Isaiah45
World English Bible · Public Domain
1Yahweh says to his anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I have held to subdue nations before him and strip kings of their armor, to open the doors before him, and the gates shall not be shut:
2“I will go before you and make the rough places smooth. I will break the doors of bronze in pieces and cut apart the bars of iron.
3I will give you the treasures of darkness and hidden riches of secret places, that you may know that it is I, Yahweh, who calls you by your name, even the God of Israel.
4For Jacob my servant’s sake, and Israel my chosen, I have called you by your name. I have given you a title, though you have not known me.
5I am Yahweh, and there is no one else. Besides me, there is no God. I will strengthen you, though you have not known me,
6that they may know from the rising of the sun, and from the west, that there is no one besides me. I am Yahweh, and there is no one else.
7I form the light and create darkness. I make peace and create calamity. I am Yahweh, who does all these things.
8Rain, you heavens, from above, and let the skies pour down righteousness. Let the earth open, that it may produce salvation, and let it cause righteousness to spring up with it. I, Yahweh, have created it.
9Woe to him who strives with his Maker— a clay pot among the clay pots of the earth! Shall the clay ask him who fashions it, ‘What are you making?’ or your work, ‘He has no hands’?
10Woe to him who says to a father, ‘What have you become the father of?’ or to a mother, ‘What have you given birth to?’”
11Yahweh, the Holy One of Israel and his Maker says: “You ask me about the things that are to come, concerning my sons, and you command me concerning the work of my hands!
12I have made the earth, and created man on it. I, even my hands, have stretched out the heavens. I have commanded all their army.
13I have raised him up in righteousness, and I will make all his ways straight. He shall build my city, and he shall let my exiles go free, not for price nor reward,” says Yahweh of Armies.
14Yahweh says: “The labor of Egypt, and the merchandise of Ethiopia, and the Sabeans, men of stature, will come over to you, and they will be yours. They will go after you. They shall come over in chains. They will bow down to you. They will make supplication to you: ‘Surely God is in you; and there is no one else. There is no other god.
15Most certainly you are a God who has hidden yourself, God of Israel, the Savior.’”
16They will be disappointed, yes, confounded, all of them. Those who are makers of idols will go into confusion together.
17Israel will be saved by Yahweh with an everlasting salvation. You will not be disappointed nor confounded to ages everlasting.
18For Yahweh who created the heavens, the God who formed the earth and made it, who established it and didn’t create it a waste, who formed it to be inhabited says: “I am Yahweh. There is no other.
19I have not spoken in secret, in a place of the land of darkness. I didn’t say to the offspring of Jacob, ‘Seek me in vain.’ I, Yahweh, speak righteousness. I declare things that are right.
20“Assemble yourselves and come. Draw near together, you who have escaped from the nations. Those have no knowledge who carry the wood of their engraved image, and pray to a god that can’t save.
21Declare and present it. Yes, let them take counsel together. Who has shown this from ancient time? Who has declared it of old? Haven’t I, Yahweh? There is no other God besides me, a just God and a Savior. There is no one besides me.
22“Look to me, and be saved, all the ends of the earth; for I am God, and there is no other.
23I have sworn by myself. The word has gone out of my mouth in righteousness, and will not be revoked, that to me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall take an oath.
24They will say of me, ‘There is righteousness and strength only in Yahweh.’” Even to him will men come. All those who raged against him will be disappointed.
25All the offspring of Israel will be justified in Yahweh, and will rejoice!
Study Guide
Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Isaiah 45.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: The deliverance of the Jews by Cyrus. (1-4). God calls for obedience to his almighty power. (5-10). The settlement of his people. (11-19). The conversion of the Gentiles. (20-25).
vv1-4
Cyrus is called God's anointed; he was designed and qualified for his great service by the counsel of God. The gates of Babylon which led to the river, were left open the night that Cyrus marched his army into the empty channel. The Lord went before him, giving entrance to the cities he besieged. He gave him also treasures, which had been hidden in secret places. The true God was to Cyrus an unknown God; yet God foreknew him; he called him by his name. The exact fulfilment of this must have shown Cyrus that Jehovah was the only true God, and that it was for the sake of Israel that he was prospered. In all the changes of states and kingdoms, God works out the good of his church.
