TRV
Translation
King James Version
And I will bring the blind by a way that they knew not; I will lead them in paths that they have not known: I will make darkness light before them, and crooked things straight. These things will I do unto them, and not forsake them.
KJV (with Strong's)
And I will bring H3212 the blind H5787 by a way H1870 that they knew H3045 not; I will lead H1869 them in paths H5410 that they have not known H3045: I will make H7760 darkness H4285 light H216 before H6440 them, and crooked things H4625 straight H4334. These things H1697 will I do H6213 unto them, and not forsake H5800 them.
Complete Jewish Bible
The blind I will lead on a road they don't know, on roads they don't know I will lead them; I will turn darkness to light before them, and straighten their twisted paths. These are things I will do without fail.
Berean Standard Bible
I will lead the blind by a way they did not know; I will guide them on unfamiliar paths. I will turn darkness into light before them and rough places into level ground. These things I will do for them, and I will not forsake them.
American Standard Version
And I will bring the blind by a way that they know not; in paths that they know not will I lead them; I will make darkness light before them, and crooked places straight. These things will I do, and I will not forsake them.
World English Bible Messianic
I will bring the blind by a way that they don’t know. I will lead them in paths that they don’t know. I will make darkness light before them, and crooked places straight. I will do these things, and I will not forsake them.
Geneva Bible (1599)
And I will bring the blinde by a way, that they knewe not, and lead them by paths that they haue not knowen: I will make darkenesse light before them, and crooked thinges straight. These thinges will I doe vnto them, and not forsake them.
Young's Literal Translation
And I have caused the blind to go, In a way they have not known, In paths they have not known I cause them to tread, I make a dark place before them become light, And unlevelled places become a plain, These are the things I have done to them, And I have not forsaken them.
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Commentary on Isaiah 42 verses 13–17
13 ¶ The LORD shall go forth as a mighty man, he shall stir up jealousy like a man of war: he shall cry, yea, roar; he shall prevail against his enemies.
14 I have long time holden my peace; I have been still, and refrained myself: now will I cry like a travailing woman; I will destroy and devour at once.
15 I will make waste mountains and hills, and dry up all their herbs; and I will make the rivers islands, and I will dry up the pools.
16 And I will bring the blind by a way that they knew not; I will lead them in paths that they have not known: I will make darkness light before them, and crooked things straight. These things will I do unto them, and not forsake them.
17 They shall be turned back, they shall be greatly ashamed, that trust in graven images, that say to the molten images, Ye are our gods.
It comes all to one whether we make these verses (as some do) the song itself that is to be sung by the Gentile world or a prophecy of what God will do to make way for the singing of that song, that evangelical new song.
I. He will appear in his power and glory more than ever. So he did in the preaching of his gospel, in the divine power and energy which went along with it, and in the wonderful success it had in the pulling down of Satan's stronghold, Isa 42:13, Isa 42:14. He had long held his peace, and been still, and refrained himself, while he winked at the times of the ignorance of the Gentile world (Act 17:30), and suffered all nations to walk in their own ways (Act 14:16); but now he shall go forth as a mighty man, as a man of war, to attack the devil's kingdom and give it a fatal blow. The going forth of the gospel is thus represented, Rev 6:2. Christ, in it, went forth conquering and to conquer. The ministry of the apostles is called their warfare; and they were the soldiers of Jesus Christ. He shall stir up jealousy, shall appear more jealous than ever for the glory of his own name and against idolatry. 1. He shall cry, in the preaching of his word, cry like a travailing woman; for the ministers of Christ preached as men in earnest, and that travailed in birth again till they saw Christ formed in the souls of the people, Gal 4:19. He shall cry, yea, roar, in the gospel woes, which are more terrible than the roaring of a lion, and which must be preached along with gospel blessings to awaken a sleeping world. 2. He shall conquer by the power of his Spirit: He shall prevail against his enemies, shall prevail to make them friends, Col 1:21. Those that contradict and blaspheme his gospel, he shall prevail to put them to silence and shame. He will destroy and devour at once all the oppositions of the powers of darkness. Satan shall fall as lightning from heaven, and he that had the power of death shall be destroyed. As a type and figure of this, to make way for the redemption of the Jews out of Babylon, God will humble the pride, and break the power, of their oppressors, and will at once destroy and devour the Babylonian monarchy. In accomplishing this destruction of Babylon by the Persian army under the command of Cyrus, he will make waste mountains and hills, level the country, and dry up all their herbs. The army, as usual, shall either carry off the forage or destroy it, and by laying bridges of boats over rivers shall turn them into islands, and so drain the fens and low grounds, to make way for the march of their army, that the pools shall be dried up. Thus, when the gospel shall be preached, it shall have a free course, and that which hinders the progress of it shall be taken out of the way.
