Bible Commentaries

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.

cry. See the Divine interpretation "strive" (Matthew 12:19).

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.

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.

a light of the Gentiles. Quoted in Luke 2:32. Compare Isaiah 49:6.

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.

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.

the former things, &c. Referring to his prophecies, among others, concerning Sennacherib, Isaiah 10 and Isaiah 37.

new things, &c. Thus uniting the predictions of the earlier chapters with the so-called "second" part. See App-79.

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.

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.

trust = confide. Hebrew. batah. App-69.

that say, &c. Reference to Pentateuch (Exodus 32:4). App-92.

Hear. Note the call to hear in the Structure, corresponding with the call in Isaiah 42:23.

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.

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.

He will magnify the law. Note the correspondence with Isaiah 42:24.

this is a People. Showing most clearly that Israel is the subject of this member.

Who . . . ? The other "call to hear" emphasized by the Figure of speech Erotesis.

Jacob . . . Israel. See notes on Genesis 32:28; Genesis 32:43, &c.

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.