Isaiah 42:21

The Lord is well pleased for his righteousness’ sake; he will magnify the law, and make it honourable.

Isaiah 42:21 (KJV)

Context

Isaiah 42 belongs to the collection of passages known as the Servant Songs, which describe the role and character of the Servant of the Lord, a figure understood by many readers as pointing toward the coming Messiah. Within this chapter the prophet highlights God’s commitment to justice and righteousness. Verse 21 declares that the LORD is well pleased for His righteousness’ sake and that He will magnify the law and make it honourable. This language underscores God’s delight in righteousness and His desire that His commandments be elevated, visible, and esteemed.

Meaning

The verse begins by affirming that the Lord is well pleased for His righteousness’ sake. This points to God’s own moral perfection and His faithfulness to His covenant promises. His delight in righteousness is not abstract; it moves Him to act. The second half of the verse states that He will magnify the law and make it honourable. To magnify the law means to make it great, to display its full weight and beauty. God’s purpose is that His instruction be seen as glorious, not diminished or hidden.

Some readers note that the wording of verse 21 differs in certain translations, yet the underlying principle—that God delights in righteousness and calls His people to uphold His law—remains central to the passage’s message. The verse therefore serves as a theological hinge, linking the Servant’s mission with the broader biblical theme of law fulfillment.

Biblical connections

Christians see the fulfillment of this promise in the person of Jesus Christ. In Matthew 5:17 Jesus states that He came not to abolish the Law or the Prophets but to fulfill them. By living a sin-free life, offering Himself as the perfect sacrifice, and rising in resurrection, Jesus magnified the law and made it honourable, providing the way for humanity to be reconciled to God.

Application

For believers today, the passage calls us to mirror that righteousness. Through the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit, Christians are empowered to obey God’s commandments and to let their conduct honor Him. Living in accordance with God’s law reflects the delight of the LORD and participates in the magnification of the law that the verse proclaims.

Reflection

Isaiah 42:21 affirms God’s pleasure in righteousness, His intention to elevate the law, and, through Christ, the fulfillment of that intention. As followers of the Servant, we are invited to pursue righteousness, uphold God’s statutes, and bring honour to His name.