Isaiah 45:3-13

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!)
10 Woe to him that saith to the father, What engenderest thou? and to a woman, What childest thou? (Woe to him who saith to his father, Why didest thou begat me? and to his mother, Why hast thou given birth to me?)
11 The Lord, the Holy of Israel, the former thereof, saith these things, Ask ye (of) me (of) things to coming on my sons, and send ye to me on the works of mine hands. (The Lord, the Holy One of Israel, his Maker, saith these things, Ye question me about my sons and daughters? ye instruct me upon the works of my hands?)
12 I made (the) earth, and I made a man on it; mine hands held abroad (the) heavens, and I commanded to all the knighthood of them. (I made the earth, and I made the people on it; my hands spread abroad the heavens, and I commanded to all their host.)
13 I raised him to rightfulness, and I shall (ad)dress all his ways; he shall build (again) my city, and he shall deliver my prisoners, not in price, neither in gifts, saith the Lord of hosts. (I raised him up unto righteousness, and I shall direct all his ways; and he shall rebuild my city, and he shall rescue my prisoners, and not for price, and neither for gifts, saith the Lord of hosts.)

Isaiah 45:3-13 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.