God’s Word Translation
Isaiah 42:16
16I will lead the blind on unfamiliar roads. I will lead them on unfamiliar paths. I will turn darkness into light in front of them. I will make rough places smooth. These are the things I will do for them, and I will never abandon them.
Isaiah 42:16 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)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.
- New International Version (NIV)I will lead the blind by ways they have not known, along unfamiliar paths I will guide them; I will turn the darkness into light before them and make the rough places smooth. These are the things I will do; I will not forsake them.
- English Standard Version (ESV)And I will lead the blind in a way that they do not know, in paths that they have not known I will guide them. I will turn the darkness before them into light, the rough places into level ground. These are the things I do, and I do not forsake them.
- New King James Version (NKJV)I will bring the blind by a way they did not know; I will lead them in paths they have not known. I will make darkness light before them, And crooked places straight. These things I will do for them, And not forsake them.
Context of Isaiah 42:16
14I have been silent for a long time. I kept quiet and held myself back. But like a woman in childbirth I will cry out. I will gasp and pant. 15I will lay waste to mountains and hills. I will dry up all their vegetation. I will turn rivers into islands. I will dry up ponds. I will lead the blind on unfamiliar roads. I will lead them on unfamiliar paths. I will turn darkness into light in front of them. I will make rough places smooth. These are the things I will do for them, and I will never abandon them. 17Then those who trust idols and those who say to statues, “You are our gods” will be turned away and put to shame. 18Listen, you deaf people. Look, you blind people, so that you can see.
Read all of Isaiah 42Isaiah 42:16 word by word
וְהוֹלַכְתִּ֣י עִוְרִ֗ים בְּדֶ֙רֶךְ֙ לֹ֣א יָדָ֔עוּ בִּנְתִיב֥וֹת לֹֽא־יָדְע֖וּ אַדְרִיכֵ֑ם אָשִׂים֩ מַחְשָׁ֨ךְ לִפְנֵיהֶ֜ם לָא֗וֹר וּמַֽעֲקַשִּׁים֙ לְמִישׁ֔וֹר אֵ֚לֶּה הַדְּבָרִ֔ים עֲשִׂיתִ֖ם וְלֹ֥א עֲזַבְתִּֽים׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- And I will bringיָלַךְyâlak · to walkH3212
- the blindעִוֵּר‛ivvêr · blindH5787
- by a wayדֶּ֫רֶךְderek · way: directionH1870
- they knewיָדַעyâda‛ · to knowH3045
- not; I will leadדָּרַךְdârak · to treadH1869
- them in pathsנְתִיבָהnâthîyb nethîybâh nethibâh · pathH5410
- I will makeשׂוּםώûm ώîym · to set: makeH7760
- darknessמַחְשָׁךְmachshâk · darknessH4285
- lightאוֹר'ôr · lightH216
- beforeפָּנֶהpânîym · face: beforeH6440
- them, and crooked thingsמַעֲקָשׁma‛ăqâsh · crooked placeH4625
- straightמִישׁוֹרmîyshôr mîyshôr · plainH4334
- These thingsדָּבָרdâbâr · word: thingH1697
- will I doעָשָׂה‛âώâh · to make: doH6213
- unto them, and not forsakeעָזַב‛âzab · to leave: forsakeH5800
Cross-references for Isaiah 42:16
- Isaiah 29:18When that day comes, the deaf will hear the words written in the book. The blind will see out of their gloom and darkness.
- Isaiah 30:21You will hear a voice behind you saying, “This is the way. Follow it, whether it turns to the right or to the left.”
- Isaiah 32:3Then the vision of those who can see won’t be blurred, and the ears of those who can hear will pay attention.
- Isaiah 35:5Then the eyes of the blind will be opened, and the ears of the deaf will be unplugged.
- Isaiah 48:17This is what the Lord, your Defender, the Holy One of Israel, says: I am the Lord your God. I teach you what is best for you. I lead you where you should go.
- Isaiah 54:13All your children will be taught by the Lord, and your children will have unlimited peace.
- Isaiah 60:1Arise! Shine! Your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has dawned.
- Jeremiah 31:8“I will bring them from the land of the north. I will gather them from the farthest parts of the earth. Blind people and lame people will return together with pregnant women and those in labor. A large crowd will return here.
- Hosea 2:14“That is why I’m going to win her back. I will lead her into the desert. I will speak tenderly to her.
- Luke 1:78A new day will dawn on us from above because our God is loving and merciful.
- Ephesians 5:8Once you lived in the dark, but now the Lord has filled you with light. Live as children who have light.
- Isaiah 41:3He chases them, marching by safely on a path his feet have never traveled before.
- Joshua 3:4However, stay about half a mile behind them. Don’t come any closer to them so that you will know which way to go because you have not gone this way before.”
- Hosea 2:6“That is why I will block her way with thornbushes and build a wall so that she can’t get through.
- Isaiah 40:4Every valley will be raised. Every mountain and hill will be lowered. Steep places will be made level. Rough places will be made smooth.
- Isaiah 45:2I will go ahead of you, Cyrus, and smooth out the rough places. I will break down the bronze doors and cut through the iron bars.
Commentaries on Isaiah 42:16
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 16In paths - The Septuagint, Syriac, Vulgate, and nine MSS., (two ancient), read ובנתיבות ubenotiboth . Will I do unto them - עשיתם asitem . This word, so written as it is in the text, means "thou wilt do, "in the second person. The Masoretes have indeed pointed it for the first person; but the י yod in the last syllable is absolutely necessary to distinguish the first person; and so it is written in forty MSS., עשיתים asithim . Jarchi, Kimchi, Sal. ben…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 16And I will lead the blind - Having said in the previous verses what he would do to his enemies, God now speaks of his people. He would conduct them to their own land, as a blind people that needed a guide, and would remove whatever obstacle there was in their way. By the blind‘ here, he refers doubtless to his own people. The term is applied originally to his people in captivity, as being ignorant, after their seventy years‘ exile, of the way of return to…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 13-17Verses 13-17 The Lord will appear in his power and glory. He shall cry, in the preaching of his word. He shall cry aloud in the gospel woes, which must be preached with gospel blessings, to awaken a sleeping world. He shall conquer by the power of his Spirit. And those that contradict and blaspheme his gospel, he shall put to silence and shame; and that which hinders its progress shall be taken out of the way. To those who by nature were blind, God will…Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 13-1613-16. Jehovah will no longer restrain His wrath: He will go forth as a mighty warrior (Ex 15:3) to destroy His people's and His enemies, and to deliver Israel (compare Psa 45:3). stir up jealousy--rouse His indignation. roar--image from the battle cry of a warrior.Read the comment
Topics related to Isaiah 42:16
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Isaiah 42
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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