I the LORD have called thee in {l} righteousness, and will hold {m} thy hand, and will keep thee, and give thee for a {n} covenant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles;

(l) Meaning, to a lawful and just calling.

(m) To assist and guide you.

(n) As him, by whom the promise made to all nations in Abraham will be fulfilled.

Wesley's Notes

42:6 Called thee - To declare my righteousness, or faithfulness. With - hold - Will give thee counsel and strength for the work. Give thee - To be the mediator in whom my covenant of grace is confirmed with mankind. The people - Of all people, not only of Jews but Gentiles. A light - To enlighten them with true and saving knowledge.

Scofield Reference Notes

[2] for a light of the Gentiles

The prophets connect the Gentiles with Christ in a threefold way"

(1) as the Light He brings salvation to the Gentiles Lk 2:32 Acts 13:47,48

(2) as the "Root of Jesse" He is to reign over the Gentiles in His kingdom. Isa 11:10 Rom 15:12. He saves the Gentiles, which is the distinctive feature of this present age. Rom 11:17-24 Eph 2:11,12 He reigns over the Gentiles in the kingdom-age, to follow this. See "Kingdom (O.T.)," Gen 1:26-28 Zech 12:8.

(3) Believing Gentiles in the present age, together with believing Jews, constitute "the church which is His body." See Scofield Note: "Eph 3:6"

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

6. in righteousness-rather, "for a righteous purpose" [Lowth]. (See Isa 42:21). God "set forth" His Son "to be a propitiation (so as) to declare His (God's) righteousness, that God might be just, and (yet) the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus" (Ro 3:25, 26; compare see on [784]Isa 41:2; Isa 45:13; 50:8, 9).

hold . hand-compare as to Israel, the type of Messiah, Ho 11:3.

covenant-the medium of the covenant, originally made between God and Abraham (Isa 49:8). "The mediator of a better covenant" (Heb 8:6) than the law (see Isa 49:8; Jer 31:33; 50:5). So the abstract "peace," for peace-maker (Mic 5:5; Eph 2:14).

the people-Israel; as Isa 49:8, compared with Isa 42:6, proves (Lu 2:32).

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

42:5-12 The work of redemption brings back man to the obedience he owes to God as his Maker. Christ is the light of the world. And by his grace he opens the understandings Satan has blinded, and sets at liberty from the bondage of sin. The Lord has supported his church. And now he makes new promises, which shall as certainly be fulfilled as the old ones were. When the Gentiles are brought into the church, he is glorified in them and by them. Let us give to God those things which are his, taking heed that we do not serve the creature more than the Creator.