Sing unto the LORD a new song, and his praise from the end of the earth, ye that go down to the sea, and all that is therein; the isles, and the inhabitants thereof.

ISAIAH 42:10KJV
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Isaiah 42:10 (KJV)

What does Isaiah 42:10 mean?

Isaiah 42:10 calls for a fresh song of praise to the LORD, reaching to the farthest parts of the world. The call includes people who travel the sea and people living on distant coasts, giving the verse a horizon much wider than Israel’s land.

A “new song” fits the announcement of “new things” in the preceding verse. The words “all that is therein” add the fullness of the sea to the picture, so that the scene includes more than the singers on land.

The Hebrew behind Isaiah 42:10

  • “new” — חָדָשׁ (ḥadash): This word means fresh or new. Here it describes a song suited to the new things announced in verse 9.
  • “isles” — אִיִּים (ʾiyyim): This word can mean islands or coastlands. Isaiah 42:10 can therefore bring to mind distant shores as well as land surrounded by water.

Why Isaiah 42:10 matters

  • The song reaches beyond one local gathering. “From the end of the earth” places the praise as far away as the hearers could imagine.
  • The call continues inland as well as across the water. Verse 11 names the wilderness, its cities, and the people of Sela; the coastlands in verse 10 are part of a much larger scene.
  • The song has a reason in the passage around it. Verse 12 continues the call to praise, and verse 13 pictures the LORD going out like a mighty man ready for battle.

Where else these words appear

“isles” Hebrew H339 · used in 35 verses

  • Genesis 10:5 By these were the isles of the Gentiles divided in their lands; every one after his tongue, after their families, in their nations.
  • Isaiah 41:5 The isles saw it, and feared; the ends of the earth were afraid, drew near, and came.
  • Jeremiah 31:10 Hear the word of the LORD, O ye nations, and declare it in the isles afar off, and say, He that scattered Israel will gather him, and keep him, as a shepherd doth his flock.

“therein” Hebrew H4393 · used in 36 verses

  • Genesis 48:19 And his father refused, and said, I know it, my son, I know it: he also shall become a people, and he also shall be great: but truly his younger brother shall be greater than he, and his seed shall become a multitude of nations.
  • 1 Samuel 28:20 Then Saul fell straightway all along on the earth, and was sore afraid, because of the words of Samuel: and there was no strength in him; for he had eaten no bread all the day, nor all the night.
  • Isaiah 8:8 And he shall pass through Judah; he shall overflow and go over, he shall reach even to the neck; and the stretching out of his wings shall fill the breadth of thy land, O Immanuel.

“new” Hebrew H2319 · used in 48 verses

  • Exodus 1:8 Now there arose up a new king over Egypt, which knew not Joseph.
  • 2 Samuel 21:16 And Ishbibenob, which was of the sons of the giant, the weight of whose spear weighed three hundred shekels of brass in weight, he being girded with a new sword, thought to have slain David.
  • Song of Solomon 7:13 The mandrakes give a smell, and at our gates are all manner of pleasant fruits, new and old, which I have laid up for thee, O my beloved.

“praise” Hebrew H8416 · used in 57 verses

  • Exodus 15:11 Who is like unto thee, O LORD, among the gods? who is like thee, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders?
  • Psalms 66:8 O bless our God, ye people, and make the voice of his praise to be heard:
  • Isaiah 42:8 I am the LORD: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images.