Isaiah 42:21 (KJV)

What does Isaiah 42:21 mean?

Isaiah 42:21 says that the LORD is pleased because of his own righteousness, and he will make his law great and respected. The verse highlights God's commitment to upholding and honoring his law for the sake of what is right.

In Isaiah 42, God is speaking through the prophet Isaiah to describe his servant and the new things he will do. This verse emphasizes that God’s actions are rooted in his own righteousness, not because of anything people have done. The focus is on God making his law (his instructions and commands) important and worthy of honor among the people.

The Hebrew behind Isaiah 42:21

• LORD (יְהוָה, YHWH): This is the personal name of God in the Hebrew Bible, emphasizing his unique identity and authority.
• pleased (חָפֵץ, chafets): This word means to delight in or take pleasure in. Here, it shows that God’s motivation comes from his own character and what he values.
• righteousness' (צֶדֶק, tsedeq): This word refers to what is right, just, and fair. God’s actions are based on his own perfect sense of justice.
• magnify (גָּדַל, gadal): This means to make great or to enlarge. God is not just keeping the law but making it significant and prominent.
• law (תּוֹרָה, torah): This word means instruction or teaching, not just legal rules. It refers to God’s guidance for living rightly.
• honourable (אָדָר, adar): This means to make something glorious or respected. God lifts up his law so it is seen as worthy of honor.

Why Isaiah 42:21 matters

• Isaiah 42:21 clears up the idea that God’s law is just a set of rules; it shows that God himself values and elevates his instructions because of his own righteousness.
• The verse connects to the larger theme in Isaiah 42 about God’s servant bringing justice and light, showing that God’s law is central to his plan for the world.
• It helps the reader see that God’s actions are not random or harsh, but are rooted in his character and desire for what is truly right and good.