II. He will manifest his favour and grace towards those whose spirits he had stirred up to follow him, as Ezr 1:5. Those who ask the way to Zion he will show the way, and lead in it, Isa 42:16. Those who by nature were blind, and those who, being under convictions of sin and wrath are quite at a loss and know not what to do with themselves, God will lead by a way that they knew not, will show them the way to life and happiness by Jesus Christ, who is the way, and will conduct and carry them on in that way, which before they were strangers to. Thus, in the conversion of Paul, he was struck blind first, and then God revealed his Son in him, and made the scales to fall from his eyes. They are weak in knowledge, and the truths of God at first seem unintelligible; but God will make darkness light before them, and knowledge shall be easy to them. They are weak in duty, the commands of God seem impracticable, and insuperable difficulties are in the way of their obedience; but God will make crooked things straight; their way shall be plain, and the yoke easy. Those whom God brings into the right way he will guide in it. As a type of this, he will lead the Jews, when they return out of captivity, in a ready road to their own land again, and nothing shall occur to perplex or embarrass them in their journey. These are great things, and kind things, very great and very kind; but lest any should say, "They are too great, too kind, to be expected from God by such an undeserving people as that of the Jews, such an undeserving world as that of the Gentiles," he adds, These things will I do unto them, take my word for it I will, and I will not forsake them; he that begins to show this great mercy will go on to do them good.
III. He will particularly put those to confusion who adhere to idols notwithstanding the attempts made by the preaching of the gospel to turn them from idols (Isa 42:17): They shall be turned back, and greatly ashamed, that trust in graven images. The Babylonians shall when they see how the Jews, who despise their images, are owned and delivered by the God they worship without images, and the Gentiles when they see how idolatry falls before the preaching of the gospel, is scattered like darkness before the light of the sun, and melts like snow before its heat. They shall be ashamed that ever they said to these molten images, You are our gods; for how can those help their worshippers who cannot help themselves, nor save themselves from falling into contempt? In times of reformation, when many turn from iniquity, and sin, being generally deserted, becomes unfashionable, it may be hoped that those who will not otherwise be reclaimed will be wrought upon by that consideration to be ashamed of it.
Matthew Henry (1662–1714) — Commentary on the Whole Bible. This section covers verses 13–17. Public domain.
