The Servant of the Lord: Covenant and Mission
Isaiah 42:1-9
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Isa.42.1 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- הן: PART
- עבדי: NOUN,m,pl,cons
- אתמך: VERB,qal,impf,1,_,sg
- בו: PREP+PRON,3,m,sg
- בחירי: NOUN,1s,m,sg,abs
- רצתה: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- נפשי: NOUN,f,sg,abs+1cs
- נתתי: VERB,qal,perf,1,_,sg
- רוחי: NOUN,f,sg,abs+1cs
- עליו: PREP,3,m,sg
- משפט: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- לגוים: PREP+NOUN,m,pl,abs
- יוציא: VERB,qal,imperfect,3,m,sg
Parallels
- Matthew 12:18-21 (quotation): Matthew explicitly quotes Isaiah 42:1-4 and applies the servant language ("my chosen...in whom my soul delights") and the servant's mission to Israel and the nations to Jesus.
- Acts 10:38 (allusion): Peter describes Jesus as anointed with the Holy Spirit and power who went about doing good—echoing Isaiah's "I have put my Spirit upon him" and the servant's Spirit-empowered ministry.
- Isaiah 49:6 (thematic): Both passages cast the servant as chosen to bring justice/salvation to the nations—Isaiah 42 emphasizes judgment for the Gentiles; 49 expands the servant's role as a light to the nations.
- Psalm 2:7 (verbal): The royal/sonship language ("You are my son...today I have begotten you") parallels the theme of divine election and delight in the chosen one found in Isaiah 42:1 and is later applied to the Messiah in the NT.
- Isaiah 61:1 (verbal): Isaiah 61's "The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me" parallels 42:1's "I have put my spirit upon him," linking the servant's Spirit-endowment to his mission (Luke 4:18 cites Isa 61 in Jesus' mission declaration).
Alternative generated candidates
- Behold my servant—I uphold him; my chosen one, in whom my soul delights; I have put my Spirit upon him; he will bring forth justice to the nations.
- Behold my servant, whom I uphold—my chosen one, in whom my soul delights; I have put my Spirit upon him; he will bring forth justice to the nations.
Isa.42.2 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- לא: PART_NEG
- יצעק: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- ולא: CONJ
- ישא: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- ולא: CONJ
- ישמיע: VERB,hiph,impf,3,m,sg
- בחוץ: ADV
- קולו: NOUN,m,sg,poss3ms
Parallels
- Matthew 12:18-21 (quotation): Direct New Testament quotation of Isaiah 42:1-4 (v.2 in particular), applying the Servant’s restraint—'he will not quarrel or cry out…no one will hear his voice in the streets'—to Jesus.
- Isaiah 53:7 (verbal): Parallel verbal motif of the servant’s silence in suffering: 'He was oppressed…and he opened not his mouth,' echoing the restraint described in 42:2.
- Isaiah 50:4-9 (structural): Another Servant-song passage that develops the theme of the servant’s submission and endurance before opposers—though he does speak, he endures abuse without vindictive outcry, linking to the character sketched in 42:2.
- Zechariah 9:9 (thematic): Theme of messianic humility and meekness—'humble and mounted on a donkey'—parallels the quiet, non‑clamorous demeanor attributed to the Servant in 42:2.
Alternative generated candidates
- He will not cry out or raise his voice, nor make it heard in the public square.
- He will not cry out, nor raise his voice, nor make it heard in the street.
Isa.42.3 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- קנה: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- רצוץ: ADJ,m,sg,abs
- לא: PART_NEG
- ישבור: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- ופשתה: CONJ+NOUN,f,sg,abs
- כהה: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- לא: PART_NEG
- יכבנה: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- לאמת: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,abs
- יוציא: VERB,qal,imperfect,3,m,sg
- משפט: NOUN,m,sg,abs
Parallels
- Matthew 12:20 (quotation): Direct quotation of Isaiah 42:3 (LXX), 'A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not quench,' applied to Jesus' gentleness.
