Isaiah 42:1
New International Version
“Here is my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen one in whom I delight; I will put my Spirit on him, and he will bring justice to the nations.

New Living Translation
“Look at my servant, whom I strengthen. He is my chosen one, who pleases me. I have put my Spirit upon him. He will bring justice to the nations.

English Standard Version
Behold my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen, in whom my soul delights; I have put my Spirit upon him; he will bring forth justice to the nations.

Berean Standard Bible
“Here is My Servant, whom I uphold, My Chosen One, in whom My soul delights. I will put My Spirit on Him, and He will bring justice to the nations.

King James Bible
Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth; I have put my spirit upon him: he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles.

New King James Version
“Behold! My Servant whom I uphold, My Elect One in whom My soul delights! I have put My Spirit upon Him; He will bring forth justice to the Gentiles.

New American Standard Bible
“Behold, My Servant, whom I uphold; My chosen one in whom My soul delights. I have put My Spirit upon Him; He will bring forth justice to the nations.

NASB 1995
“Behold, My Servant, whom I uphold; My chosen one in whom My soul delights. I have put My Spirit upon Him; He will bring forth justice to the nations.

NASB 1977
“Behold, My Servant, whom I uphold; My chosen one in whom My soul delights. I have put My Spirit upon Him; He will bring forth justice to the nations.

Legacy Standard Bible
“Behold, My Servant, whom I uphold; My chosen one in whom My soul is well-pleased. I have put My Spirit upon Him; He will bring forth justice to the nations.

Amplified Bible
“Behold, My Servant, whom I uphold; My Chosen One in whom My soul delights. I have put My Spirit upon Him; He will bring forth justice to the nations.

Christian Standard Bible
“This is my servant; I strengthen him, this is my chosen one; I delight in him. I have put my Spirit on him; he will bring justice to the nations.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
This is My Servant; I strengthen Him, this is My Chosen One; I delight in Him. I have put My Spirit on Him; He will bring justice to the nations.

American Standard Version
Behold, my servant, whom I uphold; my chosen, in whom my soul delighteth: I have put my Spirit upon him; he will bring forth justice to the Gentiles.

Contemporary English Version
Here is my servant! I have made him strong. He is my chosen one; I am pleased with him. I have given him my Spirit, and he will bring justice to the nations.

English Revised Version
Behold my servant, whom I uphold; my chosen, in whom my soul delighteth: I have put my spirit upon him; he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Here is my servant, whom I support. Here is my chosen one, with whom I am pleased. I have put my Spirit on him. He will bring justice to the nations.

Good News Translation
The LORD says, "Here is my servant, whom I strengthen--the one I have chosen, with whom I am pleased. I have filled him with my Spirit, and he will bring justice to every nation.

International Standard Version
"Here is my servant, whom I support, my chosen one, in whom I delight. I've placed my Spirit upon him; and he'll deliver his justice throughout the world.

Majority Standard Bible
“Here is My Servant, whom I uphold, My Chosen One, in whom My soul delights. I will put My Spirit on Him, and He will bring justice to the nations.

NET Bible
"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 decrees for the nations.

New Heart English Bible
"Look, my servant I have chosen, my beloved in whom my soul delights. I have put my Spirit on him, and he will bring justice to the nations.

Webster's Bible Translation
Behold my servant, whom I uphold; my elect, in whom my soul delighteth; I have put my spirit upon him: he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles.

World English Bible
“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.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
Behold, My servant, I take hold on Him, "" My Chosen One—My soul has accepted, I have put My Spirit on Him, "" He brings forth judgment to nations.

Young's Literal Translation
Lo, My servant, I take hold on him, My chosen one -- My soul hath accepted, I have put My Spirit upon him, Judgment to nations he bringeth forth.

Smith's Literal Translation
Behold my servant, I will hold fast in him; my chosen, my soul delighted; I gave my spirit upon him: he shall bring forth judgment to the nations.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
BEHOLD my servant, I will uphold him: my elect, my soul delighteth in him: I have given my spirit upon him, he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Behold my servant, I will uphold him, my elect, with him my soul is well-pleased. I have sent my Spirit upon him. He will offer judgment to the nations.

New American Bible
Here is my servant whom I uphold, my chosen one with whom I am pleased. Upon him I have put my spirit; he shall bring forth justice to the nations.

