פירוש על ישעיהו 42:6

I called you To Isaiah He says.

I, the Lord, have called thee, etc. The Lord in these words addresses the prophet upon his own concerns.

and I formed you Heb. וְאֶצָּרְךָ. When I formed you (כְּשֶׁיְצַרְתִּיךָ), this was My thought, that you return My people to My covenant and to enlighten them.

And I will keep thee, that no evil shall befall thee.

for a light to nations Every tribe is called a nation by itself, as the matter is stated (Gen. 35:11): “A nation and a congregation of nations.”

For a covenant of a people. To establish the covenant of a people ; comp. 49:8