Isaiah 42:6

Covenant and promises Witness and mission Jesus Christ

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:

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.

This was said to Israel at a particular time, so it is wise to read it together with the surrounding text. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB: “I, the LORD, have called you for a righteous purpose, and I will take hold of your hand. I will keep you and appoint you to be a covenant for the people and a light to the nations,
KJV: 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;
WEB: “I, the LORD, have called you in righteousness. I will hold your hand. I will keep you, and make you a covenant for the people, as a light for the nations,
ASV: 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;
DARBY: I, Jehovah, have called thee in righteousness, and will take hold of thy hand; and I will preserve thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, for a light of the nations,
BLB: “I, YHWH, have called You in righteousness, and have taken hold of your hand, and watched over you and given you as a covenant to the people, as a light to the nations—

ÅB: Jeg, Herren, har kalt deg i rettferd og tatt deg ved hånden, og jeg vil verne deg og gjøre deg til en pakt for folket, til et lys for hedningene,
OTB: «Jeg er Herren; jeg har kalt deg i rettferdighet, jeg vil holde deg ved hånden og vokte deg, og jeg vil sette deg til en pakt for folket, et lys for folkene,
B1930: Jeg, Herren, har kalt dig i rettferd og tatt dig ved hånden, og jeg vil verne dig og gjøre dig til en pakt for folket, til et lys for hedningene,

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

John 8:12
Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.
Read in context
Luke 2:32
A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel.
Read in context
Isaiah 26:3
Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.
Read in context
Acts 13:47
For so hath the Lord commanded us, saying, I have set thee to be a light of the Gentiles, that thou shouldest be for salvation unto the ends of the earth.
Read in context
Isaiah 49:8
Thus saith the LORD, In an acceptable time have I heard thee, and in a day of salvation have I helped thee: and I will preserve thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, to establish the earth, to cause to inherit the desolate heritages;
Read in context
Isaiah 49:6
And he said, It is a light thing that thou shouldest be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved of Israel: I will also give thee for a light to the Gentiles, that thou mayest be my salvation unto the end of the earth.
Read in context
1 Peter 2:9
But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:
Read in context
Isaiah 60:1–3
Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the LORD is risen upon thee.
Read in context