The Servant’s Failed Mission A Linguistic Analysis of Isaiah 42:18-25

Through linguistic analysis, this article argues that thecontext of Israel’s blindness and deafness combined with the use of and seem to suggest a direct missionary task, probably a failed missionendeavor on the part of Israel. YHWH’s goal of reaching out to the nations andhumanity through Israel breaks down due to Israel’s wilfulness andnoncompliance. Israel’s failure to fulfill YHWH’s mission to her people and thenations’ peoples resulted in YHWH’s condemnation. YHWH’s reproach to theServant as unfit for His missionary task is due to the self-inflicted ailmentsof sins. Again, Israel’s mission has marked similarities to that of theMessiah, for example, her mission responsibility towards the nations. Israelfailed in her mission and awaits a YHWH’s restoration before she can fulfillher mission.