The Meaning of Isaiah 42:7 Explained

Isaiah 42:7

KJV: To open the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners from the prison, and them that sit in darkness out of the prison house.

YLT: To open the eyes of the blind, To bring forth from prison the bound one, From the house of restraint those sitting in darkness.

Darby: to open the blind eyes, to bring forth the prisoner from the prison, them that sit in darkness out of the house of restraint.

ASV: to open the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners from the dungeon, and them that sit in darkness out of the prison-house.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

To open  the blind  eyes,  to bring out  the prisoners  from the prison,  [and] them that sit  in darkness  out of the prison  house. 

What does Isaiah 42:7 Mean?

Verse Meaning

As light, the Servant would heal disabilities (physical and spiritual), end restrictions that others imposed, and transform individual circumstances (cf. Luke 1:79; John 1:4; John 8:12; John 9:5; John 9:39-41; John 12:46; Acts 26:18). He would bring people out of bondage, including their bondage to sin (cf. Isaiah 61:1; John 8:32; Colossians 1:13).

Context Summary

Isaiah 42:1-13 - The Work Of The Lord's Servant
We cannot doubt the application of this passage to our Lord, Matthew 12:18-20. The unobtrusiveness of His life and work was clearly demonstrated in every hour of His sojourn among men. He silenced those whom He healed. He stole away from the multitudes for prayer. He stayed in Galilee till His brethren were angry at His reluctance to show Himself to the people. He did not "strive, nor cry."
How meek and lowly was our Lord! A "reed" is typical of a heart broken by unkindness or a sense of sin. There is no beauty in the russet plume. It will not even serve for the shepherd's pipe. The "smoking flax" cannot ignite, because hardly able to remain aglow. This is the symbol of one whose love is tardy and cold. But such our Lord does not ignore. He can use the commonest and most unlikely materials.
He is never discouraged and cannot fail; and since He cannot, neither shall the Church, nor shall we. His love and power are pledged to us. Let us sing to Him and of Him. [source]

Chapter Summary: Isaiah 42

1  The office of Christ, graced with meekness and constancy
5  God's promise unto him
10  An exhortation to praise God for his Gospel
13  God will manifest himself, and check idolatry
18  He reproves the people of incredulity

What do the individual words in Isaiah 42:7 mean?

to open eyes blind to bring out from the prison prisoners from the house Prison Those who sit in darkness
לִפְקֹ֖חַ עֵינַ֣יִם עִוְר֑וֹת לְהוֹצִ֤יא מִמַּסְגֵּר֙ אַסִּ֔יר מִבֵּ֥ית כֶּ֖לֶא יֹ֥שְׁבֵי חֹֽשֶׁךְ

לִפְקֹ֖חַ  to  open 
Parse: Preposition-l, Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct
Root: פָּקַח  
Sense: to open (the eyes).
עֵינַ֣יִם  eyes 
Parse: Noun, cd
Root: עֹונָה 
Sense: eye.
עִוְר֑וֹת  blind 
Parse: Adjective, feminine plural
Root: עִוֵּר  
Sense: blind.
לְהוֹצִ֤יא  to  bring  out 
Parse: Preposition-l, Verb, Hifil, Infinitive construct
Root: יׄוצֵאת 
Sense: to go out, come out, exit, go forth.
מִמַּסְגֵּר֙  from  the  prison 
Parse: Preposition-m, Noun, masculine singular
Root: מַסְגֵּר 
Sense: a shutting up, locksmith, smith, dungeon, enclosure, builder of bulwarks.
אַסִּ֔יר  prisoners 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: אַסִּיר  
Sense: prisoners (collective).
מִבֵּ֥ית  from  the  house 
Parse: Preposition-m, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: בַּיִת 
Sense: house.
כֶּ֖לֶא  Prison 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: כֶּלֶא  
Sense: imprisonment, confinement, restraint.
יֹ֥שְׁבֵי  Those  who  sit 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine plural construct
Root: יָשַׁב 
Sense: to dwell, remain, sit, abide.
חֹֽשֶׁךְ  in  darkness 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: חֹשֶׁךְ  
Sense: darkness, obscurity.