New International Version
Isaiah 42:16
16I 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.
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.
- 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.
- New Living Translation (NLT)I will lead blind Israel down a new path, guiding them along an unfamiliar way. I will brighten the darkness before them and smooth out the road ahead of them. Yes, I will indeed do these things; I will not forsake them.
Context of Isaiah 42:16
14“For a long time I have kept silent, I have been quiet and held myself back. But now, like a woman in childbirth, I cry out, I gasp and pant. 15I will lay waste the mountains and hills and dry up all their vegetation; I will turn rivers into islands and dry up the pools. 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. 17But those who trust in idols, who say to images, ‘You are our gods,’ will be turned back in utter shame. 18“Hear, you deaf; look, you blind, and 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 29:18In that day the deaf will hear the words of the scroll, and out of gloom and darkness the eyes of the blind will see.
- Isaiah 30:21Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it.”
- Isaiah 32:3Then the eyes of those who see will no longer be closed, and the ears of those who hear will listen.
- Isaiah 35:5Then will the eyes of the blind be opened and the ears of the deaf unstopped.
- Isaiah 48:17This is what the Lord says— your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: “I am the Lord your God, who teaches you what is best for you, who directs you in the way you should go.
- Isaiah 54:13All your children will be taught by the Lord, and great will be their peace.
- Isaiah 60:1“Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord rises upon you.
- Jeremiah 31:8See, I will bring them from the land of the north and gather them from the ends of the earth. Among them will be the blind and the lame, expectant mothers and women in labor; a great throng will return.
- Hosea 2:14“Therefore I am now going to allure her; I will lead her into the wilderness and speak tenderly to her.
- Luke 1:78because of the tender mercy of our God, by which the rising sun will come to us from heaven
- Ephesians 5:8For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light
- Isaiah 41:3He pursues them and moves on unscathed, by a path his feet have not traveled before.
- Joshua 3:4Then you will know which way to go, since you have never been this way before. But keep a distance of about two thousand cubits between you and the ark; do not go near it.”
- Hosea 2:6Therefore I will block her path with thornbushes; I will wall her in so that she cannot find her way.
- Isaiah 40:4Every valley shall be raised up, every mountain and hill made low; the rough ground shall become level, the rugged places a plain.
- Isaiah 45:2I will go before you and will level the mountains; I will break down gates of bronze and cut through bars of iron.
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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