Isaiah 42:7

To open the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners from the prison, [and] them that sit in darkness out of the prison house.

To open {H6491} the blind {H5787} eyes {H5869}, to bring out {H3318} the prisoners {H616} from the prison {H4525}, and them that sit {H3427} in darkness {H2822} out of the prison {H3608} house {H1004}.

so that you can open blind eyes, free the prisoners from confinement, those living in darkness from the dungeon.

to open the eyes of the blind, to bring prisoners out of the dungeon and those sitting in darkness out from the prison house.

to open the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners from the dungeon, and them that sit in darkness out of the prison-house.

Context of Isaiah 42:7

Isaiah 42:7 is a pivotal verse within the first of Isaiah’s four "Servant Songs" (Isaiah 42:1-9), prophecies that describe a unique figure chosen by God for a divine mission. This Servant is empowered by the Spirit of the Lord to bring forth justice to the nations. The preceding verses establish the Servant's gentle yet resolute character and His role as a covenant to the people and a light to the Gentiles. Verse 7 specifically details aspects of this Servant's redemptive work, emphasizing spiritual and physical liberation from various forms of bondage, setting the stage for future Messianic expectations.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Spiritual and Physical Liberation: The command "To open the blind eyes" speaks profoundly to both literal healing (as demonstrated by Jesus' ministry) and, more significantly, to spiritual enlightenment. It signifies the removal of spiritual ignorance and the ability to perceive divine truth. Similarly, "to bring out the prisoners from the prison" and "them that sit in darkness out of the prison house" represents freedom from physical captivity, oppression, and the bondage of sin and spiritual darkness. This is a promise of profound deliverance from the power of darkness.
  • Light and Hope: The imagery of "darkness" underscores a state of spiritual or moral blindness and despair. The Servant's mission is to bring the transforming light of God's truth and salvation into this darkness, offering hope and understanding to those who are lost or oppressed. This resonates with the concept of the Messiah as the "Light of the World."
  • Divine Mission of the Messiah: This verse is widely understood as a Messianic prophecy, foretelling the comprehensive scope of Christ's redemptive work. His ministry was not just to Israel but extended to all humanity, offering liberation from sin, spiritual blindness, and the confines of spiritual death.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew terms used here are powerful and evocative. "Blind eyes" (עִוְרוֹת, 'iv'rot) and "prisoners" (אֲסִירִים, 'asirim) clearly denote physical conditions, but in prophetic literature, they often carry deeper spiritual meaning. The phrase "them that sit in darkness" (וְיֹשְׁבֵי חֹשֶׁךְ, v'yoshvei choshek) vividly portrays a state of profound ignorance, despair, or spiritual death. The "prison house" (בֵּית כֶּלֶא, beit kele') emphasizes the totality of this confinement, whether literal or spiritual. The Servant's task is to dismantle these barriers, bringing freedom and illumination.

Practical Application

For believers today, Isaiah 42:7 serves as a powerful reminder of God's ongoing mission to bring light and liberty. It encourages us to:

  • Recognize Spiritual Blindness: Understand that many still sit in spiritual darkness, unaware of God's truth. This verse inspires compassion and a desire to share the Gospel.
  • Embrace True Freedom: Appreciate the freedom from sin and spiritual bondage that Christ offers. Our liberation is not just from external oppression but from the internal chains of sin and ignorance.
  • Participate in God's Work: Just as the Servant brings light and freedom, believers are called to be agents of change, bringing the truth of God's Word to those who are spiritually blind or imprisoned. This includes advocating for justice, offering spiritual guidance, and sharing the hope found in Christ. The prophetic words of Isaiah find their ultimate fulfillment in Jesus' own declaration of His mission in Luke 4:18-19, which quotes from Isaiah, emphasizing His role in bringing good news to the poor, healing the brokenhearted, and proclaiming liberty to captives.

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.

  • Isaiah 61:1

    ¶ 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;

  • Isaiah 49:9

    That thou mayest say to the prisoners, Go forth; to them that [are] in darkness, Shew yourselves. They shall feed in the ways, and their pastures [shall be] in all high places.

  • Isaiah 35:5

    ¶ Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped.

  • 2 Timothy 2:26

    And [that] they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.

  • Ephesians 1:17

    That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him:

  • Ephesians 1:18

    The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,

  • Matthew 11:5

    The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them.

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