Isaiah 42:7
7. blind—spiritually (Isa 42:16, 18, 19; Isa 35:5; Joh 9:39).
prison— (Isa 61:1, 2). darkness—opposed to "light" (Isa 42:6; Eph 5:8; 1Pe 2:9).Zechariah 9:12
12. stronghold—in contrast to the "pit" (Zec 9:11); literally, "a place cut off from access." MAURER thinks, "a height" (Ps 18:33). An image for the security which the returning Jews shall have in Messiah (Zec 9:8) encamped about His people (Ps 46:1, 5; compare Isa 49:9; Pr 18:10).
prisoners of hope—that is, who in spite of afflictions (Job 13:15; Ps 42:5, 11) maintain hope in the covenant-keeping God; in contrast to unbelievers, who say, "There is no hope" (Jer 2:25; 18:12). Especially those Jews who believe God's word to Israel (Jer 31:17), "there is hope in the end, that thy children shall come again to their own border," and do not say, as in Eze 37:11, "Our hope is lost." Primarily, the Jews of Zechariah's time are encouraged not to be dispirited in building by their trials; secondarily, the Jews before the coming restoration are encouraged to look to Messiah for deliverance from their last oppressors. even to-day—when your circumstances seem so unpromising; in contrast with the "day of the Lord," when Zion's King shall come to her deliverance (Zec 9:9). I will render double—Great as has been thy adversity, thy prosperity shall be doubly greater (Isa 61:7).
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