- Matthew 12:18-21 (structural): Matthew cites Isaiah 42:1–4 as fulfilled in Jesus; verse 20 corresponds to Isaiah 42:3 within this larger servant-song citation.
- Acts 13:47 (allusion): Paul (via Isaiah) presents the servant as a light to the Gentiles and brings God's salvation and justice—thematically linked to the servant’s gentle, justice‑bringing mission in Isaiah 42:3.
- Isaiah 11:4 (thematic): Both passages portray a righteous leader who judges with justice and protects the weak/oppressed, echoing the servant’s gentle care and vindication of the vulnerable.
- Psalm 72:4 (thematic): Describes a king who defends the afflicted and delivers the needy—paralleling Isaiah 42:3’s emphasis on gentleness toward the weak and the establishment of justice.
Alternative generated candidates
- A bruised reed he will not break, and a dimly burning wick he will not extinguish; in faithfulness he will bring forth justice.
- He will not break a bruised reed, and he will not extinguish a faintly burning wick; he will faithfully bring forth justice.
Isa.42.4 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- לא: PART_NEG
- יכהה: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- ולא: CONJ
- ירוץ: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- עד: PREP
- ישים: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- בארץ: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,def
- משפט: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ולתורתו: CONJ+NOUN,f,sg,construct,poss3ms
- איים: NOUN,m,pl,abs
- ייחילו: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,pl
Parallels
- Matthew 12:18-21 (quotation): Matthew cites Isaiah 42:1–4 (vv. 18–21) as a fulfillment text about the Servant who will not break a bruised reed and in whose name the Gentiles will hope; v. 21 echoes Isa 42:4's promise that the coastlands will wait for his law.
- Isaiah 49:4-6 (allusion): Another Servant passage that develops the mission motif: the Servant perseveres until he restores Israel and brings light and justice to the nations, paralleling Isa 42:4's emphasis on endurance and establishment of justice for the world.
- Isaiah 11:4-5 (verbal): Both passages highlight the righteous, discerning rule of God's agent who executes justice and equity (’with righteousness he shall judge the poor’), echoing Isa 42:4's focus on establishing justice on the earth.
- Psalm 72:1-4 (thematic): A royal prayer that the king administer justice to the poor and bring deliverance to the needy; thematically parallels Isa 42:4's vision of a ruler/servant who secures justice for the nations.
- Micah 6:8 (thematic): Summarizes prophetic ethics—'to do justice, love kindness, walk humbly'—resonating with Isa 42:4's promise that the Servant will establish justice and the world will await his teaching.
Alternative generated candidates
- He will not falter or be crushed until he establishes justice on the earth; and the coastlands will put their hope in his teaching.
- He will not falter or be crushed until he establishes justice on the earth; and the coastlands will await his teaching.
Isa.42.5 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- כה: ADV
- אמר: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- האל: NOUN,m,sg,def
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- בורא: VERB,qal,ptcp,m,sg
- השמים: NOUN,m,pl,def
- ונוטיהם: CONJ+NOUN,m,pl,abs+3mp
- רקע: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- הארץ: NOUN,f,sg,def
- וצאצאיה: CONJ+NOUN,m,pl,abs+3fs
- נתן: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- נשמה: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- לעם: PREP
- עליה: PREP,3,f,sg
- ורוח: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- להלכים: PREP+VERB,qal,ptc,.,m,pl
- בה: PREP+PRON,3,f,sg
Parallels
- Gen.2:7 (verbal): God forms mankind and 'breath of life' (neshamah) is given to man—parallels Isaiah's language of giving breath/spirit to the people.
- Job 33:4 (verbal): 'The Spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the Almighty gives me life'—similar wording linking divine spirit/breath with life.
- Ps.104:29-30 (verbal): When you hide your face they die... you send forth your spirit, they are created—explicitly ties God's spirit/breath to sustaining and creating life, echoing Isaiah's theme.
