Isaiah 42:21

The LORD is well pleased for his righteousness' sake; he will magnify the law, and make [it] honourable.

The LORD {H3068} is well pleased {H2654} for his righteousness {H6664}' sake; he will magnify {H1431} the law {H8451}, and make it honourable {H142}.

ADONAI was pleased, for his righteousness' sake, to make the Torah great and glorious.

The LORD was pleased, for the sake of His righteousness, to magnify His law and make it glorious.

It pleased Jehovah, for his righteousness’ sake, to magnify the law, and make it honorable.

Isaiah 42:21 is a profound declaration concerning God's character and His purpose for His divine law, serving as a key verse within the broader prophetic narrative of the Servant of the Lord.

Context

This verse is situated within the first of Isaiah's "Servant Songs" (Isaiah 42:1-9), which introduces a divinely chosen Servant who will bring justice and light to the nations. While the immediate context speaks of Israel's blindness and disobedience, this verse pivots to God's unwavering commitment to His own righteousness and the integrity of His law. It sets the stage for understanding how the Servant (prophetically understood as the Messiah) would interact with and uphold God's standards.

Key Themes

  • God's Pleasure in Righteousness: The opening phrase, "The LORD is well pleased for his righteousness' sake," underscores God's inherent nature. His actions and decrees are always consistent with His perfect justice, holiness, and moral excellence. This divine pleasure is not arbitrary but rooted in His unchanging character, which demands and delights in righteousness.
  • Magnifying the Law: The declaration "he will magnify the law" signifies an elevation and exaltation of God's divine statutes. This isn't about adding to the law but about revealing its full spiritual depth, its true intent, and its eternal significance. Prophetic interpretations often point to Jesus Christ as the one who would perfectly embody and fulfill the Law, demonstrating its true greatness and spiritual demands beyond mere external observance.
  • Making it Honourable: "and make [it] honourable" reinforces the idea of giving the Law its rightful dignity and respect. Through the Servant's perfect obedience, substitutionary sacrifice, and revelation of God's will, the Law's demands are fully met, and its sanctity is upheld, rather than diminished or abrogated. This ensures God's standards remain weighty and revered.

Linguistic Insights

  • The Hebrew word translated "magnify" is גָּדַל (*gadol*), meaning to make great, to enlarge, or to exalt. It suggests not just an increase in size but an increase in perceived importance and glory.
  • "Honourable" comes from the Hebrew root כָּבַד (*kabad*), which literally means to be heavy or weighty. In a figurative sense, it conveys the idea of being glorious, respected, or held in high esteem. The Law is made "heavy" with significance and glory.

Practical Application

Isaiah 42:21 offers profound assurance that God's moral standards are not arbitrary or temporary. The coming of the Messiah did not abolish the Law but perfectly fulfilled its demands and revealed its true spiritual intent, establishing a new covenant based on perfect obedience and grace. For believers, this verse reinforces the truth that God's character is righteous, and His will, expressed in His Law, is good, enduring, and worthy of all honor. The work of Christ demonstrates the Law's integrity and provides the means for sinful humanity to be reconciled to a holy and righteous God.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Romans 3:31

    Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law.

  • Psalms 71:19

    Thy righteousness also, O God, [is] very high, who hast done great things: O God, who [is] like unto thee!

  • Romans 7:12

    Wherefore the law [is] holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good.

  • Matthew 3:15

    And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer [it to be so] now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him.

  • Psalms 40:8

    I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law [is] within my heart.

  • Hebrews 8:10

    For this [is] the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people:

  • Matthew 5:17

    Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.

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