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JeromeAD 420
Commentary on Isaiah
(Verse 10, 11 and following) Sing to God a new song: his praise from the ends of the earth: you who descend into the sea, and its fullness; islands and their inhabitants. Let the desert and its cities lift up: in the houses shall Cedar dwell, praise you inhabitants of Petra, they shall shout from the top of the mountains. They shall give glory to the Lord, and his praise in the islands they shall declare. The Lord shall go forth as a mighty man, as a warrior he shall stir up zeal: he shall shout and cry out: he shall strengthen himself against his enemies. I have always kept silent, I have been quiet, I have been patient: like a woman in labor, I will speak. I will scatter and devour together. I will make mountains and hills desolate, and I will dry up all their vegetation, and I will turn rivers into islands, and I will dry up ponds. And I will lead the blind on a path they do not know, and I will make them walk on paths they have not known. I will turn darkness into light in front of them, and I will make crooked paths straight. These are the things I will do for them, and I will not abandon them. They have turned back: let them be confounded with confusion, that trust in idols, that say to molten things: You are our gods. Sing ye to the Lord a new canticle: his praise is in the church of the saints. Let Israel rejoice in him that made him: and let the children of Sion be joyful in their king. Let them praise his name in choir: let them sing to him with the timbrel and the psaltery. For the Lord is well pleased with his people: and he will exalt the meek unto salvation. The saints shall rejoice in glory: they shall be joyful in their beds. The high praises of God shall be in their mouth: and two-edged swords in their hands. To execute vengeance upon the nations, chastisements among the people. To bind their kings with fetters, and their nobles with manacles of iron. To execute upon them the judgment that is written: this glory is to all his saints. Alleluia. They will give glory to God, his virtues will be proclaimed in the islands. The Lord God of hosts will go forth and crush the battle, he will stir up zeal, and he will cry out against his enemies with strength. Have I been silent from the beginning, will I always be silent and endure? As one in labor, I have acted with patience; I will burst forth and dry up together, I will lay waste the mountains and hills, and I will dry up all their grass. And I will turn rivers into islands, and I will dry up marshes. And I will lead the blind along a way they do not know, and I will make their paths uneven; I will turn darkness into light for them, and crooked things into straight paths. I will speak these words to them, and I will not abandon them, but they have turned backward; you will be confused with confusion, you who trust in idols, who say that they are gods. He who had said: what was first, behold, it has come; I also announce new things: before they arise, I will make them heard to you; and he had promised that he would say what they did not know: what are those new things, he states in the following discourse, commanding the Apostles and the Apostolic men to sing a new song, not in the antiquity of the letter; but in the novelty of the spirit. Not only in the old Instrument, but also in the new; and His praise reaches to the ends of the earth. For He has come forth from the highest heaven and His circuit is to the highest point of it (Psalm XIX). The sound of the Apostles has gone out into all the earth, and their words to the ends of the world. Or according to the Septuagint: Glorify His name in the ends of the earth, that the name of Christ may be announced to the nations in the whole world. But who are those who should sing a new song, the following words declare: You who go down to the sea and sail upon it, or the fullness of the sea. For seeing the apostles, Jesus by the sea of Galilee, mending their nets, called and sent them into the great sea (Luke 5); to make fishermen of fish, who preached the Gospel from Jerusalem to Illyria and Spain: taking the power of the Roman city itself in a short time. Or certainly they descended into the sea and sailed it; enduring the storms and persecutions of this age. Also the islands and their inhabitants, whether understanding the diversity of nations or the multitude of churches. Let the desert and its cities raise their voices, as we mentioned earlier. Whether the desert and its villages rejoice, and Cedar, which was once an uninhabitable region beyond Arabia of the Saracens. And the inhabitants of Petra, which is also a city of Palestine. But this signifies that the deserted people of the nations, previously bound by the ignorance of God and the errors of idolatry, should be converted to the praises of the Lord. Whether because Cedar is interpreted as darkness, and according to the Apostle (I Cor. X) Christ is the rock, it is commanded to all believers, that those who were previously in darkness, and now believe in the Lord Savior, shout from the top of the mountains, and openly proclaim Christ, to whom it is also said above (Ad cap. XL, 9): Ascend to the high mountain, you who proclaim the good news to Zion. Lift up your voice with strength, you who proclaim good news to Jerusalem. And I will set his glory among the islands, of which we have spoken before. And the prophetic discourse describes the glorious advent of the Savior, about which even the Apostle Paul speaks: According to the illumination of the