New Living Translation
Isaiah 42:16
16I 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.
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
14He will say, “I have long been silent; yes, I have restrained myself. But now, like a woman in labor, I will cry and groan and pant. 15I will level the mountains and hills and blight all their greenery. I will turn the rivers into dry land and will dry up all the pools. 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. 17But those who trust in idols, who say, ‘You are our gods,’ will be turned away in shame. 18“Listen, you who are deaf! Look and see, you blind!
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 words read from a book, and the blind will see through the gloom and darkness.
- Isaiah 30:21Your own ears will hear him. Right behind you a voice will say, “This is the way you should go,” whether to the right or to the left.
- Isaiah 32:3Then everyone who has eyes will be able to see the truth, and everyone who has ears will be able to hear it.
- Isaiah 35:5And when he comes, he will open the eyes of the blind and unplug the ears of the deaf.
- 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 good for you and leads you along the paths you should follow.
- Isaiah 54:13I will teach all your children, and they will enjoy great peace.
- Isaiah 60:1“Arise, Jerusalem! Let your light shine for all to see. For the glory of the Lord rises to shine on you.
- Jeremiah 31:8For I will bring them from the north and from the distant corners of the earth. I will not forget the blind and lame, the expectant mothers and women in labor. A great company will return!
- Hosea 2:14“But then I will win her back once again. I will lead her into the desert and speak tenderly to her there.
- Luke 1:78Because of God’s tender mercy, the morning light from heaven is about to break upon us,
- Ephesians 5:8For once you were full of darkness, but now you have light from the Lord. So live as people of light!
- Isaiah 41:3He chases them away and goes on safely, though he is walking over unfamiliar ground.
- Joshua 3:4Since you have never traveled this way before, they will guide you. Stay about half a mile behind them, keeping a clear distance between you and the Ark. Make sure you don’t come any closer.”
- Hosea 2:6“For this reason I will fence her in with thornbushes. I will block her path with a wall to make her lose her way.
- Isaiah 40:4Fill in the valleys, and level the mountains and hills. Straighten the curves, and smooth out the rough places.
- Isaiah 45:2This is what the Lord says: “I will go before you, Cyrus, and level the mountains. I will smash 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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