Read & explore together
A New Song of Praise
Isaiah 42:10–17 is a poem calling many places and peoples to praise Yahweh. It moves from singing, to Yahweh acting with power, to Yahweh leading the blind, and ends with a warning about trusting idols.
Understanding the passage
Read these words in context
In this passage, praise is addressed to Yahweh from the sea, islands, wilderness, villages, and mountains. The poem then speaks in strong pictures about Yahweh’s action after silence, his leading of the blind, and the shame of those who trust engraved and molten images.
Isaiah 42:10–17Main takeaway
This poem calls people everywhere to praise Yahweh, because he acts with power, promises to lead the blind and not forsake them, and exposes the failure of idols.
Explore the poem and its images
Open a card to explore the full explanation and its Bible references.
01A new song from many placesThe poem begins with a command to sing a new song to Yahweh. Praise is not limited to one group.
Explanation
The poem begins with a command to sing a new song to Yahweh. Praise is not limited to one group. It stretches from the end of the earth to the sea, islands, wilderness, cities, villages, and mountain tops. The repeated calls show how wide this praise is meant to be.
02Yahweh acts with strength after silenceThe poem describes Yahweh with forceful images. He goes out like a mighty man and triumphs over enemies.
Explanation
The poem describes Yahweh with forceful images. He goes out like a mighty man and triumphs over enemies. Then Yahweh says he has been silent a long time, but now he will cry out. These poetic pictures show decisive action after restraint, not a casual or weak response.
03Power over the land in poetic picturesThe next pictures are dramatic. Mountains and hills are laid waste, herbs dry up, rivers become islands, and pools dry up.
Explanation
The next pictures are dramatic. Mountains and hills are laid waste, herbs dry up, rivers become islands, and pools dry up. These are poetic statements within the song, not narrated historical events. The passage does not explain every detail, but it clearly presents Yahweh’s power in overwhelming terms.
04Help for the blind, shame for idolsYahweh promises to bring the blind along an unknown way, lead them on unknown paths, make darkness into light, and straighten crooked places.
Explanation
Yahweh promises to bring the blind along an unknown way, lead them on unknown paths, make darkness into light, and straighten crooked places. He says he will do these things and not forsake them. By contrast, those who trust engraved and molten images are turned back and disappointed.
Questions to explore
Pause, look back at the verses and talk together.
01Which places and groups are called to praise Yahweh in this poem?
List the locations named in the verses and notice how the poem spreads praise across sea, islands, wilderness, villages, and mountains.
02What change happens between Yahweh’s silence and Yahweh’s action?
Compare the words about being silent and restrained with the later words about crying out, shouting, and triumphing.
03How does the poem contrast Yahweh with idols?
Set Yahweh’s promise to lead, make darkness light, and not forsake the blind beside the disappointment of those who trust images.
Read the Bible passage
World English Bible ClassicScripture quotation · Public domain
Isaiah 42:10–17
10Sing to Yahweh a new song, and his praise from the end of the earth, you who go down to the sea, and all that is therein, the islands and their inhabitants.
11Let the wilderness and its cities raise their voices, with the villages that Kedar inhabits. Let the inhabitants of Sela sing. Let them shout from the top of the mountains!
12Let them give glory to Yahweh, and declare his praise in the islands.
13Yahweh will go out like a mighty man. He will stir up zeal like a man of war. He will raise a war cry. Yes, he will shout aloud. He will triumph over his enemies.
14“I have been silent a long time. I have been quiet and restrained myself. Now I will cry out like a travailing woman. I will both gasp and pant.
15I will destroy mountains and hills, and dry up all their herbs. I will make the rivers islands, and will dry up the pools.
16I will bring the blind by a way that they don’t know. I will lead them in paths that they don’t know. I will make darkness light before them, and crooked places straight. I will do these things, and I will not forsake them.
17“Those who trust in engraved images, who tell molten images, ‘You are our gods,’ will be turned back. They will be utterly disappointed.