- Ps.33:6 (thematic): By the word of the LORD the heavens were made, and 'all their host' by the breath of his mouth—connects divine creation of heavens/earth with breath imagery found in Isaiah 42:5.
- Ezek.37:5 (allusion): 'I will put my spirit in you and you shall live'—parallels the promise that God gives spirit/breath to animate and sustain the people.
Alternative generated candidates
- Thus says God, the LORD, who created the heavens and stretched them out, who spread out the earth and its offspring—who gives breath to the people on it and spirit to those who walk in it.
- Thus says God, the LORD, the Creator of the heavens and their host, who stretched them out; who spread out the earth and its offspring; who gives breath to the people on it and spirit to those who walk in it.
Isa.42.6 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- אני: PRON,1,sg
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- קראתיך: VERB,qal,perf,1,c,sg
- בצדק: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ואחזק: VERB,qal,fut,1,sg,suff=2,m,sg
- בידך: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,suff,2,m,sg
- ואצרך: VERB,qal,fut,1,sg,suff=2,m,sg
- ואתנך: CONJ+VERB,qal,impf,1,?,sg,obj:2ms
- לברית: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,abs
- עם: PREP
- לאור: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- גוים: NOUN,m,pl,abs
Parallels
- Isaiah 42:1 (structural): Opening of the Servant song—introduces 'my servant' called in righteousness; establishes the servant motif and divine calling that 42:6 continues (calling, mission, divine support).
- Isaiah 49:6 (thematic): Speaks of being made 'a light for the nations' and restoring Israel—directly parallels 42:6's language and mission of the servant as covenant and light to the peoples.
- Acts 13:47 (quotation): Paul cites Isaiah’s servant-mission language ('a light for the Gentiles') to justify evangelistic mission to the Gentiles, echoing 42:6's 'light of the nations.'
- Matthew 12:18-21 (quotation): Matthew explicitly quotes Isaiah's servant passage (Isa. 42:1–4) about the chosen servant; the NT application frames Jesus in the same servant-mission context as 42:6.
- Jeremiah 31:31 (allusion): Promises a 'new covenant' with God's people; echoes 42:6's language of the servant given 'for a covenant'—both texts link God's saving action and covenant relationship to a renewed purpose for the peoples.
Alternative generated candidates
- I, the LORD, have called you in righteousness; I will hold your hand and keep you; I will make you a covenant for the people, a light for the nations.
- I am the LORD; I have called you in righteousness, I will hold your hand and keep you; I will give you as a covenant to the people, a light to the nations.
Isa.42.7 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- לפקח: VERB,qal,inf
- עינים: NOUN,f,du,abs
- עורות: ADJ,f,pl,abs
- להוציא: VERB,hiphil,inf
- ממסגר: PREP+NOUN,masc,sg,abs
- אסיר: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- מבית: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- כלא: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ישבי: NOUN,m,pl,cons
- חשך: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
Parallels
- Isaiah 61:1 (verbal): Speaks of proclaiming liberty to captives and opening the prison to those bound—close verbal and thematic overlap with opening blind eyes and releasing prisoners.
- Isaiah 49:9 (structural): Uses similar language of bringing prisoners out and calling those in darkness to go forth, echoing the servant's mission motif found in 42:7.
- Isaiah 35:5 (verbal): Promises that the eyes of the blind will be opened and the ears of the deaf unstopped, paralleling the healing imagery of 42:7.
- Luke 4:18 (allusion): Jesus (quoting Isaiah) proclaims sight for the blind and release for the oppressed—an NT application of the prophetic program of liberation and sight in Isaiah.
- Acts 26:18 (verbal): Paul’s commission 'to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light' echoes Isaiah’s language of opening blind eyes and bringing out those who sit in darkness.
Alternative generated candidates
- To open blind eyes, to bring out prisoners from the dungeon, those who sit in darkness from the prison house.
