Bible passage: Isaiah 42:1-9
Prophet: Isaiah
Written: Between 701-681 BC
This article is contributed by Ray Konig, the author of Jesus the Messiah, Jesus the Prophet, Jesus the Miracle Worker, and 100 Fulfilled Bible Prophecies.
By Ray KonigPublished: April 7, 2001Updated: May 1, 2024
In Isaiah 42:1-9, the prophet Isaiah predicts a servant of God who would be humble and achieve a far-reaching spiritual impact.
This servant would bring justice to the nations and become a light for the nations, meaning he is to have a spiritual impact on people far beyond the land of Israel.
The word nations is sometimes translated into English as Gentiles, meaning people who are not from the tribes of Israel.
We know that the servant of Isaiah 42:1-9 is the Messiah because he is to be humble and have a far-reaching spiritual impact.
The quality of being humble is repeatedly and uniquely assigned to the Messiah in other Old Testament prophecies, including Isaiah 7:13-14, Isaiah 49:1-6, Isaiah 52:13-53:12, Micah 5:1-4 and Zechariah 9:9-11.
And the quality of having a far-reaching spiritual impact is repeatedly and uniquely assigned to the Messiah, such as in Psalm 72, Isaiah 49:1-6, Isaiah 52:13-53:12, Micah 5:1-4 and Zechariah 9:9-11.
The concept of the Messiah as having a far-reaching spiritual impact is further explained in the book Jesus the Messiah, by Ray Konig. That book also explains each of the prophecies referenced above.
The servant in Isaiah 42:1-9 is to accomplish this far-reaching impact with no army, no use of force or violence, and without even having to raise his voice. He will accomplish this impact through the power of the Holy Spirit (verse 1) and the spoken word (verse 2).
Isaiah 42:1-9 is the first of four Servant Songs prophecies about the Messiah in the Old Testament book of Isaiah. The others can be found in Isaiah 49:1-6, 50:4-10, 52:13-53:12. Isaiah lived about 700 years before the time of Jesus.
Jesus fulfills this prophecy from Isaiah by achieving the far-reaching spiritual impact that Isaiah predicts. Christianity is far and away the world’s largest and most widespread religion.
Jesus achieved this impact without the use of an army, force or violence. He carried out his public ministry, about 2,000 years ago, with the power of the Holy Spirit (John 1:29-34) and the spoken word.
© Ray Konig.
Ray Konig is the author of Jesus the Messiah, Jesus the Prophet, Jesus the Miracle Worker, and 100 Fulfilled Bible Prophecies.
Here is Isaiah 42:1-9, from the World English Bible translation:
1 “Behold, my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen, in whom my soul delights: I have put my Spirit on him. He will bring justice to the nations.
2 He will not shout, nor raise his voice, nor cause it to be heard in the street.
3 He won’t break a bruised reed. He won’t quench a dimly burning wick. He will faithfully bring justice.
4 He will not fail nor be discouraged, until he has set justice in the earth, and the islands wait for his law.”
5 God Yahweh, he who created the heavens and stretched them out, he who spread out the earth and that which comes out of it, he who gives breath to its people and spirit to those who walk in it, says:
6 “I, Yahweh, have called you in righteousness. I will hold your hand. I will keep you, and make you a covenant for the people, as a light for the nations,
7 to open the blind eyes, to bring the prisoners out of the dungeon, and those who sit in darkness out of the prison.
8 “I am Yahweh. That is my name. I will not give my glory to another, nor my praise to engraved images.
9 Behold, the former things have happened and I declare new things. I tell you about them before they come up.” (Isaiah 42:1-9, WEB)