Isaiah 45:2-12

2 I will go before thee, and make the elevated places plain; I will break in pieces the brazen doors, and cut asunder the bars of iron;

3 and I will give thee the treasures of darkness, and hidden riches of secret places; that thou mayest know that I, Jehovah, who call thee by name, [am] the God of Israel.

4 For Jacob my servant's sake, and Israel mine elect, I have called thee by thy name; I surnamed thee, though thou didst not know me;

5 I [am] Jehovah, and there is none else; there is no God beside me: I girded thee, and thou hast not known me;

6 -- that they may know from the rising of the sun, and from the going down, that there is none beside me. I [am] Jehovah, and there is none else;

7 forming the light and creating darkness, making peace and creating evil: I, Jehovah, do all these things.

8 Drop down, [ye] heavens, from above, and let the skies pour down righteousness; let the earth open, and let them bring forth salvation, and with it let righteousness spring up. I, Jehovah, have created it.

9 Woe unto him that striveth with his Maker! Let a potsherd [strive] with the potsherds of the earth. Shall the clay say to him that formeth it, What makest thou? Or thy work, He hath no hands?

10 Woe unto him that saith unto [his] father, What begettest thou? Or to [his] mother, What hast thou brought forth?

11 Thus saith Jehovah, the Holy One of Israel, and his Maker: Ask me of the things to come; concerning my sons, and concerning the work of my hands, command ye me.

12 It is I that have made the earth, and created man upon it; it is I, my hands, that have stretched out the heavens, and all their host have I commanded.

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Isaiah 45:2-12 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO ISAIAH 45

This chapter contains prophecies concerning Cyrus, the deliverer of the Jews from captivity; and concerning the grace, righteousness, and salvation of Christ; and the conversion of the Gentiles. An account is given of Cyrus, and of the great things God would do for him, and by him, Isa 45:1-3 and the ends for which he would do these things, for the sake of his people Israel; and that he might be known to be the only true God, who is the Maker of all things, Isa 45:4-7 an intimation is given of the Messiah, as the author of righteousness and salvation; and of the contention and murmuring of the Jews about him, Isa 45:8-10, encouragement is given to pray for and expect good things by him for the children of God, in consideration of the greatness of God as the Creator, who would raise him up in righteousness, the antitype of Cyrus, Isa 45:11-13, the conversion of the Gentiles, the confusion of idolaters, and the salvation of the Israel of God, are prophesied of, Isa 45:14-17, which are confirmed by his works and his word, what he had done and said, Isa 45:18,19, the vanity of idols is exposed, and Christ the only Saviour asserted, to whom persons in all nations are directed to look for salvation, Isa 45:20-22 when it is affirmed with an oath that all shall be subject to him; that his people shall come to him for righteousness and strength; that his enemies shall be ashamed, and the spiritual Israel of God shall be justified, and glory in him, Isa 45:23-25.

Taken from John Gill's Exposition of the Bible

Footnotes 7

[a]. Or 'exalted things.'
[b]. The word implies a fondness of affection in the name given.
[c]. Or 'prosperity.'
[d]. Or 'let the earth open, and, together, let salvation be fruitful and righteousness spring forth.'
[e]. Some read 'with his Maker, a potsherd among the potsherds of the earth.'
[f]. Lit. 'the woman.'
[g]. 'Finished work' done with a purpose, as Deut. 32.4: see chs. 5.12; 41.24; 'act,' 59.6; Ps. 64.9.

The Darby Translation is in the public domain.

Isaiah 45:2-12

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Isaiah 45:2-12 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO ISAIAH 45

Footnotes 7