New International Reader s Version - NIrV - 1996
Isaiah 42
1
"Here is my servant. I take good care of him. I have chosen him. I am very pleased with him. I will put my Spirit on him. He will make everything right among the nations.
Reference
Parallel theme
Isaiah 52:13
Philippians 2:7
Isaiah 43:10
Matthew 17:5
Isaiah 53:11
Isaiah 41:8
Ephesians 3:8
Spirit
Luke 3:22
Isaiah 61:1
John 3:34
3
He will not break a bent twig. He will not put out a dimly burning flame. He will be faithful and make everything right.
Reference
Judgment
Ezekiel 34:16
John 5:30
Revelation 19:11
Psalm 96:13
Psalm 98:9
Parallel theme
Jeremiah 31:25
Matthew 11:28
Isaiah 40:11
Psalm 147:3
Isaiah 50:10
4
He will not grow weak or lose hope. He will not give up until he makes everything right on the earth. The islands will put their hope in his law."
Reference
Judgment
Isaiah 9:7
Parallel theme
Isaiah 55:5
Psalm 22:27
Matthew 12:21
Isaiah 60:9
Isaiah 42:12
Isaiah 66:19
Zechariah 2:11
Word
Genesis 49:10
5
God created the heavens and spread them out. The Lord made the earth and everything that grows on it. He gives breath to its people. He gives life to those who walk on it. He says to his servant,
Reference
Creation
Isaiah 45:12
Jeremiah 10:12
Jeremiah 32:17
Isaiah 45:18
Psalm 33:6
Parallel theme
Isaiah 40:22
Isaiah 48:13
References Lord
Isaiah 44:24
Spirit
Zechariah 12:1
Job 33:4
6
"I, the Lord, have chosen you to do what is right. I will take hold of your hand. I will keep you safe. You will put my covenant with the people of Israel into effect. And you will be a light for the other nations.
Reference
Covenant
Isaiah 49:8
Hebrews 9:15
Hebrews 13:20
Light
Luke 2:32
Acts 13:47
Isaiah 49:6
John 8:12
1 Peter 2:9
Acts 26:23
Parallel theme
Isaiah 26:3
7
You will open eyes that can't see. You will set prisoners free. Those who sit in darkness will come out of their cells.
Reference
Darkness
Isaiah 49:9
Isaiah 29:18
Acts 26:18
Parallel theme
Isaiah 61:1
Isaiah 35:5
2 Timothy 2:26
Matthew 11:5
Luke 24:45
Revelation 3:18
John 9:39
8
"I am the Lord. That is my name! I will not let any other god share my glory. I will not let statues of gods share my praise.
Reference
Glory
Isaiah 48:11
Parallel theme
Psalm 83:18
John 5:23
John 8:58
References Lord
Isaiah 43:11
Exodus 4:5
Worship
Exodus 34:14
9
What I said would happen has taken place. Now I announce new things to you. Before they even begin to happen, I announce them to you."
Reference
10
Sing a new song to the Lord. Sing praise to him from one end of the earth to the other. Sing, you who sail out on the ocean. Sing, all of you creatures in it. Sing, you islands. Sing, all of you who live there.
Reference
11
Let the desert and its towns raise their voices. Let those who live in the settlements of Kedar be glad. Let the people of Sela sing with joy. Let them shout from the tops of the mountains.
Reference
Parallel theme
Isaiah 32:16
Isaiah 60:7
Isaiah 52:7
Isaiah 21:16
Isaiah 16:1
Psalm 120:5
Nahum 1:15
Genesis 25:23
Sin
Isaiah 35:6
12
Let them give glory to the Lord. Let them praise him in the islands.
13
The Lord will march out like a mighty warrior. He will stir up his anger like a soldier getting ready to fight. He will shout the battle cry. And he will win the battle over his enemies.
Reference
14
The Lord says, "For a long time I have kept silent. I have been calm and quiet. But now, like a woman having a baby, I cry out. I am struggling to breathe.
15
I will completely destroy the mountains and hills. I will dry up everything that grows there. I will turn rivers into dry land. I will dry up the pools.
Reference
16
Israel is blind. So I will lead them along paths they had not known before. I will guide them on roads they are not familiar with. I will turn the darkness into light as they travel. I will make the rough places smooth. Those are the things I will do. I will not desert my people.
Reference
Darkness
Isaiah 29:18
Light
Ephesians 5:8
Parallel theme
Isaiah 30:21
Luke 3:5
Isaiah 35:8
Isaiah 40:4
Isaiah 32:3
Hebrews 13:5
Psalm 94:14
Isaiah 45:2
17
Some people trust in statues of gods. They say to them, 'You are our gods.' But they will be dishonored. They will be put to shame.
