Isaiah 45:20-25

20 1"Assemble yourselves and come; draw near together, you survivors of the nations! 2They have no knowledge who 3carry about their wooden idols, 4and keep on praying to a god that cannot save.
21 5Declare and present your case; let them take counsel together! Who told this long ago? Who declared it of old? Was it not I, the LORD? And there is no other god besides me, a righteous God 6and a Savior; there is none besides me.
22 "Turn to me and be saved, 7all the ends of the earth! For I am God, and there is no other.
23 8By myself I have sworn; from my mouth has gone out in 9righteousness a word that shall not return: 10'To me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear allegiance.'[a]
24 11"Only in the LORD, it shall be said of me, are righteousness and 12strength; to him shall come and be ashamed 13all who were incensed against him.
25 In the LORD all the offspring of Israel shall be justified and shall glory."

Isaiah 45:20-25 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.

Cross References 13

  • 1. [Isaiah 41:1]
  • 2. [Isaiah 44:18, 19; Isaiah 48:5-7]
  • 3. Isaiah 46:1, 7; Jeremiah 10:5
  • 4. [Isaiah 44:17]
  • 5. [Isaiah 41:22, 26; Isaiah 43:9]
  • 6. [Isaiah 43:11]
  • 7. Isaiah 11:12; Isaiah 43:5, 6
  • 8. See Genesis 22:16
  • 9. ver. 19
  • 10. Cited Romans 14:11; [Philippians 2:10]
  • 11. [Isaiah 26:4; Isaiah 44:8]
  • 12. [Isaiah 26:4; Isaiah 44:8]
  • 13. [Isaiah 41:11]

Footnotes 1

  • [a]. Septuagint every tongue shall confess to God
The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.