- To open the eyes of the blind, to bring out the prisoner from the dungeon, and those who sit in darkness from the prison house.
Isa.42.8 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- אני: PRON,1,sg
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- הוא: PRON,3,m,sg
- שמי: NOUN,m,sg,abs+1cs
- וכבודי: CONJ+NOUN,m,sg,abs,1,sg
- לאחר: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- לא: PART_NEG
- אתן: VERB,qal,impf,1,sg
- ותהלתי: CONJ+NOUN,f,sg,abs,1,sg
- לפסילים: PREP+NOUN,m,pl,abs
Parallels
- Isaiah 48:11 (verbal): Near-verbatim parallel—God declares he will not give his glory to another (’my glory I will not give to another’), echoing Isaiah 42:8’s refusal to share his name or praise.
- Exodus 34:14 (allusion): Affirms exclusive worship of Yahweh and his jealous protection of his name—’for you shall worship no other god… the LORD is a jealous God’—reflecting Isaiah’s denial of giving his glory to idols.
- Deuteronomy 5:7 (cf. Exodus 20:3) (thematic): The command ‘You shall have no other gods before me’ expresses the same principle of exclusive devotion and withholding of divine honor from other gods as Isaiah 42:8.
- Psalm 115:1 (thematic): ’Not to us, O LORD, not to us, but to your name give glory’ emphasizes that praise and glory belong to God alone, paralleling Isaiah’s refusal to give his glory to others or idols.
Alternative generated candidates
- I am the LORD; that is my name; my glory I will not give to another, nor my praise to carved idols.
- I am the LORD—this is my name; my glory I give to no other, nor my praise to idols.
Isa.42.9 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- הראשנות: ADJ,f,pl,def
- הנה: PART
- באו: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,pl
- וחדשות: CONJ+NOUN,f,pl,abs
- אני: PRON,1,sg
- מגיד: VERB,hiph,ptc,ms
- בטרם: PREP
- תצמחנה: VERB,qal,impf,3,f,pl
- אשמיע: VERB,hiphil,impf,1,NA,sg
- אתכם: PRT+PRON,2,m,pl
Parallels
- Isaiah 48:3-6 (verbal): Uses very similar language about declaring ‘former things’ and making known what is to come—God’s prophetic announcement of past and future events.
- Isaiah 46:9-10 (thematic): God declares the end from the beginning and proclaims events before they occur—same theme of divine foreknowledge and proclamation of future acts.
- Isaiah 43:18-19 (verbal): Contrasts ‘former things’ with a coming ‘new thing’ that ‘now springs forth,’ echoing the pair of former and new things and the imagery of something about to spring up.
- Isaiah 41:22-23 (thematic): Challenges false gods to predict the future; thematically parallels God’s claim to declare events in advance as a proof of his uniqueness and sovereignty.
Alternative generated candidates
- Behold, the former things have come to pass; now I declare new things; before they spring into being I announce them to you.
- Behold, the former things have come to pass, and new things I declare; before they spring forth I proclaim them to you.
Behold my servant, whom I uphold—my chosen one in whom my soul delights; I have put my Spirit upon him, and he will bring forth justice to the nations.
He will not cry aloud or lift up his voice, nor make it heard in the streets.
A bruised reed he will not break, and a dimly burning wick he will not quench; in faithfulness he will bring forth justice.
He will not grow faint or be broken until he establishes justice on the earth; and the coastlands will wait for his law. Thus says God, the LORD, the Creator of the heavens and their expanse, who stretched out the earth and what comes from it, who gives breath to the people on it and spirit to those who walk in it.
I am the LORD; I have called you in righteousness. I will take you by the hand and keep you; I will give you as a covenant for the people, a light for the nations.
To open the eyes of the blind, to bring out the prisoners from the dungeon, from the prison those who sit in darkness.
I am the LORD; that is my name—my glory I will not give to another, nor my praise to idols.
Behold, the former things have come to pass; now I declare new things—I announce them to you before they spring forth.