Reference
18
"Israel, listen to me! You can hear, but you do not understand. Look to me! You can see, but you do not know what you are seeing.
Reference
19
The people of Israel serve me. But who is more blind than they are? Who is more deaf than the messengers I send? Who is more blind than those who have committed themselves to be faithful to me? Who is more blind than my servants?
Reference
20
Israel, you have seen many things. But you have not paid any attention to me. Your ears are open. But you do not hear anything I say."
21
The Lord wanted his people to see how great and glorious his law is. He wanted to show them that he always does what is right.
Reference
Parallel theme
Matthew 17:5
Righteousness
Psalm 71:19
Romans 7:12
Matthew 3:15
Psalm 71:16
Romans 10:4
Word
Romans 3:31
Hebrews 8:10
Isaiah 42:4
Psalm 40:8
22
Enemies have carried off everything they own. All of my people are trapped in pits or hidden away in prisons. They themselves have become like stolen goods. No one can save them. They have been carried off. And there is no one who will say, "Send them back."
Reference
23
Family of Jacob, who among you will listen to what I'm saying? People of Israel, which one of you will pay close attention in days to come?
Reference
Parallel theme
Isaiah 48:18
24
Who allowed you to be carried off like stolen goods? Who handed you over to robbers? The Lord did it! We have sinned against him. Israel, you wouldn't follow his ways. You didn't obey his law.
Summary of Isaiah 42
Isaiah 42 introduces one of the Bible's most important Servant passages, presenting a chosen servant whom God supports, fills with His Spirit, and sends to establish justice among the nations.
Unlike a conquering king who relies on armies and intimidation, this servant works with gentleness, patience, and compassion, refusing to break the weak or extinguish those who are already struggling.
His mission is nevertheless powerful and far-reaching.
He will bring justice, become a light to the nations, open blind eyes, and bring people out of darkness and captivity.
The chapter therefore presents God's salvation as something intended not only for Israel but ultimately for the nations of the world.
Isaiah then emphasizes that the Lord alone deserves worship.
The God who created heaven and earth can announce what is coming and accomplish what He has promised, while carved idols cannot predict events, save people, or control history.
The chapter shifts from the gentleness of God's servant to a dramatic picture of God Himself rising to act with great power.
He has been silent for a time, but He will now intervene, transform mountains and rivers, and lead His people through paths they cannot see.
Yet Isaiah also exposes a painful problem within Israel.
The people are themselves described as blind and deaf.
They have God's revelation but fail to understand it, hear His words but fail to obey them, and experience His discipline without recognizing why it has happened.
Their exile is therefore presented as the consequence of persistent rebellion and refusal to follow God's instruction.
The chapter ends with Israel still suffering the consequences of its disobedience, but the earlier promises of the servant, light, guidance, and restoration provide hope that this condition will not last forever.
The central message is that God's chosen servant will bring justice, light, healing, and freedom through a mission characterized by compassion rather than force, while Israel's blindness demonstrates how easily people can possess God's truth without truly responding to it; nevertheless, the Creator remains sovereign over history and promises to lead His people from darkness toward a restored future.
Unlike a conquering king who relies on armies and intimidation, this servant works with gentleness, patience, and compassion, refusing to break the weak or extinguish those who are already struggling.
His mission is nevertheless powerful and far-reaching.
He will bring justice, become a light to the nations, open blind eyes, and bring people out of darkness and captivity.
The chapter therefore presents God's salvation as something intended not only for Israel but ultimately for the nations of the world.
Isaiah then emphasizes that the Lord alone deserves worship.
The God who created heaven and earth can announce what is coming and accomplish what He has promised, while carved idols cannot predict events, save people, or control history.
The chapter shifts from the gentleness of God's servant to a dramatic picture of God Himself rising to act with great power.
He has been silent for a time, but He will now intervene, transform mountains and rivers, and lead His people through paths they cannot see.
Yet Isaiah also exposes a painful problem within Israel.
The people are themselves described as blind and deaf.
They have God's revelation but fail to understand it, hear His words but fail to obey them, and experience His discipline without recognizing why it has happened.
Their exile is therefore presented as the consequence of persistent rebellion and refusal to follow God's instruction.
The chapter ends with Israel still suffering the consequences of its disobedience, but the earlier promises of the servant, light, guidance, and restoration provide hope that this condition will not last forever.
The central message is that God's chosen servant will bring justice, light, healing, and freedom through a mission characterized by compassion rather than force, while Israel's blindness demonstrates how easily people can possess God's truth without truly responding to it; nevertheless, the Creator remains sovereign over history and promises to lead His people from darkness toward a restored future.