What is Isaiah 42:1 mean?
Question
Isaiah 42:1
Answer
Shalom!
Thank you for your question.
Although this website is intended for questions on Jewish law, I will take a moment to address the specific verse you ask about.
Here is the verse you ask about:
“Behold My servant, I will support him, My chosen one, whom My soul desires; I have placed My spirit upon him, he shall give forth justice to the nations.
The famous authoritative commentator, known as “Rashi,” explains this verse according to Jewish tradition.
Let’s look at the verse piece by piece:
“Behold My servant, I will support him:”
Rashi writes: “Behold My servant Jacob is not like you, for I will support him.” In other words, it is a reference to the Jewish people as a whole, where the Prophet says that the Jewish nation is unique and other the direct blessing of God.
“My chosen one:”
This is a clearer reference to the Jewish people, as Rashi says, “Israel is called ‘My chosen one.’” This is also made clear in Psalms 15:4 where it says “For God chose Jacob for Himself” and later in Isaiah 45:4 where it says: “For the sake of My servant Jacob and Israel My chosen one.”
“whom My soul desires; I have placed My spirit upon him:”
Rashi explains this is a reference to God who reveals His words to the Prophets for the Jews who will be the one to teach justice to the nations.
To summarize: Isaiah 42 in general is about the pain of the Jewish exile and reaffirmation of the Jewish people as the Chosen nation to bring the message of Godliness to the world.