**and stretched them out** = they that stretched them out. Compare "us", "our" ([Genesis 1:26](../../../kjv/genesis/1/26) ). Compare "image" (singular).
**breath.** Hebrew. *neshmah* , App-16 ). See note on [Isaiah 2:22](../../../kjv/isaiah/2/22) .

**a light of the Gentiles.** Quoted in [Luke 2:32](../../../kjv/luke/2/32) . Compare [Isaiah 49:6](../../../kjv/isaiah/49/6) .

**To open the blind eyes.** Renewing the prophecy of [Isaiah 35:5](../../../kjv/isaiah/35/5) .
**prisoners.** See [Isaiah 49:9](../../../kjv/isaiah/49/9) ; [Isaiah 61:1](../../../kjv/isaiah/61/1) .
**sit.** Put by Figure of speech *Synecdoche* (of Species), for being in a permanent condition.

**I am.** Reference to Pentateuch ([Exodus 3:15](../../../kjv/exodus/3/15) ). App-92 .
**will I not give.** Reference to Pentateuch ([Exodus 20:5](../../../kjv/exodus/20/5) ).
**another:** i.e. a strange god.
**praise.** Hebrew. *lullal.* Not confined to the "former" part of Isaiah, as alleged. See [Isaiah 13:10](../../../kjv/isaiah/13/10) ; [Isaiah 38:18](../../../kjv/isaiah/38/18) . See App-79 .

**the former things, &c.** Referring to his prophecies, among others, concerning Sennacherib, [Isaiah 10](../../../kjv/isaiah/10) and [Isaiah 37](../../../kjv/isaiah/37) .
**new things, &c.** Thus uniting the predictions of the earlier chapters with the so-called "second" part. See App-79 .

**go forth.** This is an enlargement of [Isaiah 41:15](../../../kjv/isaiah/41/15) , [Isaiah 41:16](../../../kjv/isaiah/41/16) . Still more so in [Revelation 6:2](../../../kjv/revelation/6/2) ; [Revelation 19:11](../../../kjv/revelation/19/11) .
**mighty man.** Hebrew. *gibbor.*
**stir up** = awaken, incite. See note on [Song of Solomon 2:7](../../../kjv/song-of-solomon/2/7) .
**jealousy.** Reference to Pentateuch ([Exodus 20:6](../../../kjv/exodus/20/6) ). App-92 .
**cry . . . roar.** Figure of speech *Anthropopatheia.*

**I will lead** = I have led.
**I will lead them, &c.** Some codices, with Septuagint, Syriac, and Vulgate, commence this sentence with "And".
**These things, &c.** Reference to Pentateuch ([Deuteronomy 31:6](../../../kjv/deuteronomy/31/6) ).
**will I do** = have I done.
**and not** = and have not.

**trust** = confide. Hebrew. *batah.* App-69 .
**that say, &c.** Reference to Pentateuch ([Exodus 32:4](../../../kjv/exodus/32/4) ). App-92 .

**Hear.** Note the call to hear in the Structure, corresponding with the call in [Isaiah 42:23](../../../kjv/isaiah/42/23) .

**My servant.** This is Israel. See the Structures above; and see note on [Isaiah 37:35](../../../kjv/isaiah/37/35) . Not the same "servant" as in [Isaiah 42:1](../../../kjv/isaiah/42/1) .
**perfect** = an intimate friend or trusted one. Hebrew. *me'shullam* (plural of *shalam),* to be at peace with. Compare [2 Samuel 20:19](../../../kjv/2-samuel/20/19) . [Job 22:21](../../../kjv/job/22/21) .[Psalms 7:4](../../../kjv/psalms/7/4) . It is from this word we have *Mussulman* and *Moslem.* Israel, in the presence of the foe, was, in Jehovah's sight, thus perfect. See [Numbers 23:21](../../../kjv/numbers/23/21) .

**Seeing . . . opening the ears.** As Israel had done. Reference to Pentateuch ([Deuteronomy 29:1](../../../kjv/deuteronomy/29/1) , [Deuteronomy 29:2](../../../kjv/deuteronomy/29/2) ). But Israel was blind and deaf ([Isaiah 42:19](../../../kjv/isaiah/42/19) ). Compare [Jeremiah 5:21](../../../kjv/jeremiah/5/21) ; [Jeremiah 6:10](../../../kjv/jeremiah/6/10) . [Ezekiel 12:2](../../../kjv/ezekiel/12/2) .[Matthew 13:14](../../../kjv/matthew/13/14) , &c.
**he.** Some codices, with Syriac, read "thou" (as in the preceding clause); others read "ye". The pronoun refers to Israel. See [Isaiah 42:19](../../../kjv/isaiah/42/19) .

**He will magnify the law.** Note the correspondence with [Isaiah 42:24](../../../kjv/isaiah/42/24) .

**this is a People.** Showing most clearly that Israel is the subject of this member.

**Who . . . ?** The other "call to hear" emphasized by the Figure of speech *Erotesis* .

**Jacob . . . Israel.** See notes on [Genesis 32:28](../../../kjv/genesis/32/28) ; Gen 32:43 , &c.

**strength** = strength (for prevailing). Not the same word as in [Isaiah 41:1](../../../kjv/isaiah/41/1) , [Isaiah 41:10](../../../kjv/isaiah/41/10) . Hebrew. *'azaz* : i.e. battle that prevailed against Israel.

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