Bible Strands
Isaiah 42:1
“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.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — God declares the identity and commission of a figure called His Servant and Chosen One. The statement occurs at the opening of a prophetic oracle that immediately qualifies the Servant’s quiet, non-theatrical ministry in the following verse.
The words — עַבְדִּי ('av.D/i) translates literally as "My servant," and נָתַתִּי (na.Ta.ti) means "I have put." These terms establish divine ownership and the act of imparting the Spirit.
The thread — Matthew 12:18 quotes this oracle directly to identify Jesus as the promised figure. Luke 3:22 records the Spirit descending on him at baptism, and Isaiah 52:13 later describes the same Servant as prospering and being highly exalted.
Why it lands — The text requires the reader to acknowledge that the Servant’s mission to bring justice to the nations rests entirely on God’s sustaining power and Spirit. It directs attention to the appointed figure’s quiet authority rather than human acclaim.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
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.
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.
- Luke 3:22 and the Holy Spirit descended on Him in a bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: “You are My beloved Son; in You I am well pleased.”
- Isaiah 52:13 Behold, My Servant will prosper; He will be raised and lifted up and highly exalted.
- Isaiah 43:10 “You are My witnesses,” declares the LORD, “and My servant whom I have chosen, so that you may consider and believe Me and understand that I am He. Before Me no god was formed, and after Me none will come.
- 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,
- Philippians 2:7 but emptied Himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in human likeness.
- 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!”
- Matthew 3:16 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.
- Isaiah 53:11 After the anguish of His soul, He will see the light of life and be satisfied. By His knowledge My righteous Servant will justify many, and He will bear their iniquities.
- 1 Peter 2:4 As you come to Him, the living stone, rejected by men but chosen and precious in God’s sight,