1.
Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth; I have put my spirit upon him: he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles.
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 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 .
2.
He shall not cry, nor lift up, nor cause his voice to be heard in the street.
cry. See the Divine interpretation "strive" (Matthew 12:19 ).
3.
A bruised reed shall he not break, and the smoking flax shall he not quench: he shall bring forth judgment unto truth.
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.
4.
He shall not fail nor be discouraged, till he have set judgment in the earth: and the isles shall wait for his law.
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 .
5.
Thus saith God the LORD, he that created the heavens, and stretched them out; he that spread forth the earth, and that which cometh out of it; he that giveth breath unto the people upon it, and spirit to them that walk therein:
6.
I the LORD have called thee in righteousness, and will hold thine hand, and will keep thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles;
a light of the Gentiles. Quoted in Luke 2:32 . Compare Isaiah 49:6 .
7.
To open the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners from the prison, and them that sit in darkness out of the prison house.
To open the blind eyes. Renewing the prophecy of Isaiah 35:5 .
prisoners. See Isaiah 49:9 ; Isaiah 61:1 .
sit. Put by Figure of speech Synecdoche (of Species), for being in a permanent condition.
8.
I am the LORD: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images.
I am. Reference to Pentateuch (Exodus 3:15 ). App-92 .
will I not give. Reference to Pentateuch (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 ; Isaiah 38:18 . See App-79 .
9.
Behold, the former things are come to pass, and new things do I declare: before they spring forth I tell you of them.
10.
Sing unto the LORD a new song, and his praise from the end of the earth, ye that go down to the sea, and all that is therein; the isles, and the inhabitants thereof.
11.
Let the wilderness and the cities thereof lift up their voice, the villages that Kedar doth inhabit: let the inhabitants of the rock sing, let them shout from the top of the mountains.
12.
Let them give glory unto the LORD, and declare his praise in the islands.
13.
The LORD shall go forth as a mighty man, he shall stir up jealousy like a man of war: he shall cry, yea, roar; he shall prevail against his enemies.
go forth. This is an enlargement of Isaiah 41:15 , Isaiah 41:16 . Still more so in Revelation 6:2 ; Revelation 19:11 .
mighty man. Hebrew. gibbor.
stir up = awaken, incite. See note on Song of Solomon 2:7 .
jealousy. Reference to Pentateuch (Exodus 20:6 ). App-92 .
cry . . . roar. Figure of speech Anthropopatheia.
14.
I have long time holden my peace; I have been still, and refrained myself: now will I cry like a travailing woman; I will destroy and devour at once.
15.
I will make waste mountains and hills, and dry up all their herbs; and I will make the rivers islands, and I will dry up the pools.
16.
And I will bring the blind by a way that they knew not; I will lead them in paths that they have not known: I will make darkness light before them, and crooked things straight. These things will I do unto them, and not forsake them.
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 ).
will I do = have I done.
and not = and have not.
17.
They shall be turned back, they shall be greatly ashamed, that trust in graven images, that say to the molten images, Ye are our gods.
trust = confide. Hebrew. batah. App-69 .
that say, &c. Reference to Pentateuch (Exodus 32:4 ). App-92 .
18.
Hear, ye deaf; and look, ye blind, that ye may see.
Hear. Note the call to hear in the Structure, corresponding with the call in Isaiah 42:23 .
19.
Who is blind, but my servant? or deaf, as my messenger that I sent? who is blind as he that is perfect, and blind as the LORD's servant?
My servant. This is Israel. See the Structures above; and see note on Isaiah 37:35 . Not the same "servant" as in 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 . Job 22:21 .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 .
20.
Seeing many things, but thou observest not; opening the ears, but he heareth not.
Seeing . . . opening the ears. As Israel had done. Reference to Pentateuch (Deuteronomy 29:1 , Deuteronomy 29:2 ). But Israel was blind and deaf (Isaiah 42:19 ). Compare Jeremiah 5:21 ; Jeremiah 6:10 . Ezekiel 12:2 .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 .
21.
The LORD is well pleased for his righteousness' sake; he will magnify the law, and make it honourable.
He will magnify the law. Note the correspondence with Isaiah 42:24 .
22.
But this is a people robbed and spoiled; they are all of them snared in holes, and they are hid in prison houses: they are for a prey, and none delivereth; for a spoil, and none saith, Restore.
this is a People. Showing most clearly that Israel is the subject of this member.
23.
Who among you will give ear to this? who will hearken and hear for the time to come?
Who . . . ? The other "call to hear" emphasized by the Figure of speech Erotesis .
24.
Who gave Jacob for a spoil, and Israel to the robbers? did not the LORD, he against whom we have sinned? for they would not walk in his ways, neither were they obedient unto his law.
Jacob . . . Israel. See notes on Genesis 32:28 ; Gen 32:43 , &c.
25.
Therefore he hath poured upon him the fury of his anger, and the strength of battle: and it hath set him on fire round about, yet he knew not; and it burned him, yet he laid it not to heart.
strength = strength (for prevailing). Not the same word as in Isaiah 41:1 , Isaiah 41:10 . Hebrew. 'azaz : i.e. battle that prevailed against Israel.