Isaiah 42:1–4

The Lord Commissions His Special Servant

42:1 1 “Here is my servant whom I support,

my chosen one in whom I take pleasure.

I have placed my spirit on him;

he will make just decrees2 for the nations.3

42:2 He will not cry out or shout;

he will not publicize himself in the streets.4

42:3 A crushed reed he will not break,

a dim wick he will not extinguish;5

he will faithfully make just decrees.6

42:4 He will not grow dim or be crushed7

before establishing justice on the earth;

the coastlands8 will wait in anticipation for his decrees.”9

1	sn Verses 1–7 contain the first of Isaiah’s “servant songs,” which describe the ministry of a special, ideal servant who accomplishes God’s purposes for Israel and the nations. This song depicts the servant as a just king who brings justice to the earth and relief for the oppressed. The other songs appear in 49:1–13; 50:4–11; and 52:13–53:12.
2	tn Heb “he will bring out justice” (cf. ASV, NASB, NRSV).
3	sn Like the ideal king portrayed in Isa 11:1–9, the servant is energized by the divine spirit and establishes justice on the earth.
4	tn Heb “he will not cause his voice to be heard in the street.”
5	sn The “crushed reed” and “dim wick” symbolize the weak and oppressed who are on the verge of extinction.
6	tn Heb “faithfully he will bring out justice” (cf. NASB, NRSV).
7	tn For rhetorical effect the terms used to describe the “crushed (רָצַץ, ratsats) reed” and “dim (כָּהָה, kahah) wick” in v. 3 are repeated here.
8	tn Or “islands” (NIV); NLT “distant lands beyond the sea.”
9	tn Or “his law” (KJV, ASV, NASB, NIV) or “his instruction” (NLT).