Isaiah 42:4
New International Version
he will not falter or be discouraged till he establishes justice on earth. In his teaching the islands will put their hope.”

New Living Translation
He will not falter or lose heart until justice prevails throughout the earth. Even distant lands beyond the sea will wait for his instruction.”

English Standard Version
He will not grow faint or be discouraged till he has established justice in the earth; and the coastlands wait for his law.

Berean Standard Bible
He will not grow weak or discouraged before He has established justice on the earth. In His law the islands will put their hope.”

King James Bible
He shall not fail nor be discouraged, till he have set judgment in the earth: and the isles shall wait for his law.

New King James Version
He will not fail nor be discouraged, Till He has established justice in the earth; And the coastlands shall wait for His law.”

New American Standard Bible
“He will not be disheartened or crushed Until He has established justice on the earth; And the coastlands will wait expectantly for His law.”

NASB 1995
“He will not be disheartened or crushed Until He has established justice in the earth; And the coastlands will wait expectantly for His law.”

NASB 1977
“He will not be disheartened or crushed, Until He has established justice in the earth; And the coastlands will wait expectantly for His law.”

Legacy Standard Bible
He will not be faint or crushed Until He has established justice in the earth; And the coastlands will wait expectantly for His law.”

Amplified Bible
“He will not be disheartened or crushed [in spirit]; [He will persevere] until He has established justice on the earth; And the coastlands will wait expectantly for His law.”

Christian Standard Bible
He will not grow weak or be discouraged until he has established justice on earth. The coasts and islands will wait for his instruction.”

Holman Christian Standard Bible
He will not grow weak or be discouraged until He has established justice on earth. The islands will wait for His instruction.”

American Standard Version
He will not fail nor be discouraged, till he have set justice in the earth; and the isles shall wait for his law.

Contemporary English Version
He won't quit or give up until he brings justice everywhere on earth, and people in foreign nations long for his teaching.

English Revised Version
He shall not fail nor be discouraged, till he have set judgment in the earth; and the isles shall wait for his law.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
He will not be discouraged or crushed until he has set up justice on the earth. The coastlands will wait for his teachings.

Good News Translation
He will not lose hope or courage; he will establish justice on the earth. Distant lands eagerly wait for his teaching."

International Standard Version
And he won't grow faint or be crushed until he establishes justice on the mainland, and the coastlands take ownership of his Law."

Majority Standard Bible
He will not grow weak or discouraged before He has established justice on the earth. In His law the islands will put their hope.”

NET Bible
He will not grow dim or be crushed before establishing justice on the earth; the coastlands will wait in anticipation for his decrees."

New Heart English Bible
He will not grow dim or be crushed, until he has established justice on the earth, and in his name the coastlands will hope."

Webster's Bible Translation
He shall not fail nor be discouraged, till he hath set judgment in the earth: and the isles shall wait for his law.

World English Bible
He will not fail nor be discouraged, until he has set justice in the earth, and the islands wait for his law.”
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
He does not become weak nor bruised, "" Until He sets judgment in the earth, "" And islands wait with hope for His law.

Young's Literal Translation
He doth not become weak nor bruised, Till he setteth judgment in the earth, And for his law isles wait with hope.

Smith's Literal Translation
He shall not be weak, and he shall not break, till he shall set judgment in the earth; and the isles shall wait for his law:
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
He shall not be sad, nor troublesome, till he set judgment in the earth: and the islands shall wait for his law.

Catholic Public Domain Version
He will not be saddened or troubled, until he establishes judgment on earth. And the islands will await his law.

New American Bible
He will not grow dim or be bruised until he establishes justice on the earth; the coastlands will wait for his teaching.

New Revised Standard Version
He will not grow faint or be crushed until he has established justice in the earth; and the coastlands wait for his teaching.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
He shall not fail nor be discouraged till he has set justice in the earth; and the islands shall wait for his law.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
It will not go out and it will not flicker until he will set judgment in the earth and the islands shall expect his law
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
He shall not fail nor be crushed, Till he have set the right in the earth; And the isles shall wait for his teaching.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
He shall shine out, and shall not be discouraged, until he have set judgement on the earth: and in his name shall the Gentiles trust.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Here is My Servant
3A bruised reed He will not break and a smoldering wick He will not extinguish; He will faithfully bring forth justice. 4He will not grow weak or discouraged before He has established justice on the earth. In His law the islands will put their hope.” 5This is what God the LORD says—He who created the heavens and stretched them out, who spread out the earth and its offspring, who gives breath to the people on it and life to those who walk in it:…

Cross References
Matthew 12:18-21
“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. / He will not quarrel or cry out; no one will hear His voice in the streets. / A bruised reed He will not break, and a smoldering wick He will not extinguish, till He leads justice to victory. ...