glory of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ (2 Corinthians 4; 2 Timothy 1:10); and he compares him to a mighty man who will fight against his adversaries, arousing zeal. Of whom it is also prophesied in the Song of Deuteronomy: They have made me jealous with what is not a god; they have provoked me with their idols. So I will make them jealous with those who are not a nation; I will provoke them with a foolish nation (Deuteronomy 32:21). He will also shout and cry out against his enemies, openly condemning their faithlessness, and with loud voice proclaiming: I have been silent, I have always kept silent, I have been patient, or as the Septuagint translated: I have been silent, will I always be silent? (Ecclesiastes 3:7) That which is said through Solomon may be fulfilled: A time to keep silent, and a time to speak. And the meaning is: I have often borne with you as you have transgressed for a long time; but because I remained silent before, I will by no means keep silent any longer. And just as a woman giving birth brings forth a child into the light and makes what was previously hidden in the depths of her womb open and visible, so too I will reveal my pain and the deceit that I have always harbored regarding your crimes, and I will expose your plans. And at once I will devour the entire nation and all the pride of your mountains and the swelling of your hills. And the grass, of which it was said: Truly the grass is the people, that is, both the leaders and the common people, I will reduce to a desert. What is added in the edition of Theodotion of the Septuagint, who had omitted these words (See above, Chapter IV, 7). And when I have dried you up from head to toe and wiped you out, then I will make the rivers of my teaching flow in the islands of the nations, and I will turn your lakes or marshes into dry land, so that there may be knowledge of the Scriptures among the nations and dryness of teaching among you. And I will lead the blind along a path they did not know, of whom we have also read above: I have made you a covenant of the people, a light of the nations, to open the eyes of the blind. They will be led along the way by which Christ speaks. I am the way, that is, the way of the knowledge of God, and I will make them walk on the prophetical paths. Then their darkness will be changed into light, and their faults will be turned into righteousness, so that they may understand what they read and with the eyes of their hearts may gaze upon the clear light of Christ in the Old Testament. At the same time, he adds: These words that I have spoken or will speak to them do not promise anything further in the future, but fulfill what I promised before. But when this was said, the Jewish people turned backward so as not to believe the promise, and in their errors they were confused and neglected the pledge of God, whom they had believed in before idols. Or when the fullness of the Gentiles has come in, then also the people of Israel will be converted (Rom. II), and they will repent of their error, by which they had served idols before. Or certainly after the calling of the Gentiles, they will return to the beginning: so that it may be said, all the Gentiles who did not want to believe in the Gospel will be confounded in their idols.
Theodoret of CyrusAD 458
COMMENTARY ON ISAIAH 12:42.16
Again, God calls the people who suffer from unbelief and who are devoid of intellectual acuteness “the blind.” He promises to guide their steps on the way they do not know, for they failed to recognize the path of the truth but followed on the paths of error. “I will turn darkness into light for them.” After freeing them from their previous ignorance, I will deem them worthy of the knowledge of God, for ignorance is like darkness, whereas knowledge is analogous to the light. “And crooked things into straight.” For the difficult course of wisdom, of the governing of oneself and of justice, he has made an easy course, since he has attached the hope of future benefits to the efforts to claim virtue. “These are the words that I will fulfill for them; and I will not forsake them.” I will not cease to judge them worthy of these benefits, and I will lavish all kinds of care, even to the future.
Leo the GreatAD 461
SERMON 12:1
The apostle John teaches how this is fulfilled: “We know that the Son of God came and gave understanding to us, that we might know the truth and be in his true Son.” And again, “Let us love, therefore, since God first loved us.” By loving us, God restores us to be his image, so that he might find the form of his own goodness in us. He grants that we ourselves might work what he works, indeed setting light to our minds and causing us to burn with the fire of his love, in order that we love not only him but also the things that he loves.
Source: Quotations drawn from early Church Fathers and historical Christian theologians (AD 100–1500). Some quotes address the surrounding passage context rather than this verse alone.
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SUMMARY
Isaiah 42:16 delivers a profound divine promise of sovereign guidance, transformative intervention, and unwavering faithfulness. God declares His intent to lead His people, who are spiritually disoriented or physically exiled, through unknown territories, illuminating their darkness and straightening their obstacles. This verse assures them of His active and providential care, culminating in an unbreakable commitment never to abandon them, thereby highlighting His steadfast covenant love and redemptive power.
