Isaiah 42 Commentary

“To open the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners from the prison, and them that sit in darkness out of the prison house.”

House. The Jews out of captivity, prefigured the redemption of mankind. These miracles proved that Jesus was the Messias, Luke vii. 22.

“I am the LORD: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images.”

Things. They shall not partake of my divinity. Our Saviour was truly God, Philippians ii. 6.

“Behold, the former things are come to pass, and new things do I declare: before they spring forth I tell you of them.”

Them. The completion of former predictions enforces the belief of those which are yet to come. (Calmet)

“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 therein; the isles, and the inhabitants thereof. all: Heb. the fulness thereof”

All. Literally, “its fullness,” (Haydock) sailors, (Calmet) and fishes. (Haydock) — He concludes with a canticle.

“Let the wilderness and the cities thereof lift up their voice, the villages that Kedar doth inhabit: let the inhabitants of the rock sing, let them shout from the top of the mountains.”

Cedar, or the Jews in exile in the desert Arabia, Psalm cxix. 5. (Calmet) — The people dwell in tents. (Roger. ii. 5.) — Petra. A city that gives name to Arabia Petrĉa. (Challoner)

“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 shall prevail against his enemies. prevail: or, behave himself mightily”

Enemies. The Chaldeans, (Calmet) by the hand of Cyrus.

“I will make waste mountains and hills, and dry up all their herbs; and I will make the rivers islands, and I will dry up the pools.”

Pools. Cyrus deluged the country about Babylon, chap. xiii., and xxi. 1. (Haydock) — The proud and covetous, who expected Christ to give them kingdoms, were deceived. He came to teach humility, and to grant eternal rewards. (Worthington)

“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 make darkness light before them, and crooked things straight. These things will I do unto them, and not forsake them. straight: Heb. into straightness”

Blind captives, or converts to Christianity.

“Hear, ye deaf; and look, ye blind, that ye may see.”

Deaf Jews, who would not listen to the prophets, ver. 19. (Calmet)

“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 LORD'S servant?”

Sold. Hebrew Cimshullam, (Haydock) the perfect, or favoured. The Turks call “believers” Musselmans. (Calmet)

“But this is a people robbed and spoiled; they are all of them snared in holes , and they are hid in prison houses: they are for a prey, and none delivereth; for a spoil, and none saith, Restore. they are all: or, in snaring all the young men of them for a spoil: Heb. a treading”

Men, whom they corrupt by their bad example. (Haydock) — Hebrew, “their young men are in chains,” during the last wars, and the captivity of Juda. (Calmet)

“Who gave Jacob for a spoil , and Israel to the robbers? did not the LORD, he against whom we have sinned? for they would not walk in his ways, neither were they obedient unto his law.”

We. Septuagint, “they have sinned,” which seems preferable. (Haydock)