Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Isaiah 42:7
To open the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners from the prison, [and] them that sit in darkness out of the prison house.
7. to open [the] blind eyes ] The subject of this and the following verb might be either Jehovah or His Servant, and the point is not quite settled by ch. Isa 49:8. The latter, however, seems more probable from Isa 49:6. The reference is no doubt to the Servant’s work on Israel. The “blindness” spoken of is spiritual (see Isa 42:18-20); imprisonment is a metaphor for the Captivity ( Isa 42:22); although a spiritual application may be included here also.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
To open the blind eyes – This is equivalent to saying that he would impart instruction to those who were ignorant. It relates to the Jews as well as to the Gentiles. He would acquaint them with God, and with the way of salvation. The condition of the world is often represented as one of darkness and blindness. Men see not their true character; they see not their real condition; they are ignorant of God, and of the truths pertaining to their future existence; and they need, therefore, some one who shall enlighten, and sanctify, and save them.
To bring out the prisoners from the prison – (Compare Isa 61:1-2). This evidently refers to a spiritual deliverance, though the language is derived from deliverance from a prison. It denotes that he would rescue those who were confined in mental darkness by sin; and that their deliverance from the thraldom and darkness of sin would be as wonderful as if a prisoner should be delivered suddenly from a dark cell, and be permitted to go forth and breathe the pure air of freedom. Such is the freedom which the gospel imparts; nor can there be a more striking description of its happy effects on the minds and hearts of darkened and wretched people (compare 1Pe 2:9).
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Isa 42:7
To open the blind eyes
Opening blind eyes
What a grievous affliction is blindness! It was no frivolous boon which Christ, in the days of His sojourn on earth, thought proper to confer, when, in the external sense, He opened blind eyes.
In the paragraph of which the text is a part, Jehovah is describing the Messiah in His spiritual character and work; and, great as the marvel of removing natural blindness was, and great as similar miracles were which Christ performed, their principal value consisted in their being symbols and pledges of those spiritual operations which He could accomplish on the souls of men.
I. THE CALAMITY OF SPIRITUAL BLINDNESS WHICH HAS OVERTAKEN OUR RACE. You would very greatly aggravate the evil of natural blindness by dilating on the numerous and diversified beauties of nature, for the poor blind man sees none of these things! But how much greater is the calamity by which the soul is excluded from the sight of the glory of God! There is very high criminality connected with the origin of this spiritual blindness. The Divine displeasure never arises without a cause, or beyond the cause. What, then, must have been the cause which led to such a fatal condition? The incontestable and melancholy fact is, that man has sinned! As there was high criminality connected with the origin of this blindness, so there is high criminality connected with the continuance of it. If men, struck with this blindness, were to humble themselves on account of it, it would be some alleviation of the matter; but, generally, I find men taking advantage of their darkness, and receding further and further from God; and, indeed, many of them seem never to be so completely happy as when they have most effectually succeeded in banishing all thought of God. This spiritual blindness is so complete that it leads a man to pervert the very instruments which God has appointed for its removal. Take an observation of the state of mankind around us, and see whether or not it sustains this description.
II. THE GREAT ORDINANCE OF JEHOVAH FOR THE REMOVAL OF THIS CALAMITY. See what light Christ has thrown on the character of God! Consider the light which He has thrown on the providence around us. The difficulties of the virtuous, and the shouting success of the villainous, almost seemed, to conscientious men, to indicate very bad management on the part of God; and they have had recourse to a great many theories to explain it. Christ has thrown light on the afflictions which happen to the people of God. And on that immortality which is before us. And on the spiritualities which are required within us.
III. THE GRANDEUR OF THAT OPERATION OF THE SPIRIT BY WHICH THE REMOVAL OF THIS SPIRITUAL BLINDNESS IS EFFECTED. (J. E. Beaumont, M. D.)
New sight causes great joy
I do not wonder that, when a man gets this light into his soul, he should be overjoyed. A young woman had lived to the age of eighteen without seeing at all. Dr. Boyle watched the performance of an operation upon her, and he has described, as only a philosopher could describe, what took place. For some time they were afraid she would lose her reason, so overcome was she by the innumerable beauties which so suddenly burst in upon her. (J. E. Beaumont, M. D.)
A social saviour
This is the kind of man needed in all ages. We have critics enough, we have judges in great abundance, we have speculators more than can be overtaken by statistical genius; we want another kind of man, and we seek for him no better description than that which is outlined by the prophet. We want moral helpers, social saviours, personal healers and comforters. Shall we apply these words to the Lord Jesus Christ? They will fit the occasion exactly. In Him they would seem to secure their amplest and completest realisation. (J. Parker, D. D.)
