The big picture
Isaiah 42 opens in verse 1 with “Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth; I have put my…”, reaches its middle movement near verse 13 with “The LORD shall go forth as a mighty man, he shall stir up jealousy like a man of war: he…”, and closes in verse 25 with “Therefore he hath poured upon him the fury of his anger, and the strength of battle: and…” Repeated or prominent terms include LORD, blind, earth, images, judgment. Together, those details trace this chapter’s own movement from its opening to its conclusion.
Scripture beside the summary
Isaiah · King James Version · 25Isaiah 42:1-7
1–7: Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my soul…
Isaiah 42:1–7 opens with “Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth; I have put my spirit…” and reaches “To open the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners from the prison, and them that sit in…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Isaiah 42 develops its own movement around LORD, blind, earth, images, judgment, with particular weight carried by judgment, earth, Gentiles.
Context that brings the passage to life
“Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth; I have put my spirit upon him: he shall…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.
“He shall not cry, nor lift up, nor cause his voice to be heard in the street.” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.
Isaiah 42:1-7
King James Version1Behold 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.
2He shall not cry, nor lift up, nor cause his voice to be heard in the street.
3A bruised reed shall he not break, and the smoking flax shall he not quench: he shall bring forth judgment unto truth.
4He shall not fail nor be discouraged, till he have set judgment in the earth: and the isles shall wait for his law.
5Thus 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:
6I 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;
7To open the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners from the prison, and them that sit in darkness out of the prison house.
Isaiah 42:8-14
8–14: I am the LORD : that is my name: and my glory will I not give to…
Isaiah 42:8–14 opens with “I am the LORD : that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to…” and reaches “I have long time holden my peace; I have been still, and refrained myself: now will I cry like a…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Isaiah 42 develops its own movement around LORD, blind, earth, images, judgment, with particular weight carried by LORD, praise, declare.
Context that brings the passage to life
“I am the LORD : that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images.” The line’s distinctive content terms include glory, graven, images. Its relationship to verses 9 shows what work it does in this passage.
“Behold, the former things are come to pass, and new things do I declare: before they spring forth I tell you of them.” The line’s distinctive content terms include declare, former, spring. Its relationship to verses 8 and 10 shows what work it does in this passage.
Isaiah 42:8-14
King James Version8I am the LORD : that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images.
9Behold, the former things are come to pass, and new things do I declare: before they spring forth I tell you of them.
10Sing 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.
11Let 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.
12Let them give glory unto the LORD , and declare his praise in the islands.
13The 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.
14I 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.
Isaiah 42:15-21
15–21: I will make waste mountains and hills, and dry up all their herbs; and I…
Isaiah 42:15–21 opens with “I will make waste mountains and hills, and dry up all their herbs; and I will make the rivers…” and reaches “The LORD is well pleased for his righteousness’ sake; he will magnify the law, and make it…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Isaiah 42 develops its own movement around LORD, blind, earth, images, judgment, with particular weight carried by blind, deaf, images.
Context that brings the passage to life
This block contains 1 explicit questions. They are more than punctuation: they reveal where a voice is searching, challenging, afraid, or trying to understand.
“I will make waste mountains and hills, and dry up all their herbs; and I will make the rivers islands, and I will dry…” The line’s distinctive content terms include herbs, hills, islands. Its relationship to verses 16 shows what work it does in this passage.
Isaiah 42:15-21
King James Version15I 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.
16And 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.
17They shall be turned back, they shall be greatly ashamed, that trust in graven images, that say to the molten images, Ye are our gods.
18Hear, ye deaf; and look, ye blind, that ye may see.
19Who 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?
20Seeing many things, but thou observest not; opening the ears, but he heareth not.
21The LORD is well pleased for his righteousness’ sake; he will magnify the law, and make it honourable.
Isaiah 42:22-25
22–25: This is a people robbed and spoiled; they are all of them snared in…
Isaiah 42:22–25 opens with “But this is a people robbed and spoiled; they are all of them snared in holes, and they are hid…” and reaches “Therefore he hath poured upon him the fury of his anger, and the strength of battle: and it hath…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Isaiah 42 develops its own movement around LORD, blind, earth, images, judgment, with particular weight carried by spoil, anger, battle.
Context that brings the passage to life
This block contains 2 explicit questions. They are more than punctuation: they reveal where a voice is searching, challenging, afraid, or trying to understand.
“But this is a people robbed and spoiled; they are all of them snared in holes, and they are hid in prison houses: they…” Naming Restore keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
Isaiah 42:22-25
King James Version22But 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.
23Who among you will give ear to this? who will hearken and hear for the time to come?
24Who 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.
25Therefore 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.
Details worth noticing
The opening image
Isaiah 42:1 begins with “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.”
Where the chapter turns
Isaiah 42:19 forms a natural hinge: “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?”
The final note
Isaiah 42:25 leaves the reader with “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…”
A word trail through the chapter
The words LORD, blind, earth, images, judgment, people help reveal the chapter’s repeated concerns.
What new information appears about the original betrayal?
The brothers remember Joseph's distress and pleas, which they refused to hear.
Why does the returned money frighten them?
They already fear accusation and divine reckoning; unexplained money makes their position seem more dangerous.
KJV words made clear
- behold
- look, or pay close attention
- unto
- to
- thee
- you
- thou
- you
- hath
- has
Text first
Where readers differ
The chapter summary begins with what the passage says and how its parts fit together. It does not assume one denomination has already settled every question. Where a conclusion depends on a tradition, literary theory, or historical reconstruction, that dependence is named openly.
The KJV text is presented first. Interpretive conclusions are labeled, and differences are introduced only when they help a reader understand why serious communities do not always reach the same answer.
Comparative interpretive notes for this chapter are in preparation. Until reviewed notes are ready, this page separates the KJV text from summary and application without claiming that serious readers agree on every question.