Discovery BoxIsaiah 41:4 
Context41:4 Who acts and carries out decrees? 1
Who 2 summons the successive generations from the beginning?
I, the Lord, am present at the very beginning,
and at the very end – I am the one. 3
Isaiah 42:1
Context42:1 4 “Here is my servant whom I support,
my chosen one in whom I take pleasure.
I have placed my spirit on him;
he will make just decrees 5 for the nations. 6
Isaiah 58:2
Context58:2 They seek me day after day;
they want to know my requirements, 7
like a nation that does what is right
and does not reject the law of their God.
They ask me for just decrees;
they want to be near God.
1 tn Heb “Who acts and accomplishes?”; NASB “Who has performed and accomplished it.”
2 tn The interrogative particle is understood by ellipsis (note the preceding line).
3 tn Heb “I, the Lord, [am with] the first, and with the last ones I [am] he.”
4 sn Verses 1-7 contain the first of Isaiah’s “servant songs,” which describe the ministry of a special, ideal servant who accomplishes God’s purposes for Israel and the nations. This song depicts the servant as a just king who brings justice to the earth and relief for the oppressed. The other songs appear in 49:1-13; 50:4-11; and 52:13-53:12.
5 tn Heb “he will bring out justice” (cf. ASV, NASB, NRSV).
6 sn Like the ideal king portrayed in Isa 11:1-9, the servant is energized by the divine spirit and establishes justice on the earth.
7 tn Heb “ways” (so KJV, NAB, NASB, NIV, NRSV, TEV); NLT “my laws.”
