Isa 42:4 | JFB | STEP | 4. fail-- faint; man in religion may become as the almost expiring flax-wick ( ), but not so He in His purposes of grace. discouraged-- literally, "broken," that is, checked in zeal by discouragements (compare , ). Rosenmuller not so well translates, "He shall not be too slow on the one hand, nor run too hastily on the other." judgment-- His true religion, the canon of His judgments and righteous reign. isles ... wait, &c.-- The distant lands beyond sea shall put their trust in His gospel way of salvation. virtually gives the sense, with the inspired addition of another aspect of the same thing, "In his name shall the Gentiles trust" (as "wait for" here means, ). "His law" is not something distinct from Himself, but is indeed Himself, the manifestation of God's character ("name") in Christ, who is the embodiment of the law ( ; ; ). "Isles" here, and in , may refer to the fact that the populations of which the Church was primarily formed were Gentiles of the countries bordering on the Mediterranean.

‏ Isaiah 42:4

4. fail--faint; man in religion may become as the almost expiring flax-wick (Is 42:3), but not so He in His purposes of grace.

discouraged--literally, "broken," that is, checked in zeal by discouragements (compare Is 49:4, 5). Rosenmuller not so well translates, "He shall not be too slow on the one hand, nor run too hastily on the other."

judgment--His true religion, the canon of His judgments and righteous reign.

isles ... wait, &c.--The distant lands beyond sea shall put their trust in His gospel way of salvation. Mt 12:21 virtually gives the sense, with the inspired addition of another aspect of the same thing, "In his name shall the Gentiles trust" (as "wait for" here means, Is 30:18). "His law" is not something distinct from Himself, but is indeed Himself, the manifestation of God's character ("name") in Christ, who is the embodiment of the law (Is 42:21; Jr 23:6; Ro 10:4). "Isles" here, and in Is 42:12, may refer to the fact that the populations of which the Church was primarily formed were Gentiles of the countries bordering on the Mediterranean.