Isaiah 42:4
“He shall not fail nor be discouraged, till he have set judgment in the earth: and the isles shall wait for his law.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →No weariness, no discouragement; the servant persists until judgment is set on the earth and the distant isles wait for his law.
Context
The servant's unstoppable advance toward the establishment of God's justice on earth.
What Does Isaiah 42:4 Mean?
Here is the unfailing commitment of the servant. He does not grow tired or give up when opposition comes or when progress seems slow. His gaze is fixed on the ultimate goal: judgment established in the earth, meaning not punishment but the restoration of right order, justice, and covenant faithfulness. The isles, the remote and foreign nations, will wait for his law because they sense his ultimate victory and authority. His determination is rooted in the certainty of his mission.
This verse strengthens us when our own efforts at faithfulness seem to waver. Christ never faltered in his mission, even facing the cross, and the promise of his return sustains all believers through difficulty. We are called to share in that same resolve, knowing that God's purposes for justice and redemption will not be defeated. The waiting of the nations for his law speaks to the hope that one day all will acknowledge his rule.
Application
We live in the in-between time, waiting for Christ's return and the full establishment of God's kingdom. When we grow weary in our own faith and witness, remember that Christ himself was not discouraged, and his work will surely come to completion. Our own faithfulness matters not because we will finish the work alone, but because we are joining a movement that cannot fail.