New Revised Standard Version
Here is my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen, in whom my soul delights; I have put my spirit upon him; he will bring forth justice to the nations.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
BEHOLD, my servant, whom I uphold, my elect in whom my soul delights; I have put my spirit upon him; he shall bring forth justice to the Gentiles.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
Behold, I have upheld my Servant and my soul has desired my Chosen One. I have put my Spirit upon him so that he shall bring judgment to the nations
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Behold My servant, whom I uphold; Mine elect, in whom My soul delighteth; I have put My spirit upon him, He shall make the right to go forth to the nations.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
Jacob is my servant, I will help him: Israel is my chosen, my soul has accepted him; I have put my Spirit upon him; he shall bring forth judgement to the Gentiles.
Audio Bible



Context
Here is My Servant
1“Here is My Servant, whom I uphold, My Chosen One, in whom My soul delights. I will put My Spirit on Him, and He will bring justice to the nations. 2He will not cry out or raise His voice, nor make His voice heard in the streets.…

Cross References
Matthew 12:18
“Here is My Servant, whom I have chosen, My beloved, in whom My soul delights. I will put My Spirit on Him, and He will proclaim justice to the nations.

Matthew 3:16-17
As soon as Jesus was baptized, He went up out of the water. Suddenly the heavens were opened, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and resting on Him. / And a voice from heaven said, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased!”

Luke 4:18-19
“The Spirit of the Lord is on Me, because He has anointed Me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent Me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to release the oppressed, / to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”

Acts 10:38
how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, and how Jesus went around doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, because God was with Him.

Philippians 2:7
but emptied Himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in human likeness.

John 1:32-34
Then John testified, “I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove and resting on Him. / I myself did not know Him, but the One who sent me to baptize with water told me, ‘The man on whom you see the Spirit descend and rest is He who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’ / I have seen and testified that this is the Son of God.”

Matthew 17:5
While Peter was still speaking, a bright cloud enveloped them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Listen to Him!”

Mark 1:10-11
As soon as Jesus came up out of the water, He saw the heavens breaking open and the Spirit descending on Him like a dove. / And a voice came from heaven: “You are My beloved Son; in You I am well pleased.”

John 3:34
For the One whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for God gives the Spirit without limit.

Hebrews 1:9
You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; therefore God, Your God, has anointed You above Your companions with the oil of joy.”

Psalm 2:7
I will proclaim the decree spoken to Me by the LORD: “You are My Son; today I have become Your Father.

Psalm 89:19-20
You once spoke in a vision; to Your godly ones You said, “I have bestowed help on a warrior; I have exalted one chosen from the people. / I have found My servant David; with My sacred oil I have anointed him.

Psalm 110:1
A Psalm of David. The LORD said to my Lord: “Sit at My right hand until I make Your enemies a footstool for Your feet.”

Isaiah 11:2
The Spirit of the LORD will rest on Him—the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and strength, the Spirit of knowledge and fear of the LORD.

Isaiah 61:1
The Spirit of the Lord GOD is on Me, because the LORD has anointed Me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent Me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and freedom to the prisoners,


Treasury of Scripture

Behold my servant, whom I uphold; my elect, in whom my soul delights; I have put my spirit on him: he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles.

my servant

Isaiah 43:10
Ye are my witnesses, saith the LORD, and my servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me.

Isaiah 49:3-6
And said unto me, Thou art my servant, O Israel, in whom I will be glorified…

Isaiah 52:13
Behold, my servant shall deal prudently, he shall be exalted and extolled, and be very high.

whom I

Isaiah 49:7,8
Thus saith the LORD, the Redeemer of Israel, and his Holy One, to him whom man despiseth, to him whom the nation abhorreth, to a servant of rulers, Kings shall see and arise, princes also shall worship, because of the LORD that is faithful, and the Holy One of Israel, and he shall choose thee…

Isaiah 50:4-9
The Lord GOD hath given me the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak a word in season to him that is weary: he wakeneth morning by morning, he wakeneth mine ear to hear as the learned…

John 16:32
Behold, the hour cometh, yea, is now come, that ye shall be scattered, every man to his own, and shall leave me alone: and yet I am not alone, because the Father is with me.

mine elect

Psalm 89:19,20
Then thou spakest in vision to thy holy one, and saidst, I have laid help upon one that is mighty; I have exalted one chosen out of the people…

John 6:27
Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed.