CONTEXT
Literary Context: Isaiah 42:16 is situated within the "Servant Songs" of Isaiah, specifically the first song (Isaiah 42:1-9). This section introduces the Lord's Servant, initially depicted as Israel, but ultimately pointing to the Messiah. The preceding verses (Isaiah 42:1-9) establish the Servant's mission: to bring justice to the nations, open blind eyes, and free prisoners, not with a loud cry but with gentle persistence. Verse 16 directly follows God's declaration of His unique sovereignty and His intention to perform new things (e.g., Isaiah 42:9-10). The promise of leading the blind and making darkness light is a direct fulfillment of the Servant's mission to open blind eyes (as stated in Isaiah 42:7), emphasizing God's active role in bringing about this spiritual and physical restoration. This promise of guidance and restoration sets the stage for the subsequent lament and renewed promises of redemption for Israel.
Historical & Cultural Context: The prophecies in Isaiah, particularly from chapter 40 onwards, are often understood as addressing the period of the Babylonian exile and the subsequent return. The "blind" (H5787, 'ivvêr') in this context refers primarily to the spiritual blindness of Israel, who, despite being God's chosen people, repeatedly turned away from His covenant (as lamented in Isaiah 42:18-20). It also extends to the nations who did not know the true God. The "way they knew not" and "paths they have not known" vividly describe the disorientation and hopelessness of exile, where the familiar paths to Jerusalem and their homeland were lost. God's promise to make "darkness light" and "crooked things straight" speaks to the miraculous intervention required for their return journey through the wilderness (a new exodus) and the restoration of their national and spiritual identity, rectifying the injustices suffered under foreign domination.
Key Themes: This verse powerfully articulates several core themes prevalent in Isaiah and the broader prophetic literature. Divine Guidance and Sovereignty are paramount, as God explicitly states, "I will bring... I will lead," underscoring His active and providential hand in directing the lives of His people, even through unforeseen and challenging circumstances. This highlights God's absolute control over history and individual destinies, a theme echoed in Jeremiah 10:23. The promise to "make darkness light before them, and crooked things straight" signifies Overcoming Obstacles and Bringing Clarity, both physically and spiritually. It speaks to God's power to dispel confusion, rectify injustice, and transform seemingly impossible situations into clear paths, reflecting His character as a God of order and truth, as seen in Psalm 27:1. Finally, the concluding phrase, "These things will I do unto them, and not forsake them," is a profound assurance of God's Unwavering Faithfulness and Covenant Love. It emphasizes His steadfast presence and His commitment never to abandon His people, regardless of their failures or present struggles, reinforcing the enduring nature of His covenant relationship, a promise foundational to Deuteronomy 31:6.
EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
Key Word Analysis
Verse Breakdown
Literary Devices
Isaiah 42:16 is rich with Metaphor and Parallelism, which amplify its theological message. The central metaphor of "the blind" (H5787, 'ivvêr') being led through "a way they knew not" and "paths they have not known" powerfully depicts spiritual and existential disorientation, while simultaneously highlighting God's role as the ultimate guide and illuminator. This is further reinforced by the vivid Contrast between "darkness" (H4285, machshâk') and "light" (H216, 'ôwr'), and "crooked things" (H4625, maʻăqâsh') and "straight" (H4334, mîyshôwr'). This antithetical parallelism emphasizes the radical transformation God brings about, moving from confusion to clarity, from obstacle to smooth passage. The repeated "I will" (e.g., "I will bring," "I will lead," "I will make," "I will do") functions as Anaphora, underscoring God's sovereign initiative, active involvement, and unwavering commitment to His promises. The verse concludes with a strong Affirmation and Assurance in "These things will I do unto them, and not forsake them," solidifying the divine guarantee of His faithfulness and perpetual presence.
THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Isaiah 42:16 stands as a powerful testament to God's active providence and unwavering covenant faithfulness. It reveals a God who does not merely observe but intimately intervenes in the lives of His people, especially when they are most vulnerable, lost, or spiritually blind. The promise of leading through unknown paths, transforming darkness into light, and straightening crooked ways speaks to God's sovereign power to rectify all circumstances, both internal (spiritual understanding) and external (life's obstacles and injustices). This divine initiative underscores His redemptive character, demonstrating His commitment to restore, guide, and sustain His chosen ones, ensuring they reach their divinely appointed destiny. It's a promise of hope and assurance that even in the deepest confusion or most challenging situations, God remains present and actively working on their behalf, bringing order and clarity out of chaos.
REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Isaiah 42:16 offers profound comfort and practical guidance for believers navigating the complexities of life. When we find ourselves in situations that feel overwhelming, confusing, or when the path ahead is entirely unclear, this verse serves as a powerful reminder that God is not distant but actively engaged in leading us. It encourages us to embrace a posture of trust, even when our spiritual or physical sight is limited, knowing that God delights in making a way where there seems to be none. The promise to turn darkness into light and straighten crooked paths assures us that no obstacle is too great for His transformative power, and no confusion is beyond His clarity. This calls us to surrender our limited understanding and anxious striving, resting in His sovereign guidance and unwavering presence. Our response should be one of faith-filled expectation, allowing God to illuminate our next steps and rectify our circumstances, confident that He will never abandon those He has called His own.
Questions for Reflection
FAQ
Does "the blind" in this verse refer only to physical blindness?
Answer: While the term "blind" (H5787, 'ivvêr') can refer to physical sightlessness, in the context of Isaiah's prophecies, it primarily carries a deeper, spiritual meaning. It often describes the spiritual insensitivity, rebellion, and lack of discernment among God's people, Israel, who failed to perceive and obey His truth despite having the Law. It can also extend to the nations who did not know the true God. Therefore, God's promise to "bring the blind" and "make darkness light" signifies a profound spiritual restoration, granting insight and understanding to those who were previously lost or disobedient, aligning with the broader mission of the Servant to open "blind eyes" found in Isaiah 42:7.
How does God "make darkness light" and "crooked things straight" in our lives?
Answer: God accomplishes this in various ways, both literally and figuratively. Spiritually, He illuminates our understanding through His Word and the Holy Spirit, dispelling confusion and granting wisdom (e.g., Psalm 119:105). Practically, He can intervene in our circumstances, removing obstacles, resolving seemingly impossible situations, and rectifying injustices. This might involve opening new doors, providing unexpected solutions, or changing hearts. It's a testament to His sovereign power to bring order out of chaos and clarity where there was obscurity, guiding us on a path of righteousness that we might not have seen ourselves, much like He led Israel through the wilderness (e.g., Exodus 13:21).
CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Isaiah 42:16 finds its ultimate and most profound fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ, the Suffering Servant foretold throughout Isaiah. Jesus perfectly embodies the Servant who comes to "open the eyes of the blind" (Isaiah 42:7). He is the Light of the World, who came to dispel the spiritual darkness that enveloped humanity, guiding those lost in sin and ignorance into the path of truth and life. His ministry was characterized by making "darkness light" both literally, by restoring physical sight to the blind (e.g., John 9:1-7), and spiritually, by revealing the Father and the way to salvation (e.g., John 14:6). Furthermore, Jesus straightened the "crooked things" of human sin and injustice through His perfect life, atoning death, and victorious resurrection, making a straight path for reconciliation with God. His sacrifice on the cross rectified the greatest crookedness—human rebellion against a holy God—and His resurrection guarantees that He will "not forsake" His followers, but will be with them "always, even to the end of the age" (e.g., Matthew 28:20). Thus, the promises of guidance, illumination, and unwavering presence in Isaiah 42:16 are fully realized in Christ, who perfectly leads His church into paths of righteousness and eternal life.