Isaiah 42: A Bruised Reed He Will Not Break
God presents his chosen Servant who brings gentle, faithful justice to the nations, and calls a blind and deaf people back to himself.
Isaiah 42 (WEB)
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 will wait for his law.”
5 Thus says 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.
6 “I, Yahweh, have called you in righteousness, and will hold your hand, and 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.”
10 Sing to Yahweh a new song, and his praise from the end of the earth, you who go down to the sea, and all that is therein, the islands and their inhabitants.
11 Let the wilderness and its cities raise their voices, with the villages that Kedar inhabits. Let the inhabitants of Sela sing. Let them shout from the top of the mountains!
12 Let them give glory to Yahweh, and declare his praise in the islands.
13 Yahweh will go out like a mighty man. He will stir up zeal like a man of war. He will raise a war cry. Yes, he will shout aloud. He will triumph over his enemies.
14 “I have been silent a long time. I have been quiet and restrained myself. Now I will cry out like a travailing woman. I will both gasp and pant.
15 I will destroy mountains and hills, and dry up all their herbs. I will make the rivers islands, and will dry up the pools.
16 I will bring the blind by a way that they don’t know. I will lead them in paths that they don’t know. I will make darkness light before them, and crooked places straight. I will do these things, and I will not forsake them.
17 “Those who trust in engraved images, who tell molten images, ‘You are our gods’ will be turned back. They will be utterly disappointed.
18 “Hear, you deaf, and look, you blind, that you may see.
19 Who is blind, but my servant? Or who is as deaf as my messenger whom I send? Who is as blind as he who is at peace, and as blind as Yahweh’s servant?
20 You see many things, but don’t observe. His ears are open, but he doesn’t listen.
21 It pleased Yahweh, for his righteousness’ sake, to magnify the law, and make it honorable.
22 But this is a robbed and plundered people. All of them are snared in holes, and they are hidden in prisons. They have become captives, and no one delivers; and a plunder, and no one says, ‘Restore them!’
23 Who is there among you who will give ear to this? Who will listen and hear for the time to come?
24 Who gave Jacob as plunder, and Israel to the robbers? Didn’t Yahweh, he against whom we have sinned? For they would not walk in his ways, and they disobeyed his law.
25 Therefore he poured the fierceness of his anger on him, and the strength of battle; and it set him on fire all around, but he didn’t know; and it burned him, but he didn’t take it to heart.”
Isaiah 42 (KJV)
1 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.
2 He shall not cry, nor lift up, nor cause his voice to be heard in the street.
3 A bruised reed shall he not break, and the smoking flax shall he not quench: he shall bring forth judgment unto truth.
4 He shall not fail nor be discouraged, till he have set judgment in the earth: and the isles shall wait for his law.
5 Thus saith God the Lord, he that created the heavens, and stretched them out; he that spread forth the earth, and that which cometh out of it; he that giveth breath unto the people upon it, and spirit to them that walk therein:
6 I the Lord have called thee in righteousness, and will hold thine hand, and will keep thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles;
7 To open the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners from the prison, and them that sit in darkness out of the prison house.
8 I am the Lord: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images.
9 Behold, the former things are come to pass, and new things do I declare: before they spring forth I tell you of them.
10 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.
11 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.
12 Let them give glory unto the Lord, and declare his praise in the islands.
13 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.
14 I have long time holden my peace; I have been still, and refrained myself: now will I cry like a travailing woman; I will destroy and devour at once.
15 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.
16 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.
17 They shall be turned back, they shall be greatly ashamed, that trust in graven images, that say to the molten images, Ye are our gods.
18 Hear, ye deaf; and look, ye blind, that ye may see.
19 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?
20 Seeing many things, but thou observest not; opening the ears, but he heareth not.
21 The Lord is well pleased for his righteousness’ sake; he will magnify the law, and make it honourable.
22 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.
23 Who among you will give ear to this? who will hearken and hear for the time to come?
24 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.
25 Therefore he hath poured upon him the fury of his anger, and the strength of battle: and it hath set him on fire round about, yet he knew not; and it burned him, yet he laid it not to heart.
Isaiah 42 (ASV)
1 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.
2 He will not cry, nor lift up his voice, nor cause it to be heard in the street.
3 A bruised reed will he not break, and a dimly burning wick will he not quench: he will bring forth justice in truth.
4 He will not fail nor be discouraged, till he have set justice in the earth; and the isles shall wait for his law.
5 Thus saith God Jehovah, he that created the heavens, and stretched them forth; he that spread abroad the earth and that which cometh out of it; he that giveth breath unto the people upon it, and spirit to them that walk therein:
6 I, Jehovah, have called thee in righteousness, and will hold thy hand, and will keep thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles;
7 to open the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners from the dungeon, and them that sit in darkness out of the prison-house.
8 I am Jehovah, that is my name; and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise unto graven images.
9 Behold, the former things are come to pass, and new things do I declare; before they spring forth I tell you of them.
10 Sing unto Jehovah 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.
11 Let the wilderness and the cities thereof lift up their voice, the villages that Kedar doth inhabit; let the inhabitants of Sela sing, let them shout from the top of the mountains.
12 Let them give glory unto Jehovah, and declare his praise in the islands.
13 Jehovah will go forth as a mighty man; he will stir up his zeal like a man of war: he will cry, yea, he will shout aloud; he will do mightily against his enemies.
