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Who is the speaker here? The Targum prefaces the passage with the words, "The prophet says," and, except a few, all modern expositors make the author of this book of consolation to be the speaker who, after having (in chap. 55.) let the Church behold the summit of her glory, now, with grateful look directed to Jehovah and rejoicing in spirit, extols his grand commission. But this view is objectionable, for the following reasons —

1. Nowhere has the prophet yet spoken of himself as such in lengthy utterances, but rather (except in the closing words, "saith my God, in Isaiah 57:21) everywhere studiously kept himself in the background.

2. On the other hand, whenever another than Jehovah began to speak, and made reference to the work of his calling and his experiences connected therewith (as in Isaiah 49:1 ff., 50:4 ff.) it was in such eases this self-same Servant of Jehovah of whom and to whom Jehovah speaks (see Isaiah 42:1 ff., 52:13 on to end of 53.).

3. All that the person here speaking says of himself is again met with in the picture of the one unique Servant of Jehovah; he has been endowed with the Spirit of Jehovah (Isaiah 42:1); Jehovah has sent him, and with him sent His Spirit (Isaiah 48:16); he has a tongue that has been taught of God, to assist with words him who is wearied (Isaiah 50:4); those who are almost despairing and destroyed he goes to spare and save, preserving the broken reed and expiring wick (Isaiah 42:3); "to open blind eyes, to lead prisoners out of the prison, those who are sitting in darkness out of the house of confinement, — this is what, above all, he has to do in word and deed for his people (Isaiah 42:7; Isaiah 49:9).

4. After the prophet has represented the Servant of Jehovah, of whom he prophesies, as speaking in such dramatic directness (as in Isaiah 49:1 ff., Isaiah 50:4 ff., and also Isaiah 48:16 b.), one could not expect that he would now place himself in the foreground and claim for himself official attributes which he has set down as characteristic features in the picture of the predicted One, who (as Vitringa well says) not merely proclaims but dispenses the new and great gifts of God. For these reasons we (with Nagelsbach, Cheyne, Driver and Orelli) consider that the Servant of Jehovah is the speaker here.

(F. Delitzch, D. D.)

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KJV: The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound;

WEB: The Spirit of the Lord Yahweh is on me; because Yahweh has anointed me to preach good news to the humble. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and release to those who are bound;