Isaiah 11:10
On that day the Root of Jesse will stand as a banner for the peoples. The nations will seek Him, and His place of rest will be glorious.

Isaiah 49:6
He says: “It is not enough for You to be My Servant, to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the protected ones of Israel. I will also make You a light for the nations, to bring My salvation to the ends of the earth.”

Isaiah 60:3
Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn.

Matthew 28:19-20
Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, / and teaching them to obey all that I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

Romans 15:12
And once more, Isaiah says: “The Root of Jesse will appear, One who will arise to rule over the Gentiles; in Him the Gentiles will put their hope.”

Isaiah 2:4
Then He will judge between the nations and arbitrate for many peoples. They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will no longer take up the sword against nation, nor train anymore for war.

Isaiah 51:5
My righteousness draws near, My salvation is on the way, and My arms will bring justice to the nations. The islands will look for Me and wait in hope for My arm.

Isaiah 9:7
Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish and sustain it with justice and righteousness from that time and forevermore. The zeal of the LORD of Hosts will accomplish this.

Isaiah 11:4
but with righteousness He will judge the poor, and with equity He will decide for the lowly of the earth. He will strike the earth with the rod of His mouth and slay the wicked with the breath of His lips.

Psalm 72:1-4
Of Solomon. Endow the king with Your justice, O God, and the son of the king with Your righteousness. / May he judge Your people with righteousness and Your afflicted with justice. / May the mountains bring peace to the people, and the hills bring righteousness. ...

Psalm 96:10
Declare among the nations: “The LORD reigns!” The world is firmly established; it cannot be moved; He will judge the peoples with equity.

Psalm 98:9
before the LORD, for He comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world with righteousness and the peoples with equity.

Micah 4:1-3
In the last days the mountain of the house of the LORD will be established as the chief of the mountains; it will be raised above the hills, and the peoples will stream to it. / And many nations will come and say: “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob. He will teach us His ways, so that we may walk in His paths.” For the law will go forth from Zion and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. / Then He will judge between many peoples and arbitrate for strong nations far and wide. Then they will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will no longer take up the sword against nation, nor will they train anymore for war.

Zechariah 9:10
And I will cut off the chariot from Ephraim and the horse from Jerusalem, and the bow of war will be broken. Then He will proclaim peace to the nations. His dominion will extend from sea to sea, and from the Euphrates to the ends of the earth.


Treasury of Scripture

He shall not fail nor be discouraged, till he have set judgment in the earth: and the isles shall wait for his law.

shall not

Isaiah 9:7
Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.

Isaiah 49:5-10
And now, saith the LORD that formed me from the womb to be his servant, to bring Jacob again to him, Though Israel be not gathered, yet shall I be glorious in the eyes of the LORD, and my God shall be my strength…

Isaiah 52:13-15
Behold, my servant shall deal prudently, he shall be exalted and extolled, and be very high…

discouraged.

Isaiah 42:12
Let them give glory unto the LORD, and declare his praise in the islands.

Isaiah 2:2-4
And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the LORD'S house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it…

Isaiah 11:9-12
They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain: for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea…

Jump to Previous
Bruised Coastlands Crushed Discouraged Disheartened Earth Established Establishes Expectantly Fail Faint Falter Hope Islands Isles Judgment Justice Law Right Sea-Lands Teaching True. Wait Weak
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Bruised Coastlands Crushed Discouraged Disheartened Earth Established Establishes Expectantly Fail Faint Falter Hope Islands Isles Judgment Justice Law Right Sea-Lands Teaching True. Wait Weak
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.














