Isaiah 42:1 ASV

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Isaiah 42:1

Isaiah 42:1. Behold my servant, &c. “The prophet, having opened his subject with the preparation for the return from the captivity at Babylon, and intimated that a much greater deliverance was covered under the veil of that event, proceeded to vindicate the power of God, as Creator and Disposer of all things, and his infinite knowledge from his prediction of future events, and in particular of that deliverance; he then went still further, and pointed out the instrument by which he... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Isaiah 42:1-25

Success and failure of God’s servant (42:1-25)In the previous chapter the servant of Yahweh was identified with Israel (see 41:8). Israel is probably again the servant who is identified here, but the ideals outlined in this song never became a reality in the nation. They did, to some extent, characterize the faithful remnant, but they found their perfect expression only in the one who embodied the ideals God desired, Jesus Christ. The prophet foresees that this servant of Yahweh, though... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Isaiah 42:1

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 . read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Isaiah 42:1

FEATURING A PROPHECY OF THE MESSIAHBy far the most interesting part of this chapter is found at the very beginning.Isaiah 42:1-4"Behold, my servant whom I will uphold; my chosen in whom my soul delighteth: I will put my Spirit upon him; he will bring forth justice to the Gentiles. He will not cry, nor lift up his voice, nor cause it to be heard in the street. A bruised reed will he not break, and a dimly burning wick he will not quench: he will bring forth justice in truth. He will not fail nor... read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Isaiah 42:1

Isaiah 42:1. Behold my servant, whom I upheld— Whom I will uphold. Lowth. Or, Whom I receive. The discourse of God is continued, of the Father pointing out the Son, as the teacher of the Gentiles expected for so many ages, about to recal them from idolatry and superstition, and to enlighten them with the most pure and holy doctrine. St. Matthew has plainly and directly applied this passage, which is truly august, and worthy all attention, to Jesus Christ, Matthew 12:17; Matthew 12:50. And in... read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 42:1

1. my servant—The law of prophetic suggestion leads Isaiah from Cyrus to the far greater Deliverer, behind whom the former is lost sight of. The express quotation in Matthew 12:18-20, and the description can apply to Messiah alone ( :-; with which compare Exodus 21:6; John 6:38; Philippians 2:7). Israel, also, in its highest ideal, is called the "servant" of God (Isaiah 49:3). But this ideal is realized only in the antitypical Israel, its representative-man and Head, Messiah (compare Matthew... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Isaiah 42:1

"The hen (behold) in ch. xli. 29 is now followed by a second hen [in Isaiah 42:1]. With the former, Jehovah pronounced sentence upon the idolaters and their idols; with the latter, He introduces His ’servant.’" [Note: Delitzsch, 2:174.] Yahweh called on the nations to see (give attention to) His Servant, in contrast to the idols (cf. Isaiah 41:29). The Old Testament used "servant" to describe the relation of God’s people to Himself (cf. Psalms 19:11; Psalms 19:13). Individuals described... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Isaiah 42:1-9

God’s promises to His servants 41:1-42:9The intent of this unit of material was to assure Israel that God had both the power and the desire to deliver her and to bring salvation to the whole world. It contains three basic themes: the pagans’ inability to refute Yahweh’s sovereignty, the promise to deliver fearful Israel, and the divine plan to use an ideal servant as redeemer. read more

John Dummelow

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - Isaiah 42:1-25

The Ideal Servant1-9. The characteristics and functions of Israel as the ideal Servant of Jehovah. 10-17 A song of praise to Jehovah. 18-25. The deficiencies of the actual Israel, considered as Jehovah’s Servant.1. My servant] On the conception of these chapters see Intro. Judgment] or ’right.’ The Servant’s office is to teach the world true religion. 2, 3. He will not be ostentatious nor unduly severe. How Christ corresponded to the ideal is noted in Matthew 12:17-21; 3. Smoking flax] RM... read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Isaiah 42:1

XLII.(1) Behold my servant . . .—Here the words point not, as before, to the visible, or even the ideal Israel, but to One who is the centre of both, with attributes which are reproduced in His people in the measure of their fulfilment of the ideal. “Elect” is another of the words with which Isaiah has fashioned the theology of Christendom. It meets us there four times (45:4, 65:9, 22), and is echoed and interpreted in the voice from heaven of Matthew 3:17. That voice fixed on the human... read more