Texts in Conversation
The Hebrew version of Isaiah says the coastlands wait for the servant’s teaching. The Greek Septuagint translation changes the object of hope from his teaching to his name, so the nations hope in the servant rather than in his instruction.
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2500 BCE
1000+ CE
Isaiah 42:4
Hebrew Bible
3 A crushed reed he will not break, a dim wick he will not extinguish; he will faithfully make just decrees. 4 He will not grow dim or be crushed before establishing justice on the earth; the coastlands will wait in anticipation for his decrees.” 5 This is what the true God, the Lord, says—the one who created the sky and stretched it out, the one who fashioned the earth and everything that lives on it, the one who gives breath to the people on it, and life to those who live on it:
LXX Isaiah 42:4
Septuagint
3 a bruised reed he will not break, and a smoking wick he will not quench, but he will bring forth judgment for truth. 4 He will blaze up and not be overwhelmed until he has established judgment on the earth, and nations will hope in his name. 5 Thus says the Lord God, who created heaven and established it, who bolstered the earth and the things that are in it and who gave breath to the people upon it and spirit to those who tread on it:
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Notes and References
"... The form of Matthew’s citation of the final line of the quotation agrees significantly with the Septuagint against the Masoretic Text: Isaiah 42:4b Masoretic Text: And for his law the coastlands will wait. Isaiah 42:4b Septuagint: And in his name Gentiles will hope. Matthew follows the Septuagint verbatim, except for his omission of the preposition. One result of Matthew’s preference for the Septuagint text form is to sharpen the focus on the christological significance of the prophecy. It is “his name” rather than the Torah that is the object of expectation or hope. And the reader of Matthew can hardly help wondering whether that name is explicitly “Jesus” or “Emmanuel.” At the same time, the Septuagint textual form specifies the identity of those who look to him: it is “Gentiles” who will hope in his name. ..."
* The use of references are not endorsements of their contents. Please read the entirety of the provided reference(s) to understand the author's full intentions regarding the use of these texts.
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