Isaiah 45:4-14

4 "For the sake of 1Jacob My servant, And Israel My chosen one, I have also 2called you by your name; I have given you a title of honor Though you have 3not known Me.
5 "I am the LORD, and 4there is no other; 5Besides Me there is no God. I will 6gird you, though you have not known Me;
6 That 7men may know from the rising to the setting of the sun That there is 8no one besides Me. I am the LORD, and there is no other,
7 The One 9forming light and 10creating darkness, Causing well-being and 11creating calamity; I am the LORD who does all these.

God's Supreme Power

8 "12Drip down, O heavens, from above, And let the clouds pour down righteousness; Let the 13earth open up and salvation bear fruit, 14And righteousness spring up with it. I, the LORD, have created it.
9 "Woe to the one who 15quarrels with his Maker - An earthenware vessel among the vessels of earth! Will the 16clay say to the potter, 'What are you doing?' Or the thing you are making say, 'He has no hands '?
10 "Woe to him who says to a father, 'What are you begetting?' Or to a woman, 'To what are you giving birth?' "
11 Thus says the 17LORD, the Holy One of Israel, and his 18Maker: "19Ask Me about the things to come concerning My 20sons, And you shall commit to Me 21the work of My hands.
12 "It is I who 22made the earth, and created man upon it. I 23stretched out the heavens with My hands And I ordained 24all their host.
13 "I have aroused him in 25righteousness And I will 26make all his ways smooth; He will 27build My city and will let My exiles go 28free, Without any payment or reward," says the LORD of hosts.
14 Thus says the LORD, "The products of 29Egypt and the merchandise of 30Cush And the Sabeans, men of stature, Will 31come over to you and will be yours; They will walk behind you, they will come over in 32chains And will 33bow down to you; They will make supplication to you: 'Surely, 34God is with you, and 35there is none else, No other God.' "

Isaiah 45:4-14 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 35

  • 1. Isaiah 41:8, 9; Isaiah 44:1
  • 2. Isaiah 43:1
  • 3. Acts 17:23
  • 4. Is 45:6, 14, 18, 21; Isaiah 46:9
  • 5. Isaiah 44:6, 8
  • 6. Psalms 18:39
  • 7. Psalms 102:15; Malachi 1:11
  • 8. Isaiah 45:5
  • 9. Isaiah 42:16
  • 10. Psalms 104:20; Psalms 105:28
  • 11. Isaiah 31:2; Isaiah 47:11; Amos 3:6
  • 12. Psalms 72:6; Hosea 10:12; Hosea 14:5; Joel 3:18
  • 13. Psalms 85:11
  • 14. Isaiah 60:21; Isaiah 61:11
  • 15. Job 15:25; Job 40:8, 9; Psalms 2:2, 3; Proverbs 21:30; Jeremiah 50:24
  • 16. Isaiah 29:16; Isaiah 64:8; Jeremiah 18:6; Romans 9:20, 21
  • 17. Isaiah 43:15; Isaiah 48:17; Ezekiel 39:7
  • 18. Isaiah 44:2; Isaiah 54:5
  • 19. Isaiah 8:19
  • 20. Jeremiah 31:9
  • 21. Isaiah 19:25; Isaiah 29:23; Isaiah 60:21; Isaiah 64:8
  • 22. Isaiah 42:5; Isaiah 45:18; Jeremiah 27:5
  • 23. Psalms 104:2; Isaiah 42:5; Isaiah 44:24
  • 24. Genesis 2:1; Nehemiah 9:6
  • 25. Isaiah 41:2
  • 26. Isaiah 45:2
  • 27. 2 Chronicles 36:22, 23; Isaiah 44:28
  • 28. Isaiah 52:3
  • 29. Psalms 68:31; Isaiah 19:21
  • 30. Isaiah 18:1; Isaiah 43:3
  • 31. Isaiah 14:1, 2; Isaiah 49:23; Isaiah 54:3
  • 32. Psalms 149:8
  • 33. Isaiah 49:23; Isaiah 60:14
  • 34. Jeremiah 16:19; Zechariah 8:20-23; 1 Corinthians 14:25
  • 35. Isaiah 45:5

Footnotes 15

New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, California.  All rights reserved.