Isaiah 42:1

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 decrees ²  for the nations. ³ 

Isaiah 43:20

43:20 The wild animals of the desert honor me,

the jackals and ostriches,

because I put water in the desert

and streams in the wilderness,

to quench the thirst of my chosen people,

Isaiah 65:22

65:22 No longer will they build a house only to have another live in it, ⁴ 

or plant a vineyard only to have another eat its fruit, ⁵ 

for my people will live as long as trees, ⁶ 

and my chosen ones will enjoy to the fullest what they have produced. ⁷ 

[42:1]  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.

[42:1]  ² tn Heb “he will bring out justice” (cf. ASV, NASB, NRSV).

[42:1]  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.

[65:22]  ⁴ tn Heb “they will not build, and another live [in it].”

[65:22]  ⁵ tn Heb “they will not plant, and another eat.”

[65:22]  ⁶ tn Heb “for like the days of the tree [will be] the days of my people.”

[65:22]  ⁷ tn Heb “the work of their hands” (so KJV, NASB, NIV, NRSV); NLT “their hard-won gains.”