vv5-10
There is no God beside Jehovah. There is nothing done without him. He makes peace, put here for all good; and creates evil, not the evil of sin, but the evil of punishment. He is the Author of all that is true, holy, good, or happy; and evil, error, and misery, came into the world by his permission, through the wilful apostacy of his creatures, but are restrained and overruled to his righteous purpose. This doctrine is applied, for the comfort of those that earnestly longed, yet quietly waited, for the redemption of Israel. The redemption of sinners by the Son of God, and the pouring out the Spirit, to give success to the gospel, are chiefly here intended. We must not expect salvation without righteousness; together the Lord hath created them. Let not oppressors oppose God's designs for his people. Let not the poor oppressed murmur, as if God dealt unkindly with them. Men are but earthen pots; they are broken potsherds, and are very much made so by mutual contentions. To contend with Him is as senseless as for clay to find fault with the potter. Let us turn God's promises into prayers, beseeching him that salvation may abound among us, and let us rest assured that the Judge of all the earth will do right.
vv11-19
Believers may ask in prayer for what they need; if for their good, it will not be withheld. But how common to hear God called to account for his dealings with man! Cyrus provided for the returning Jews. Those redeemed by Christ shall be provided for. The restoration would convince many, and convert some; and all that truly join the Lord, find his service perfect freedom. Though God be his people's God and Saviour, yet sometimes he lays them under his frowns; but let them wait upon the Lord who hides his face. There is a world without end; and it will be well or ill with us, according as it shall be with us in that world. The Lord we serve and trust, is God alone. All that God has said is plain, satisfactory, and just. As God in his word calls us to seek him, so he never denied believing prayers, nor disappointed believing expectations. He gives grace sufficient, and comfort and satisfaction of soul.
Key Words
כֹּה: properly, like this, i.e. by implication, (of manner) thus (or so); also (of place) here (or hither); or (of time) now
אָמַר: to say (used with great latitude)
מָשִׁיחַ: anointed; usually a consecrated person (as a king, priest, or saint); specifically, the Messiah
כּוֹרֶשׁ: Koresh (or Cyrus), the Persian king
אֲשֶׁר: who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc.
יָמִין: the right hand or side (leg, eye) of a person or other object (as the stronger and more dexterous); locally, the south
חָזַק: to fasten upon; hence, to seize, be strong (figuratively, courageous, causatively strengthen, cure, help, repair, fortify), obstinate; to bind, restrain, conquer
רָדַד: to tread in pieces, i.e. (figuratively) to conquer, or (specifically) to overlay
גּוֹי: a foreign nation; hence, a Gentile; also (figuratively) a troop of animals, or a flight of locusts
פָּנִים: the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposition (before, etc.)
Cross References
Isaiah 45Paul quotes v23 to prove that all people will stand before the judgment seat of Christ.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Records the literal historical fulfillment of Cyrus's decree to rebuild the Jerusalem temple.
Supported by JFB
The historical description of Belshazzar's loins being loosed in terror when Babylon fell.
Supported by JFB
Direct verbal parallel regarding breaking gates of brass and cutting bars of iron.
Supported by JFB
Paul uses the same potter-and-clay imagery to rebuke human questioning of God's sovereignty.
Supported by John Calvin
Shows Cyrus's historical recognition that Jehovah charged him to build the temple.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole, JFB
The preceding verse introducing Cyrus by name to perform God's pleasure.
Supported by JFB
Parallel imagery of God leveling mountains and making crooked paths straight.
Supported by JFB
Jeremiah's prophecy that Babylon's treasures would be plundered.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Addresses Babylon as abundant in treasures, which Cyrus would seize.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Parallels the concept of God bringing calamity or judgment ('evil') upon a city.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Identifies Jacob as God's chosen servant, explaining the purpose behind Cyrus's rise.
Supported by JFB
Self-reference linking the raised-up deliverer in v13 back to Cyrus in v1.
Supported by JFB
Affirms salvation specifically 'by the Lord their God' rather than human military strength.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Contrasts human ignorance of God with being known and chosen by Him first.
Supported by JFB