myBibleHistory

Journey of a Passage

Isaiah 42:1–4

"Behold my servant": Hebrew, Greek and Matthew 12

"Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth; I have put my spirit upon him: he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles." The Hebrew names no one; the library's Greek reads "Jacob my servant… Israel my chosen." Matthew 12:18–21 quotes the passage of Jesus in a form close to neither, without Jacob and Israel, ending with the Greek "in his name shall the Gentiles trust." The Great Isaiah Scroll reads "his justice" (v. 1) and "they will inherit" (v. 4).

Same letters, different readings: the consonants agree, but ancient readers vocalized or interpreted them differently

The family tree

Each row is a language or text tradition. Witnesses in the same row may share ancestry, revise one another, or have an uncertain relationship; the line under each box says which. A solid arrow appears only where direct copying or a documented revised edition is established. Order by date never implies copying. Scroll sideways on a phone.

✓ contains it · ✕ does not · ❝ quotes part of it · ⓘ reports on manuscripts · ▢ pages lost · – no copy survives

  • Same line, through lost copies
  • Translation
  • Uncertain connection
Hebrew
  1. The oracle as first spoken or written8th–6th century BC (by section; debated)
  2. Great Isaiah Scroll (1QIsa-a), Qumran Cave 1c. 125 BC (palaeography; reported)Descends, through lost copies, from The oracle as first spoken or written
  3. 4QIsa-b (4Q56), Qumran Cave 41st century BC (reported)Descends, through lost copies, from The oracle as first spoken or written
  4. 4QIsa-h (4Q62), Qumran Cave 41st century BC – 1st century AD (reported)Descends, through lost copies, from The oracle as first spoken or written
  5. Masoretic Text (Leningrad Codex)AD 1008Descends, through lost copies, from The oracle as first spoken or written
Greek
  1. Greek Isaiah (library: Giguet's French)Greek translation c. 2nd century BC; French 1872Translated from the Old Greek Isaiah
Latin
  1. Latin Vulgate (Clementine)Jerome c. AD 400, from Hebrew; edition 1592Translated from the Hebrew text Jerome used
English
  1. King James Bible1611Translated from printed Masoretic Hebrew
New Testament quotation
  1. Matthew 12:18–21 (Greek New Testament; library: Statistical Restoration text)1st century AD; edition 2010sUncertain relationship to the verse (which wording it followed is the question)

Every witness, in order

  1. 8th–6th century BC (by section; debated)

    The oracle as first spoken or written

    – No copy survives

    No original survives. The oldest copies of Isaiah are the Qumran scrolls: the Great Isaiah Scroll (1QIsa-a, about 125 BC, nearly complete), 1QIsa-b (1Q8) and some twenty other fragmentary manuscripts.

  2. c. 125 BC (palaeography; reported)

    Great Isaiah Scroll (1QIsa-a), Qumran Cave 1

    ✓ Contains this passageDescends, through lost copies, from The oracle as first spoken or written

    How the site knows this: Described from a published transcription of the manuscript. Described in the site's own words from Martin Abegg's transcription (ETCBC/CACCHT Dead Sea Scrolls dataset v2.0.5); the transcription itself is not reproduced. Photographs and DJD XXXII not yet checked.

    Hebrew numbering: Isaiah 42:1–4. In v. 1 reads "his justice" for "justice"; in v. 2 a different spelling of "cry out"; in v. 3 "quench" without the object suffix; in v. 4 a form meaning "they will inherit" (or "cause to inherit") where the Masoretic Text has "they will wait for" his teaching. Otherwise the differences are of spelling (fuller use of vowel letters) and small grammatical forms.

  3. 1st century BC (reported)

    4QIsa-b (4Q56), Qumran Cave 4

    ◐ Contains part of itDescends, through lost copies, from The oracle as first spoken or written

    How the site knows this: Described from a published transcription of the manuscript. Described in the site's own words from Martin Abegg's transcription (ETCBC/CACCHT Dead Sea Scrolls dataset v2.0.5); the transcription itself is not reproduced. Photographs and DJD XXXII not yet checked.

    Hebrew numbering: Isaiah 42:1–4. A fragmentary copy: only parts of these verses survive, and in the transcription much of the passage is restored by the editors. What survives of vv. 2–4 agrees with the Masoretic Text.

