Isaiah 42

“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.

“A bruised reed shall he not break, and the smoking flax shall he not quench: he shall bring forth judgment unto truth.” 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 fail nor be discouraged, till he have set judgment in the earth: and the isles shall wait for his law.” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“Thus saith God the LORD , he that created the heavens, and stretched them out; he that spread forth the earth, and…” The verse names God rather than leaving the action without a source. Watch whether the next line continues, answers, or contrasts that action.

“I the LORD have called thee in righteousness, and will hold thine hand, and will keep thee, and give thee for a…” The promise, blessing, or covenant language needs its named recipient and scope. Those details prevent a personal word in the story from becoming a promise detached from context.

“To open the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners from the prison, and them that sit in darkness out of the prison…” The line’s distinctive content terms include prison, blind, darkness. Its relationship to verses 6 shows what work it does in this passage.

“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.

“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…” Naming Sing keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Let the wilderness and the cities thereof lift up their voice, the villages that Kedar doth inhabit: let the…” Naming Kedar keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Let them give glory unto the LORD , and declare his praise in the islands.” The line’s distinctive content terms include declare, glory, islands. Its relationship to verses 11 and 13 shows what work it does in this passage.

“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…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“I have long time holden my peace; I have been still, and refrained myself: now will I cry like a travailing woman; I…” The line’s distinctive content terms include destroy, devour, holden. Its relationship to verses 13 shows what work it does in this passage.

“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.

“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…” The line’s distinctive content terms include blind, crooked, darkness. Its relationship to verses 15 and 17 shows what work it does in this passage.

“They shall be turned back, they shall be greatly ashamed, that trust in graven images, that say to the molten images…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“Hear, ye deaf; and look, ye blind, that ye may see.” Naming Hear keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“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 question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“Seeing many things, but thou observest not; opening the ears, but he heareth not.” Naming Seeing keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“The LORD is well pleased for his righteousness’ sake; he will magnify the law, and make it honourable.” The line’s distinctive content terms include honourable, LORD, magnify. Its relationship to verses 20 shows what work it does in this passage.

“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.

“Who among you will give ear to this? who will hearken and hear for the time to come?” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“Who gave Jacob for a spoil, and Israel to the robbers? did not the LORD , he against whom we have sinned? for they…” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“Therefore he hath poured upon him the fury of his anger, and the strength of battle: and it hath set him on fire round…” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.