He will not grow weak or discouraged
This phrase emphasizes the unwavering strength and determination of the Servant, who is often understood to be a prophetic reference to the Messiah, Jesus Christ. The Hebrew words used here, "לא יכהה ולא ירוץ" (lo yikheh ve'lo yarutz), convey a sense of enduring perseverance. In the context of Isaiah, this is significant because it contrasts with the frailty and failure often seen in human leaders. Historically, Israel had experienced leaders who faltered, but this Servant is depicted as one who will not succumb to weariness or disheartenment. This reflects the divine nature of Christ, who, despite facing immense trials and suffering, remained steadfast in His mission to bring salvation to humanity.

until He has established justice on the earth
The phrase underscores the ultimate mission of the Servant: to bring about divine justice. The Hebrew word for "justice," "משפט" (mishpat), is rich with meaning, encompassing not only legal justice but also righteousness and moral order. In the ancient Near Eastern context, justice was a foundational aspect of a well-ordered society, and the lack of it often led to chaos and suffering. The prophetic vision here is one of a restored world where God's righteous order prevails. This aligns with the Christian understanding of the Kingdom of God, where Christ's reign will bring about true justice and peace.

In His law the islands will put their hope
This phrase highlights the global scope of the Servant's mission. The "islands" or "coastlands" (איים, iyim) represent distant nations, indicating that the impact of the Servant's work will extend far beyond Israel to encompass all peoples. The "law" (תורה, torah) here is not merely a set of rules but the divine teaching and revelation that brings life and hope. In the historical context, Israel was called to be a light to the nations, and this prophecy envisions the fulfillment of that calling through the Messiah. From a Christian perspective, this is seen in the Great Commission, where the Gospel is to be preached to all nations, offering hope and salvation to the ends of the earth.

(4) He shall not fail nor be discouraged . . .--Both verbs in the Hebrew point back to those of the previous verse, He shall not burn dimly nor be crushed, as if to teach that in helping others to strength and light, the servants of the Lord, after the pattern of the Servant, gain light and strength for themselves.

The isles shall wait for his law.--The relation of "the servant" to the far off Gentile world is still dominant in the prophet's mind. The LXX. Version, given in Matthew 12:21, "In His name shall the Gentiles hope," is a paraphrase rather than a translation. The words describe the "earnest expectation," the unconscious longing of the heathen for One who shall be a true teacher (Romans 8:22).

Verse 4. - He shall not fail nor be discouraged; literally, he will not burn dimly nor be bruised. He will himself show no signs of that weakness which he will compassionate in others. As a "Light" (Luke 2:32; John 1:4-9), he will burn brightly and strongly; as a Reed, or Rod, he will be firm and unbroken. Till he have set judgment in the earth; i.e. till he has succeeded in establishing true religion upon the earth (compare the last clause of ver. 1). The isles; or, the countries (comp. Isaiah 41:1, 5). Shall wait for his Law; or, shall long for his Law. Yakhal is "to wait longingly." It is, as Delitzsch observes, "an actual fact that the cry for redemption runs through the whole human race." They are possessed by "an earnest longing, the ultimate object of which is, however unconsciously, the Servant of Jehovah, and his instruction from Zion" ('Comment. on Isaiah,' vol. 2. p. 177).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
He will not
לֹ֤א (lō)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

grow weak
יִכְהֶה֙ (yiḵ·heh)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 3543: To be weak, to despond, to grow dull

or discouraged
יָר֔וּץ (yā·rūṣ)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 7533: To crack in pieces

until
עַד־ (‘aḏ-)
Preposition
Strong's 5704: As far as, even to, up to, until, while

He has established
יָשִׂ֥ים (yā·śîm)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 7760: Put -- to put, place, set

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

on the earth.
בָּאָ֖רֶץ (bā·’ā·reṣ)
Preposition-b, Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 776: Earth, land

In His law
וּלְתוֹרָת֖וֹ (ū·lə·ṯō·w·rā·ṯōw)
Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l | Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 8451: Direction, instruction, law

the islands
אִיִּ֥ים (’î·yîm)
Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 339: A habitable spot, dry land, a coast, an island

will put their hope.”
יְיַחֵֽילוּ׃ (yə·ya·ḥê·lū)
Verb - Piel - Imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 3176: To wait, to be patient, hope


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OT Prophets: Isaiah 42:4 He will not fail nor be discouraged (Isa Isi Is)
Isaiah 42:3
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