  4. 1st century BC – 1st century AD (reported)

    4QIsa-h (4Q62), Qumran Cave 4

    ◐ Contains part of itDescends, through lost copies, from The oracle as first spoken or written

    How the site knows this: Described from a published transcription of the manuscript. Described in the site's own words from Martin Abegg's transcription (ETCBC/CACCHT Dead Sea Scrolls dataset v2.0.5); the transcription itself is not reproduced. Photographs and DJD XXXII not yet checked.

    Hebrew numbering: Isaiah 42:1–4. A fragmentary copy: only parts of these verses survive, and in the transcription much of the passage is restored by the editors. Preserves the end of v. 4 with the Masoretic "wait for" his teaching.

  5. 1st century AD; edition 2010s

    Matthew 12:18–21 (Greek New Testament; library: Statistical Restoration text)

    ✓ Contains this passageUncertain relationship to the verse (which wording it followed is the question)

    How the site knows this: Read in the site's library text: the Greek New Testament editions in the library (Textus Receptus, Byzantine Textform, Statistical Restoration).

    “Ἰδοὺ, ὁ παῖς μου ὃν ᾑρέτισα, ὁ ἀγαπητός μου ὃν εὐδόκησεν ἡ ψυχή μου. Θήσω τὸ ˚Πνεῦμά μου ἐπʼ αὐτόν, καὶ κρίσιν τοῖς ἔθνεσιν ἀπαγγελεῖ. Οὐκ ἐρίσει, οὐδὲ κραυγάσει, οὐδὲ ἀκούσει τις ἐν ταῖς πλατείαις τὴν φωνὴν αὐτοῦ. Κάλαμον συντετριμμένον οὐ κατεάξει, καὶ λίνον τυφόμενον οὐ σβέσει, ἕως ἂν ἐκβάλῃ εἰς νῖκος τὴν κρίσιν. Καὶ τῷ ὀνόματι αὐτοῦ ἔθνη ἐλπιοῦσιν.”

    Behold my servant whom I have chosen, my beloved in whom my soul is well pleased; I will put my Spirit on him… and in his name the Gentiles will hope

    Matthew's citation (12:18–21), applied to Jesus. KJV: "Behold my servant, whom I have chosen; my beloved, in whom my soul is well pleased: I will put my spirit upon him, and he shall shew judgment to the Gentiles. He shall not strive, nor cry; neither shall any man hear his voice in the streets. A bruised reed shall he not break, and smoking flax shall he not quench, till he send forth judgment unto victory. And in his name shall the Gentiles trust."

  6. Jerome c. AD 400, from Hebrew; edition 1592

    Latin Vulgate (Clementine)

    ✓ Contains this passageTranslated from the Hebrew text Jerome used

    How the site knows this: Read in the site's library text: Clementine Vulgate (1592 edition).

    Ecce servus meus, suscipiam eum; electus meus, complacuit sibi in illo anima mea: dedi spiritum meum super eum: judicium gentibus proferet. Non clamabit, neque accipiet personam, nec audietur vox ejus foris. Calamum quassatum non conteret, et linum fumigans non extinguet: in veritate educet judicium. Non erit tristis, neque turbulentus, donec ponat in terra judicium; et legem ejus insulæ exspectabunt.

    Latin numbering: Isaiah 42:1–4. Jerome translated Isaiah from Hebrew (c. AD 400).

  7. AD 1008

    Masoretic Text (Leningrad Codex)

    ✓ Contains this passageDescends, through lost copies, from The oracle as first spoken or written

    How the site knows this: Read in the site's library text: Westminster Leningrad Codex, a digital transcription of the Leningrad Codex.

    הֵ֤ן עַבְדִּי֙ אֶתְמָךְ־בּ֔וֹ בְּחִירִ֖י רָצְתָ֣ה נַפְשִׁ֑י נָתַ֤תִּי רוּחִי֙ עָלָ֔יו מִשְׁפָּ֖ט לַגּוֹיִ֥ם יוֹצִֽיא׃ לֹ֥א יִצְעַ֖ק וְלֹ֣א יִשָּׂ֑א וְלֹֽא־יַשְׁמִ֥יעַ בַּח֖וּץ קוֹלֽוֹ׃ קָנֶ֤ה רָצוּץ֙ לֹ֣א יִשְׁבּ֔וֹר וּפִשְׁתָּ֥ה כֵהָ֖ה לֹ֣א יְכַבֶּ֑נָּה לֶאֱמֶ֖ת יוֹצִ֥יא מִשְׁפָּֽט׃ לֹ֤א יִכְהֶה֙ וְלֹ֣א יָר֔וּץ עַד־יָשִׂ֥ים בָּאָ֖רֶץ מִשְׁפָּ֑ט וּלְתוֹרָת֖וֹ אִיִּ֥ים יְיַחֵֽילוּ׃

    Here is my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen, in whom my soul delights; I have put my spirit on him; he will bring justice to the nations (v. 1)

    Hebrew numbering: Isaiah 42:1–4.

