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Special Topic

SPECIAL TOPIC: MY SERVANT

This was a title of respect and calling (BDB 713).

  1. It was used in a collective sense
    1. the Patriarchs as a group – Deut. 9:27
    2. the prophets – 2 Kgs. 9:7; 17:13; Ezra 9:11; Jer. 7:25; 26:5; 29:19; 35:15; 44:4
    3. Israel – Ps. 105:6; 136:22; Isa. 41:8-9; 42:18-19; 44:1,2,21; 45:4; 48:20; 49:3; Jer. 30:10; 46:27,28
    4. the Septuagint adds a phrase to Isa. 42:1, which makes it refer to national Israel (“Jacob is my servant, I will help him; Israel is my chosen”)
  2. It was used in an individual sense
    1. Abraham – Gen. 26:24; Ps. 105:6
    2. Job – Job 1:8; 2:3; 42:7, 8
    3. Isaac – Gen. 24:14
    4. Jacob – 1 Chr. 16:13; Ps. 105:6; Ezek. 28:25
    5. Moses – Exod. 14:31; Num. 12:7-8; Deut. 34:5; Jos. 1:1-2,7,13,15
    6. Joshua – Jos. 24:29; Jdg. 2:8
    7. Caleb – Num 14:24
    8. David – Ezek. 37:25
    9. Zerubbabel – Hag. 2:23
    10. Solomon – 1 Kgs. 3:8
    11. Isaiah – Isa. 20:3; 44:26
    12. Jesus – Matt. 12:15-21 quotes Isa. 42:1-4

This is a honorific title used of the Messiah in the “Servant Songs” of Isaiah (cf. Isa. 42:1-4; 49:1-6; 50:4-9; 52:13-53:12). Some have seen all of these as referring to Israel (cf. Isa. 41:8-9; 42:19; 43:10; 44:21), but Isa. 52:13-53:12 refers to an individual, ideal Israelite (note Isa. 53:8). The servant cannot die for the sins of the servant! Notice Matt. 27:38,59. God is in control of history, men, nations, and even Satan; all may be used to accomplish His redemptive purposes (see SPECIAL TOPIC: YHWH’S ETERNAL REDEMPTIVE PLAN)! He used Christ (cf. Isa. 53:10).

The footnote of the Expositor’s Bible Commentary, vol. 6, p. 545, is very helpful as it outlines the different usages of the title “My Servant.”

1. a servant of God as a prophet, cf. Num. 12:7-8; Neh. 1:7; Dan. 9:11

a. Moses

b. Daniel, cf. Dan. 9:17

2. a servant of God as a military leader (i.e., Joshua), cf. Jos. 24:29; Jdgs. 2:8

3. a servant of God as King (i.e., David), cf. 2 Sam. 7:5,8; Psalm 18; 36; Ezek. 34:24; 37:24

4. a servant of God as administrator

a. Nehemiah, cf. Neh. 1:6

b. Zerubbabel, cf. Hag. 2:23

5. all Israel (or Jacob), cf. Isa. 41:8,9; 42:1,19; 43:10; 44:1,21; 49:3; Ezek. 28:25; 37:25

6. the remnant of Israel, cf. Isa. 41:8-10

7. a godly individual, cf. Job 1:8; 2:3; 42:8

8. unbelieving rulers who serve YHWH’s purposes

a. Cyrus, Isa. 44:28; 45:1

b. Nebuchadnezzar, Jer. 25:9; 27:6; 43:10


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