14 I have long time holden my peace; I have been still, and refrained myself: now will I cry out like a travailing woman; I will gasp and pant together.
15 I will lay waste mountains and hills, and dry up all their herbs; and I will make the rivers islands, and will dry up the pools.
16 And I will bring the blind by a way that they know not; in paths that they know not will I lead them; I will make darkness light before them, and crooked places straight. These things will I do, and I will not forsake them.
17 They shall be turned back, they shall be utterly put to shame, that trust in graven images, that say unto molten images, Ye are our gods.
18 Hear, ye deaf; and look, ye blind, that ye may see.
19 Who is blind, but my servant? or deaf, as my messenger that I send? who is blind as he that is at peace with me, and blind as Jehovah’s servant?
20 Thou seest many things, but thou observest not; his ears are open, but he heareth not.
21 It pleased Jehovah, for his righteousness’ sake, to magnify the law, and make it honorable.
22 But this is a people robbed and plundered; 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.
23 Who is there among you that will give ear to this? that will hearken and hear for the time to come?
24 Who gave Jacob for a spoil, and Israel to the robbers? did not Jehovah? he against whom we have sinned, and in whose ways they would not walk, neither were they obedient unto his law.
25 Therefore he poured upon him the fierceness of his anger, and the strength of battle; and it set him on fire round about, yet he knew not; and it burned him, yet he laid it not to heart.
Summary
The first Servant Song opens with God presenting his chosen one: “Behold, my servant, whom I uphold,” in whom his soul delights, on whom he has placed his Spirit to bring justice to the nations. This Servant is strikingly gentle—he will not shout in the streets, will not break a bruised reed or quench a dimly burning wick, yet he will faithfully establish justice in the earth, and the islands will wait for his law. God, the Creator who gives breath to all people, declares that he has called the Servant in righteousness to be a covenant for the people and a light for the nations, opening blind eyes and freeing prisoners. The LORD will not share his glory with idols. A new song of praise rises from the ends of the earth, and God promises to act after long silence, leading the blind by ways they do not know and turning darkness to light. The chapter then turns to rebuke: Israel itself is the blind and deaf servant, plundered and imprisoned because they would not walk in God’s ways. Yet the portrait of the gentle, faithful Servant points beyond failing Israel to Jesus, in whom Matthew sees this very prophecy fulfilled—the One who would not break the bruised among us but carry us to healing.
Voices
- The LORD (Yahweh) — The Creator who gives breath to all, who presents his Servant, refuses to share his glory with idols, and promises to lead the blind into light.
- The Servant — God’s chosen, Spirit-anointed one who brings gentle, faithful justice to the nations and is given as a covenant and a light, fulfilled in Christ.
- Israel, the blind servant — The people who see and hear yet do not perceive, plundered for their disobedience, contrasted with the faithful Servant God presents.
Key Verse
Isaiah 42:3 (WEB)
He won’t break a bruised reed. He won’t quench a dimly burning wick. He will faithfully bring justice.
Lessons Learned
- God’s chosen Servant brings justice not by force or fanfare but by Spirit-empowered gentleness.
- The Servant will not crush the weak and barely-burning, but tends them toward healing.
- God’s purpose reaches beyond Israel: the Servant is a light for the nations and freedom for prisoners.
- Even God’s own people can be blind and deaf to him, needing the very deliverance the Servant brings.
- God delights in his Servant. “My chosen, in whom my soul delights—I have put my Spirit on him” (Isaiah 42:1, WEB). The Servant’s mission flows from the Father’s love and the Spirit’s anointing.
- The Servant is gentle with the weak. “He won’t break a bruised reed. He won’t quench a dimly burning wick” (Isaiah 42:3, WEB). He handles the fragile and the faltering with tender care.
- God shares his glory with no idol. “I am Yahweh… I will not give my glory to another” (Isaiah 42:8, WEB). His unrivaled glory is the ground of all true worship.
- God opens blind eyes. He calls the Servant to “open the blind eyes, to bring the prisoners out of the dungeon” (Isaiah 42:7, WEB). Salvation is liberation for those in darkness.
- What stands out to you about how the Servant brings justice in verses 1-4?
- What does the image of a bruised reed and a dimly burning wick reveal about how the Servant treats weak and struggling people?
- How does the description of the Servant as a “light for the nations” expand the scope of God’s saving purpose?
- In what sense is Israel itself the “blind” and “deaf” servant of verses 18-20, and why does that matter?
- Where do you feel like a bruised reed or smoldering wick, and how does the gentleness of this Servant meet you there?
- The Servant brings justice quietly and faithfully—not shouting in the streets (42:2), not failing or growing discouraged (42:4). His justice is patient and persistent, established for the whole earth and awaited by the islands.
- These images picture people on the verge of collapse—barely standing, barely alight. The Servant neither finishes them off nor discards them but strengthens what is weak (42:3). It is a portrait of Christ’s tenderness toward the broken.
- God calls the Servant to be “a covenant for the people, as a light for the nations” (42:6). The vision moves beyond Israel to all peoples in darkness, anticipating the gospel going to the ends of the earth.
- Israel sees and hears outwardly yet does not perceive or obey (42:18-20), and is plundered as a result (42:22-24). This exposes the people’s need for the faithful Servant, since the nation cannot be its own savior.
- This is a personal-application question. Invite members to name where they feel fragile or barely holding on, and to receive Christ’s gentleness. As leader, keep the tone safe and unhurried, letting verse 3 do its comforting work.