  8. 1611

    King James Bible

    ✓ Contains this passageTranslated from printed Masoretic Hebrew

    How the site knows this: Read in the site's library text: King James Version (1769 text).

    Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth; I have put my spirit upon him: he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles. He shall not cry, nor lift up, nor cause his voice to be heard in the street. A bruised reed shall he not break, and the smoking flax shall he not quench: he shall bring forth judgment unto truth. He shall not fail nor be discouraged, till he have set judgment in the earth: and the isles shall wait for his law.

  9. Greek translation c. 2nd century BC; French 1872

    Greek Isaiah (library: Giguet's French)

    ✓ Contains this passageTranslated from the Old Greek Isaiah

    How the site knows this: Known here only through a translation.

    Jacob mon serviteur, je te protégerai; Israël est mon élu, mon âme l’a agréé; j’ai répandu sur lui mon esprit, et il révèlera mon jugement aux nations. Il ne criera pas, il ne faiblira pas; sa voix au dehors ne sera pas entendue. Il ne broiera pas le roseau déja brisé; il n’éteindra pas la mèche qui fume encore; mais il révèlera le jugement selon la vérité. Il brillera et ne sera point détruit jusqu’à ce qu’il ait placé le jugement sur la terre, et les gentils mettront leur espérance en son nom.

    Greek (digital file) numbering: Isaiah 42:1–4. Giguet's 1872 French of a printed Greek text (D check only); a C check needs Ziegler's Göttingen Isaiah or Rahlfs–Hanhart.

What changed, and why

Classification: Greek = interpretive translation (identifies the servant as Israel); 1QIsa-a = small variants; Matthew = later quotation with its own form.

The Targum reads "my servant the messiah" (reported). The voice at Jesus' baptism echoes v. 1 with Psalm 2:7 (Mark 1:11).

Matthew applies the gentleness of vv. 2–3 to Jesus' withdrawal and command to silence (12:15–16).

What the evidence shows

  • Independently documentedThe library's Greek names Jacob and Israel in 42:1. Giguet; C check.
  • Independently documentedMatthew 12:18–21 quotes Isaiah 42:1–4 without naming Jacob or Israel.
  • DisputedThe servant of 42:1 is the messiah. Targum and Christian readings; others read Israel or the prophet.

Sources

    Related lessons

    • Isaiah 42: Behold My Servant →"Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth; I have put my spirit upon him: he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles": quietly, not breaking a bruised reed, until justice is established on earth (42:1–4). God, creator of heaven and earth, calls him as "a covenant of the people, a light of the Gentiles," to open blind eyes and free prisoners (vv. 5–9). Sing a new song from the ends of the earth; God goes out like a warrior and cries out like a woman in labor (vv. 10–17). Yet "who is blind, but my servant?": Israel, robbed and imprisoned, did not understand that God himself had given it up (vv. 18–25).
    • Investigation: Who Is the Servant? →Isaiah 40–55 calls someone "my servant" more than twenty times. Sometimes the servant is plainly Israel/Jacob; sometimes the servant has a mission to Israel; in 52:13–53:12 he suffers and dies for others and is vindicated. Since B. Duhm (1892) scholars have spoken of four "Servant Songs" (42:1–9; 49:1–6; 50:4–9; 52:13–53:12). This investigation maps every servant text, then sets out the main identifications, each with the evidence for it in its own historical setting, and keeps the text, ancient Jewish reading, early Christian claims and modern historical judgment separate.
    • Investigation: Jesus and Isaiah →Isaiah is quoted in the Gospels more than any other prophet. This study registers 55 uses that involve Jesus: 20 in Matthew, 14 in Mark, 12 in Luke and 9 in John. For each it records who speaks (Jesus as the Gospel reports him, the narrator, John the Baptist, a heavenly voice, Simeon, or a later scribe), the Isaiah passage and its original setting, the Gospel's Greek wording, whether the use is an explicit quotation, a quotation without formula, an allusion, a proposed allusion, or a later Christian connection, and how that Gospel uses it. Each Gospel is kept separate.