1 Peter 2:4,6
To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious, …

my soul

Matthew 3:17
And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

Matthew 17:5
While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.

Mark 1:11
And there came a voice from heaven, saying, Thou art my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

I Have

Isaiah 11:2-5
And the spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD; …

Isaiah 59:21
As for me, this is my covenant with them, saith the LORD; My spirit that is upon thee, and my words which I have put in thy mouth, shall not depart out of thy mouth, nor out of the mouth of thy seed, nor out of the mouth of thy seed's seed, saith the LORD, from henceforth and for ever.

Isaiah 61:1
The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound;

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Accepted Chosen Delighteth Delights Elect Forth Gentiles Hold Judgment Justice Loved Nations Right Servant Soul Spirit Supporting True. Uphold
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Accepted Chosen Delighteth Delights Elect Forth Gentiles Hold Judgment Justice Loved Nations Right Servant Soul Spirit Supporting True. Uphold
Isaiah 42
1. The office of Christ, graced with meekness and constancy.
5. God's promise unto him.
10. An exhortation to praise God for his Gospel
13. God will manifest himself, and check idolatry
18. He reproves the people of incredulity.














Here is My Servant
The term "Servant" in Hebrew is "עבדי" (avdi), which signifies a person who is in a position of service or duty. In the context of Isaiah, this Servant is often understood as a prophetic reference to the Messiah, Jesus Christ, who embodies the ultimate fulfillment of God's redemptive plan. The use of "My" indicates a personal and intimate relationship between God and the Servant, emphasizing divine selection and purpose.

whom I uphold
The Hebrew word for "uphold" is "אתמך" (etmakh), which conveys the idea of support, sustenance, and strength. This suggests that the Servant is not acting independently but is empowered and sustained by God Himself. It reflects the divine assurance and backing that the Servant receives, ensuring the fulfillment of His mission.

My Chosen One
"Chosen One" in Hebrew is "בחירי" (bechiri), indicating someone selected for a special purpose. This phrase underscores the idea of divine election and favor. In the broader biblical narrative, it points to Jesus as the one chosen to bring salvation to humanity, fulfilling the promises made throughout the Old Testament.

in whom My soul delights
The phrase "My soul delights" uses the Hebrew "רצתה נפשי" (ratzta nafshi), expressing deep pleasure and satisfaction. This delight is not merely emotional but reflects God's approval and joy in the Servant's character and mission. It echoes the New Testament accounts of God's voice at Jesus' baptism and transfiguration, affirming His beloved Son.

I will put My Spirit on Him
The "Spirit" in Hebrew is "רוחי" (ruchi), referring to the Holy Spirit. This phrase indicates the anointing and empowering of the Servant by God's Spirit, equipping Him for His mission. It foreshadows the New Testament accounts of the Holy Spirit descending upon Jesus, marking the beginning of His public ministry and His role as the anointed Messiah.

and He will bring justice to the nations
"Justice" in Hebrew is "משפט" (mishpat), which encompasses righteousness, fairness, and the establishment of God's order. The phrase "to the nations" (לגוים, lagoyim) signifies the universal scope of the Servant's mission, extending beyond Israel to all peoples. This highlights the Messianic vision of a kingdom characterized by justice and peace, fulfilled in Jesus Christ, who brings reconciliation and restoration to the world.

XLII.

(1) Behold my servant . . .--Here the words point not, as before, to the visible, or even the ideal Israel, but to One who is the centre of both, with attributes which are reproduced in His people in the measure of their fulfilment of the ideal. "Elect" is another of the words with which Isaiah has fashioned the theology of Christendom. It meets us there four times (45:4, 65:9, 22), and is echoed and interpreted in the voice from heaven of Matthew 3:17. That voice fixed on the human consciousness of the Son of Man that He was "the servant of the Lord," and throughout His life we trace an ever expanding and conscious reproduction of the chief features of Isaiah's picture. Disciples like St. Matthew learnt to recognise that likeness even in what might seem to us subordinate details (Matthew 12:17-21).

