Isaiah 45:1-9

1 The Lord saith these things to my christ, Cyrus, whose right hand I took, that I make subject folks before his face, and turn the backs of kings; and I shall open [the] gates before him, and [the] gates shall not be closed. (I the Lord saith these things to my anointed, yea, to Cyrus, whose right hand I took, to make subject the nations before him, and to break the backs of kings; and I shall open the gates before him, yea, none of the gates shall be closed.)
2 I shall go before thee, and I shall make low the glorious men of earth; I shall all-break [the] brazen gates, and I shall break together [the] iron bars. (I shall go before thee, and I shall bring low the glorious of the earth; I shall all-break the bronze gates, and I shall altogether break the iron bars, or break open the locks.)
3 And I shall give hid treasures to thee, and the privy things of privates, that thou know, that I am the Lord, that call thy name, (I am the) God of Israel, (And I shall give hidden treasures to thee from dark and private, or secret, places, so that thou know, that I am the Lord, who call thy name, yea, I am the God of Israel;)
4 for my servant Jacob, and Israel my chosen, and I called thee by thy name; I likened thee, and thou knewest not me. (for the sake of my servant Jacob, and my chosen Israel, I called thee by thy name, and I honoured thee, though thou knewest me not.)
5 I am the Lord, and there is no more; without me is no God. I have girded thee, and thou knewest not me. (I am the Lord, and there is no other; there is no God besides me. I have girded thee, though thou knewest me not.)
6 That they that be at the rising of the sun, and they that be at the west, know, that without me is no God. I am the Lord, and none other God is; (So that they who be at the rising of the sun, and they who be at the west, know, that there is no God besides me. I am the Lord, and there is no other God;)
7 forming light, and making darknesses, making peace, and forming evil; I am the Lord, doing all these things.
8 Heavens, send ye out dew from above, and clouds, rain (ye on) a just man; the earth be opened, and bring forth the saviour, and rightfulness be born together; I the Lord have made him of nought. (Heavens, send ye out dew from above, and clouds, rain ye down righteousness; let the earth be opened, and bring forth the fruit of salvation, and let righteousness be born together with it; I the Lord have made it all out of nothing.)
9 Woe to him that against-saith his maker, (he who is but) a tilestone of [the] earth of sands. Whether [the] clay saith to his potter, What makest thou(?), and thy work is without hands? (Woe to him who saith against, or contendest with, his Maker, he who is but a piece of tilestone, formed of the sands of the earth. Can the clay really say to its potter, What makest thou? or his work say to him, Thou hast no skill!)

Isaiah 45:1-9 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.

Copyright © 2001 by Terence P. Noble. For personal use only.