New English Translation
Isaiah 42:16
16I will lead the blind along an unfamiliar way; I will guide them down paths they have never traveled. I will turn the darkness in front of them into light, and level out the rough ground. This is what I will do for them. I will not 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
14“I have been inactive for a long time; I kept quiet and held back. Like a woman in labor I groan; I pant and gasp. 15I will make the trees on the mountains and hills wither up; I will dry up all their vegetation. I will turn streams into islands, and dry up pools of water. I will lead the blind along an unfamiliar way; I will guide them down paths they have never traveled. I will turn the darkness in front of them into light, and level out the rough ground. This is what I will do for them. I will not abandon them. 17Those who trust in idols will turn back and be utterly humiliated, those who say to metal images, ‘You are our gods.’” 18“Listen, you deaf ones! Take notice, you blind ones!
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 29:18At that time the deaf will be able to hear words read from a scroll, and the eyes of the blind will be able to see through deep darkness.
- Isaiah 30:21You will hear a word spoken behind you, saying, “This is the correct way, walk in it,” whether you are heading to the right or the left.
- Isaiah 32:3Eyes will no longer be blind and ears will be attentive.
- Isaiah 35:5Then blind eyes will open, deaf ears will hear.
- Isaiah 48:17This is what the Lord, your protector, says, the Holy One of Israel: “I am the Lord your God, who teaches you how to succeed, who leads you in the way you should go.
- Isaiah 54:13All your children will be followers of the Lord, and your children will enjoy great prosperity.
- Isaiah 60:1“Arise! Shine! For your light arrives! The splendor of the Lord shines on you!
- Jeremiah 31:8Then I will reply, ‘I will bring them back from the land of the north. I will gather them in from the distant parts of the earth. Blind and lame people will come with them, so will pregnant women and women about to give birth. A vast throng of people will come back here.
- Hosea 2:14However, in the future I will allure her; I will lead her back into the wilderness, and speak tenderly to her.
- Luke 1:78Because of our God’s tender mercy the dawn will break upon us from on high
- Ephesians 5:8for you were at one time darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of the light –
- Isaiah 41:3He pursues them and passes by unharmed; he advances with great speed.
- Joshua 3:4But stay about three thousand feet behind it. Keep your distance so you can see which way you should go, for you have not traveled this way before.”
- Hosea 2:6Therefore, I will soon fence her in with thorns; I will wall her in so that she cannot find her way.
- Isaiah 40:4Every valley must be elevated, and every mountain and hill leveled. The rough terrain will become a level plain, the rugged landscape a wide valley.
- Isaiah 45:2“I will go before you and level mountains. Bronze doors I will shatter and iron bars I will hack through.
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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