Christianity opens eyes
Christianity opens eyes never closes them. (J. Parker, D. D.)
Victor Emmanuel, emancipator
We gladly survey the effectual operations of Jesus the Saviour, the true Victor Emmanuel, who comes to set men free from the bondage of their sins.
I. CONSIDER WHO IT IS THAT SENDS JESUS CHRIST TO ACCOMPLISH THE LIBERATION OF THE SONS OF MEN, because much will depend upon the Liberators credentials, the authority by which He is warranted, and the power by which He is hacked. We sing for joy of heart as we see that the Infinite God Himself commissioned the Lord Jesus to be the Deliverer of men; and He did this–
1. In His capacity as Creator (Isa 42:5).
2. He also describes Himself as the life-giver (Isa 42:5).
3. The faithful God. I the Lord have called Thee in righteousness (Isa 42:6) that is to say, the God who sends Christ the Saviour is not one who plays with words, and having given a promise to-day, retracts it to-morrow.
4. The everblessed sender of the Lord Jesus is omnipotent. And will hold thine hand, and will keep Thee. By which is meant that God will give to the Mediator all His power. Christ is the power of God.
II. THE SENT ONE HIMSELF.
1. Jesus is a chosen one. Mine elect, in whom My soul delighteth (Isa 42:1).
2. Jesus is anointed to this work. I have put My Spirit upon Him. The Holy Spirit is the greatest of all actors in the world of mind. He it is who can illuminate, persuade, and control the spirits of men.
3. The Redeemer is spoken of as being gentle and lowly of heart, which should commend Him much to every lowly and contrite spirit (Isa 42:3).
4. The Christ who has come to save the sons of men is persevering to the last degree (Isa 42:4).
III. THE WORK ITSELF. The Messiahs work of grace is divided into three parts.
1. To open the blind eyes. Mans understanding is perverted from the knowledge of God, from a true sense of sin, from a realisation of Divine justice, from a right estimate of salvation. The understanding, which is the eye of the soul, is darkened. But when the anointed Saviour comes, He removes the scales of our mental ophthalmia, and in the light of God we see light.
2. To bring out the prisoners from the prison. Habits of sin, like iron nets, surround the sinner, and he cannot escape their meshes. Faith in the Lord Jesus is the end of bondage and the dawn of freedom.
3. Bringing them that sit in darkness out of the prison-house. This we will refer to those who are truly emancipated, and yet by reason of despondency sit down in the dark dungeon.
IV. WHAT IS THE DESIGN OF GOD IN ALL THIS? I am the Lord: that is My name: and My glory will I not give to another (Isa 42:8). (C. H. Spurgeon.)
Stages of liberty
Men are in various stages of liberty. We are not all equally the free men of God. There are men even now who are under the disadvantage of prejudice. Even to-day superstition lives–chilling, fear-exciting, soul-depressing superstition. There are those who still live in the letter of the Word. (J. Parker, D. D.)
Fuente: Biblical Illustrator Edited by Joseph S. Exell
Verse 7. To open the blind eyes] In this verse the prophet seems to set forth the spiritual redemption, under images borrowed from the temporal deliverance.
Out of the prison house – “And from the dungeon.”] The Septuagint, Syriac, and four MSS., one ancient, add the conjunction vau, umibbeith, and from the house.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
The blind eyes; the eyes of their minds blinded with long ignorance, and deep prejudice, and inveterate error, and by the power and policy of the god of this world, 2Co 4:4, which nothing but the almighty power of God could cure.
The prisoners; sinners, unto are taken captive by the devil at his will, as we read, 2Ti 2:26, and as daily experience showeth, and who are enslaved and chained by their own lusts, and made free-men only by Christ, Joh 8:32,36. Compare this portion of Scripture with Isa 61:1, and both with Luk 4:17-21, where it is said to be fulfilled in and by Christ.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
7. blindspiritually (Isa 42:16;Isa 42:18; Isa 42:19;Isa 35:5; Joh 9:39).
prison (Isa 61:1;Isa 61:2).
darknessopposed to”light” (Isa 42:6;Eph 5:8; 1Pe 2:9).
