Isaiah 42:16
And I will bring the blind by a way that they knew not; I will lead them in paths that they have not known: I will make darkness light before them, and crooked things straight. These things will I do unto them, and not forsake them.
Study Note
Study Note
The divine promise to 'bring the blind by a way they knew not' belongs to the first Servant Song's wider context (Isaiah 42:1–17) and depicts the eschatological exodus in which God himself becomes the guide through previously impassable terrain. The fourfold transformation — unknown way made known, darkness made light, crooked made straight — employs exodus typology while extending it: not just the Red Sea and wilderness, but every obstacle standing between exile and restoration. The promise 'I will not forsake them' (lo' e'ĕzeḇem) echoes the covenant assurance of Deuteronomy 31:6 and became a foundational pledge for the consolation literature of Isaiah 40–55. John 9's healing of the man born blind operates within this Isaianic framework, as Jesus performs the literal version of what Isaiah promised metaphorically.
Other Translations
And I will bring the blind by a way that they know not; in paths that they know not will I lead them; I will make darkness light before them, and crooked places straight. These things will I do, and I will not forsake them.
And I have caused the blind to go, In a way they have not known, In paths they have not known I cause them to tread, I make a dark place before them become light, And unlevelled places become a plain, These <FI>are<Fi> the things I have done to them, And I have not forsaken them.
And I will take the blind by a way of which they had no knowledge, guiding them by roads strange to them: I will make the dark places light before them, and the rough places level. These things will I do and will not give them up.
Cross References
Thy sun shall no more go down; neither shall thy moon withdraw itself: for the Lord shall be thine everlasting …
The sun shall be no more thy light by day; neither for brightness shall the moon give light unto thee: …
For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the Lord shall arise upon thee, …
Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee.
And all thy children shall be taught of the Lord; and great shall be the peace of thy children.
Thus saith the Lord, thy Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel; I am the Lord thy God which teacheth thee …
I will go before thee, and make the crooked places straight: I will break in pieces the gates of brass, …
He pursued them, and passed safely; even by the way that he had not gone with his feet.
Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low: and the crooked shall be made …
And an highway shall be there, and a way, and it shall be called The way of holiness; the unclean …