I have put my spirit . . .--An echo from Isaiah 11:2, heard once more in Isaiah 61:1. The promise we note as fulfilled in closest connection with the utterance of the previous words in Matthew 3:16; Luke 3:22; John 1:32-33. . . .

Verses 1-8. - ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE SERVANT OF THE LORD, AND THE WORK WHICH HE WILL PERFORM. There are comparatively few who deny that, in this place at any rate, the "Servant of the Lord" is the Messiah. (So the Targum on the passage; so Abar-barnel; so, among moderns, Oehler, Delitzsch, and Mr. Cheyne.) The portraiture has "so strong an individuality and such marked personal features, that it cannot possibly be a mere personified collective;" and it goes so "infinitely beyond anything of which a man was ever capable that it can only be the future Christ" (Delitzsch). It may be added that St. Matthew (Matthew 12:17-21) distinctly applies the passage to our Lord. Verse 1. - Behold. "Behold," as Mr. Cheyne says, "invites the attention of the world - both of the Jews and of the nations - to a new revelation." It looks back to the similar expression of vers. 24 and 29 of the preceding chapter, which draw down the curtain upon the idol-gods, while this "behold" reveals One who is to occupy their place, and to be a worthy object of the worship of mankind, My Servant; i.e. my true and perfect servant, utterly obedient (John 4:34; Hebrews 3:2); not, like Israel, my rebellious and faithless servant; not, even, like my prophets, yielding an imperfect obedience, Whom I uphold. "As the Father hath life in himself, so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself" (John 5:26). As the fount or origin of Divinity (πηγὴ Θεότητος), the Father supports and sustains even the Son and the Spirit. Mine Elect (comp. 1 Peter 2:6). Christ was "chosen" from all eternity in God's counsels to the great work of man's redemption, and to be the Mediator between God and man. I have put my Spirit upon him (see Isaiah 11:2; Isaiah 61:1; and for the fulfilment, comp. Luke 2:40; Luke 3:22; Luke 4:18-21; Luke 3:34). He shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles; i.e. "he shall publish," or "cause to be published, to the Gentiles, the true Law of God - religion on its practical side." The publication of Christianity throughout all the world has abundantly fulfilled this promise or prophecy. The call of the Gentiles had been already declared by Isaiah in his earlier preaching (ch. 2:2; 11:10; 19:22-25; 25:6; 27:13, etc.).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Here is
הֵ֤ן (hên)
Interjection
Strong's 2005: Lo! behold!

My Servant,
עַבְדִּי֙ (‘aḇ·dî)
Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singular
Strong's 5650: Slave, servant

whom I uphold,
אֶתְמָךְ־ (’eṯ·māḵ-)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common singular
Strong's 8551: To sustain, to obtain, keep fast, to help, follow close

My Chosen One,
בְּחִירִ֖י (bə·ḥî·rî)
Adjective - masculine singular construct | first person common singular
Strong's 972: Select

[in whom] My soul
נַפְשִׁ֑י (nap̄·šî)
Noun - feminine singular construct | first person common singular
Strong's 5315: A soul, living being, life, self, person, desire, passion, appetite, emotion

delights.
רָצְתָ֣ה (rā·ṣə·ṯāh)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person feminine singular
Strong's 7521: To be pleased with, to satisfy a, debt

I will put
נָתַ֤תִּי (nā·ṯat·tî)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular
Strong's 5414: To give, put, set

My Spirit
רוּחִי֙ (rū·ḥî)
Noun - common singular construct | first person common singular
Strong's 7307: Wind, breath, exhalation, life, anger, unsubstantiality, a region of the sky, spirit

on Him,
עָלָ֔יו (‘ā·lāw)
Preposition | third person masculine singular
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against

[and] He will bring
יוֹצִֽיא׃ (yō·w·ṣî)
Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 3318: To go, bring, out, direct and proxim

justice
מִשְׁפָּ֖ט (miš·pāṭ)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4941: A verdict, a sentence, formal decree, divine law, penalty, justice, privilege, style

to the nations.
לַגּוֹיִ֥ם (lag·gō·w·yim)
Preposition-l, Article | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 1471: A foreign nation, a Gentile, a troop of animals, a flight of locusts


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OT Prophets: Isaiah 42:1 Behold my servant whom I uphold (Isa Isi Is)
Isaiah 41:29
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