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
To open the blind eyes,…. Of the idolatrous Gentiles, who were spiritually blind, and knew not the wretchedness of their case; the exceeding sinfulness of sin; their need of a Saviour, and who he was; as they did, when their eyes were opened by means of the Gospel sent among them, through the energy of the divine Spirit; for this is a work of almighty power and efficacious grace:
to bring out the prisoners from the prison; who were concluded in sin, shut up in unbelief, and under the law, the captives of Satan, and held fast prisoners by him and their own lusts, under the dominion of which they were:
and them that sit in darkness out of the prison house: of sin, Satan, and the law; being under which, they were in a state of darkness and ignorance as to things divine and spiritual. The allusion is to prisons, which are commonly dark places. Vitringa, by the “prisoners”, understands the Jews shut up under the law; and by those in “darkness” the Gentiles, destitute of all divine knowledge.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
7. That thou mayest open the eyes of the blind. Here he explains more fully for what end Christ shall be sent by the Father, that we may see more clearly what advantage he yields us, and how much we need his assistance. He reminds all men of their “blindness,” that they may acknowledge it, if they wish to be illuminated by Christ. In short, under these metaphors he declares what is the condition of men, till Christ shine upon them as their Redeemer; that is, that they are most wretched, empty, and destitute of all blessings, and surrounded and overwhelmed by innumerable distresses, till they are delivered by Christ.
Now, though the Prophet addresses Christ himself, yet he has in his eye believers, that they may know that in him they ought to trust, and may not doubt that a remedy will be provided for all their distresses, if they implore his aid. God does not here enjoin Christ what he shall do, as if he needed to be taught or to receive commandments; but he addresses him for our sake, that we may know why the Father sent him; as he says also, (Psa 2:7,) “I will make known the decree; ask of me, I will give thee the Gentiles;” for in that passage the rank and authority of Christ are declared, that we may know that the Father has bestowed on him the highest authority, in order that we may more securely place all our hope and confidence in him.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(7) To open the blind eyes.The prophet must have felt the contrast between this and his own mission (Isa. 6:10). The words all point to spiritual blessings. (Comp. St. Pauls call in Act. 26:18.) The prison is that of the selfishness and sin which hinder men from being truly free. In the prisoners of hope of Zec. 9:11, and the spirits in prison of 1Pe. 3:18, we have different aspects of the same thought.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
7. To open the blind eyes That is, to quicken the intellect to discern moral distinctions the conscience to feel, and the will to bestir itself, in view of them.
To bring out the prisoners Deliverance from the prison house of sin was another function. Messianic work is providential work, so-called; ordering, through its moral changes, physical changes. The Gospel and effects are an exemplification of these things everywhere.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Isa 42:7 To open the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners from the prison, [and] them that sit in darkness out of the prison house.
Ver. 7. To open the blind eyes. ] By the preaching of the gospel. Act 26:18 2Co 4:4-6 Rev 3:18
To bring out the prisoners from the prison.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
To open the blind eyes. Renewing the prophecy of Isa 35:5.
prisoners. See Isa 49:9; Isa 61:1.
sit. Put by Figure of speech Synecdoche (of Species), for being in a permanent condition.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
open: Isa 42:16, Isa 29:18, Isa 35:5, Psa 146:8, Mat 11:5, Luk 24:45, Joh 9:39, Act 26:18, 2Co 4:6, Eph 1:17, Eph 1:18, Rev 3:18
to bring: Isa 42:22, Isa 9:2, Isa 49:9, Isa 61:1, Psa 107:10-16, Psa 146:7, Zec 9:11, Zec 9:12, Luk 4:18-21, 2Ti 2:26, Heb 2:14, Heb 2:15, 1Pe 2:9
Reciprocal: Gen 18:32 – Oh Gen 42:19 – house Exo 4:11 – General 2Ki 6:17 – open his eyes Psa 79:11 – sighing Mic 2:13 – breaker Mat 4:16 – which sat in darkness Mat 9:30 – their Luk 1:79 – give Luk 2:32 – light Luk 7:22 – how Joh 1:4 – the life Joh 8:12 – I am Joh 9:5 – long Joh 9:7 – and came Joh 12:35 – Walk Joh 12:46 – abide Act 16:26 – and every Eph 5:8 – but 1Pe 3:19 – in
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
As light, the Servant would heal disabilities (physical and spiritual), end restrictions that others imposed, and transform individual circumstances (cf. Luk 1:79; Joh 1:4; Joh 8:12; Joh 9:5; Joh 9:39-41; Joh 12:46; Act 26:18). He would bring people out of bondage, including their bondage to sin (cf. Isa 61:1; Joh 8:32; Col 1:13).