Sing to the LORD a new song, his praise from the end of the earth, you who go down to the sea, and all that fills it, the coastlands and their inhabitants.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This call to sing a "new song" isn't just about a new tune; it's about expressing the profound, unprecedented grace of God that demands a fresh outpouring of praise. The specific mention of those who "go down to the sea" and the "isles" highlights that this salvation isn't confined to one place or people, but is meant to reach the furthest corners of the earth.
Sing to the LORD a new song, his praise from the end of the earth, you who go down to the sea, and all that fills it, the coastlands and their inhabitants.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This passage is a jubilant call to worship that expands outward from Israel to encompass the entire world. It follows the prophecies about God's chosen Servant who will bring justice to the nations. The call to sing a "new song" signifies a fresh outpouring of praise for God's redemptive work, extending to all people, especially those connected to the sea and distant lands.
Why does Isaiah call for a 'new song' instead of using the familiar praises of the past?
The prophet Isaiah calls for a 'new song' in Isaiah 42:10 because the redemption being announced is unlike anything that has come before. This isn't just another deliverance; it's a salvific act of God that will reshape the world's understanding of Him.
Why does the prophet specifically mention those who 'go down to the sea' and the 'isles'?
The inclusion of seafarers and island dwellers highlights the comprehensive scope of God's praise. This isn't limited to landlocked communities or traditional centers of power; it extends to the farthest reaches of the known world.
Ask a follow-up
Understand the original words
shiyr chadash · Hebrew Noun Phrase
A song that celebrates a recent or ongoing act of divine deliverance, marking a new phase in God's redemptive history.
This verse, calling for a new song from all nations and peoples, reflects the exilic period's hope for a universal redemption. The prophet envisions God's salvation extending far beyond Israel, encompassing all who travel by sea or inhabit the distant islands, pointing to a future where the entire world will praise the Lord. This hope was particularly potent for the exiles in Babylon, who yearned for God's justice and salvation to be revealed universally, vindicating their faith amidst their hardship and dispersion.
c. 701 BC
Assyrian Siege of Jerusalem
Isaiah prophesied that Jerusalem would not fall, contrasting with Jeremiah's later message. This event saw a miraculous relief of the city.
c. 627-605 BC
Jeremiah's Ministry
Jeremiah prophesied the imminent destruction of Jerusalem and the Babylonian exile, a stark contrast to Isaiah's earlier message.
605 BC
Nebuchadnezzar's First Deportation
Nebuchadnezzar's victory at Carchemish led to Judah paying tribute and the first major deportation of Judeans to Babylon, including Daniel.
598 BC
Second Deportation to Babylon
Following Jehoiakim's rebellion, Nebuchadnezzar besieged Jerusalem again, leading to a second and more significant deportation of the elite, including Ezekiel.
587 BC
Fall of Jerusalem and Destruction of the Temple
Nebuchadnezzar destroyed Jerusalem and the Temple, completing the Babylonian exile and scattering the remaining Jewish population.
c. 550 BC— this verse
Cyrus the Great Rises to Power
Cyrus unified the Medes and Persians, beginning his conquest of the Babylonian Empire, a pivotal event prophesied in Isaiah.
This Psalm also calls for universal praise, specifically mentioning the heavens, earth, sea, and all their inhabitants, echoing the expansive call in Isaiah.
Psalm 107:23This Psalm speaks of those who 'go down to the sea in ships,' highlighting the inclusion of seafarers in God's praise, which directly relates to Isaiah's imagery.
Revelation 5:9This New Testament passage describes people from 'every tribe and language and people and nation' singing a new song of redemption, reflecting the universal scope of praise envisioned in Isaiah.
Zephaniah 2:11Zephaniah prophesies that the 'coastlands' and their inhabitants will worship the Lord, showing a similar geographical breadth in divine worship as seen in Isaiah.
barnesIsaiah 42:10: "Sing unto the LORD a new song, and his praise from the end of the earth, ye that go down to the sea, and all that is therein; the isles, and the inhabitants thereof."
Sing unto the Lord a new song - It is common, as we have seen, to celebrate the goodness of God in a hymn of praise on the manifestation of any special act of mercy (see the notes at Isaiah 12:1-6 ; Isaiah 25:1-12 ; 26) Here the prophet calls upon all people to celebrate the divine mercy in a song of praise in view…
bensonIsaiah 42:10: "Sing unto the LORD a new song, and his praise from the end of the earth, ye that go down to the sea, and all that is therein; the isles, and the inhabitants thereof."
Isaiah 42:10; Isaiah 42:12. Sing unto the Lord a new song — Upon this new and great occasion, the salvation of the world by Christ. It is with peculiar propriety and elegance that the nations are here called upon and exhorted to praise and extol Jehovah, for the singular blessing conferred upon them by the gospel. A…
This call to sing a "new song" isn't just about a new tune; it's about expressing the profound, unprecedented grace of God that demands a fresh outpouring of praise. The specific mention of those who "go down to the sea" and the "isles" highlights that this salvation isn't confined to one place or people, but is meant to reach the furthest corners of the earth.
This passage is a jubilant call to worship that expands outward from Israel to encompass the entire world. It follows the prophecies about God's chosen Servant who will bring justice to the nations. The call to sing a "new song" signifies a fresh outpouring of praise for God's redemptive work, extending to all people, especially those connected to the sea and distant lands.
This passage is a jubilant call to worship that expands outward from Israel to encompass the entire world. It follows the prophecies about God's chosen Servant who will bring justice to the nations. The call to sing a "new song" signifies a fresh outpouring of praise for God's redemptive work, extending to all people, especially those connected to the sea and distant lands.
"Sing to the LORD a new song, his praise from the end of the earth, you who go down to the sea, and all that fills it, the coastlands and their inhabitants." — This call to sing a "new song" isn't just about a new tune; it's about expressing the profound, unprecedented grace of God that demands a fresh outpouring of praise. The specific mention of those who…
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
Last reviewed October 2026