Isaiah 42:2
He shall not cry, nor lift up, nor cause his voice to be heard in the street.
Original Language Analysis
לֹ֥א
H3808
לֹ֥א
Strong's:
H3808
Word #:
1 of 8
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
יִצְעַ֖ק
He shall not cry
H6817
יִצְעַ֖ק
He shall not cry
Strong's:
H6817
Word #:
2 of 8
to shriek; (by implication) to proclaim (an assembly)
וְלֹ֣א
H3808
וְלֹ֣א
Strong's:
H3808
Word #:
3 of 8
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
יִשָּׂ֑א
nor lift up
H5375
יִשָּׂ֑א
nor lift up
Strong's:
H5375
Word #:
4 of 8
to lift, in a great variety of applications, literal and figurative, absolute and relative
וְלֹֽא
H3808
וְלֹֽא
Strong's:
H3808
Word #:
5 of 8
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
יַשְׁמִ֥יעַ
to be heard
H8085
יַשְׁמִ֥יעַ
to be heard
Strong's:
H8085
Word #:
6 of 8
to hear intelligently (often with implication of attention, obedience, etc.; causatively, to tell, etc.)
Cross References
2 Timothy 2:24And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient,Matthew 11:29Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.Luke 17:20And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation:
Historical Context
Matthew 12:15-21 directly quotes this passage, applying it to Jesus's ministry pattern of humble service without self-promotion, even withdrawing from crowds to avoid premature confrontation.
Questions for Reflection
- How does the Servant's quiet, non-confrontational approach challenge modern ministry methods?
- In what ways are you tempted toward self-promotion rather than quiet faithfulness?
Related Resources
Explore related topics, people, and study resources to deepen your understanding of this passage.
Analysis & Commentary
The Servant's ministry is characterized by quiet authority—'He shall not cry, nor lift up, nor cause his voice to be heard in the street.' This contrasts with loud, self-promoting religious figures. The Hebrew 'tsa'aq' (cry out) and 'nasa' (lift up) suggest avoiding attention-seeking behavior. Christ fulfilled this perfectly, often commanding silence about His miracles.