Isaiah 45:13

13 I will stir up Cyrus and help him win his battles. I will make all of his roads straight. He will rebuild Jerusalem. My people have been taken away from their country. But he will set them free. I will not pay him to do it. He will not receive a reward for it," says the LORD who rules over all.

Isaiah 45:13 Meaning and Commentary

Isaiah 45:13

I have raised him up in righteousness
Though this may be said with some respect to Cyrus, yet chiefly to Christ, of whom Cyrus was a type; him the Lord appointed and determined to be the Saviour and Redeemer of his people; him he sent forth in time for that purpose, in righteousness or faithfulness to concerning him: or, "unto righteousness" ^F19, as the Vulgate Latin version; to bring in an everlasting righteousness for the justification of his people: or, "with righteousness", as the Septuagint version is ^F20: I have raised him up a King with righteousness;
a righteous King, a King that reigns in righteousness, as Christ does, and better agrees with him than Cyrus; see ( Jeremiah 23:5 Jeremiah 23:6 ) : and I will direct all his ways;
or "make them plain" ^F21; remove all difficulties and obstructions out of his way; he shall succeed and prosper, as the "pleasure of the Lord did prosper" in the hands of Christ; God being at his right hand as man and Mediator, to direct, counsel, and assist him, and to make him successful: he shall build my city;
not Cyrus, for he did not build the city of Jerusalem, whatever orders he might give for it, ( Isaiah 44:28 ) though his proclamation only mentions the temple, ( Ezra 1:2-5 ) , but Christ, the builder of the church, often compared to a city, and called the city of God, of which the saints are fellow citizens; and which is built by Christ, upon himself the Rock, against which the gates of hell cannot prevail, ( Matthew 16:18 ) : and he shall let go my captives, not for price, nor reward, saith the
Lord of hosts;
the Lord's people are captives to sin, Satan, and the law; Christ has not only redeemed these captives, but has proclaimed liberty to them, and delivered them from their bondage by his Spirit and grace; and all this freely, not through any merits of theirs, but of his own rich grace and mercy; and though they are redeemed with a price; yet not with corruptible things, as silver and gold, but with the precious blood of Christ; and whatever their redemption and freedom cost him, it costs them nothing, it is to them without money and without price, ( Isaiah 52:3 ) .

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FOOTNOTES:

F19 (qdub) "adjustitiam", V. L.
F20 (meta dikaiosunhv) , Sept. "cum justitia", Forerius.
F21 (rvya) "aequabo", Piscator; "aequaturus", Junius & Tremellius; "rectificabo", Vatablus; "rectificabam", Cocceius; "aequas faciam", Vitringa.

Isaiah 45:13 In-Context

11 The LORD is the Holy One of Israel. He made them. He says to them, "Are you asking me about what will happen to my children? Are you telling me what I should do with what my hands have made?

12 I made the earth. I created man to live there. My own hands spread out the heavens. I put all of the stars in their places.

13 I will stir up Cyrus and help him win his battles. I will make all of his roads straight. He will rebuild Jerusalem. My people have been taken away from their country. But he will set them free. I will not pay him to do it. He will not receive a reward for it," says the LORD who rules over all.

14 The LORD says to the people of Jerusalem, "You will get everything Egypt produces. You will receive everything the people of Cush and the tall Sabeans get in trade. All of it will belong to you. And all of those people will walk behind you as slaves. They will be put in chains and come over to you. They will bow down to you. They will admit, 'God is with you. There is no other God.' "

15 You are a God who hides yourself. You are the God of Israel. You save us.