BOOK 23 OF 66 · MAJOR PROPHETS · KING JAMES BIBLE

Isaiah 45

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Isaiah 45 Overview

The LORD addresses Cyrus as His anointed instrument, opens nations before him, and repeatedly declares that there is no God beside Him; the Creator’s sovereign purpose includes Israel’s salvation and a worldwide call to look unto Him and be saved.

IsaiahBook

45Chapter

25Verses

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Before you read Isaiah 45

Coming from

The LORD promises water and Spirit for Jacob’s offspring, mocks idol-makers who use the same wood for cooking and worship, calls Israel to remember and return, forgives sin, and names Cyrus as the shepherd who will rebuild Jerusalem.

In this chapter

Leads into

Babylon’s gods Bel and Nebo must be carried by beasts, but the LORD reminds Israel that He has carried them from the womb and will carry them to old age; He alone declares the end from the beginning and brings His purpose to pass.

Key understandingExplore deeper

Cyrus is a Gentile ruler chosen for a specific historical task. Isaiah uses that surprising choice to demonstrate the LORD’s absolute sovereignty over kings and salvation history.

The interpretive center of Isaiah 45 is the chapter’s own movement: god can appoint rulers who do not know him to accomplish his purpose. Read its poetry, signs, historical references, and later biblical connections from that center rather than treating isolated phrases as detached slogans.

Major truths in this chapterExplore deeper

God can appoint rulers who do not know Him to accomplish His purpose

Cyrus is named and empowered before personally recognizing the LORD.

The LORD alone is God and Creator

The repeated 'none else' statements exclude rival deities.

God’s saving invitation reaches beyond Israel

All the ends of the earth are called to look to the LORD and be saved.

Connections to the rest of ScriptureExplore deeper

Ezra 1:1-4

Cyrus’s decree later fulfills the restoration role Isaiah announces.

Philippians 2:10-11

Paul’s language of every knee bowing and every tongue confessing echoes Isaiah 45:23 and applies it to Jesus Christ.

Romans 14:11

Paul directly quotes Isaiah 45:23 concerning universal accountability to God.

What is clear, and where care is neededExplore deeper

Do not infer that the title 'anointed' makes Cyrus the Messiah.

The Hebrew title can describe one set apart for a divine task; the chapter clearly portrays Cyrus as God’s instrument.

Do not separate the worldwide saving call from monotheism.

The invitation is grounded in the fact that the LORD alone is God and Savior.

Read Isaiah 45 watching for…

Cyrus called by name

opened gates and hidden treasures

the repeated 'there is none else'

the Potter-and-clay warning

the call to all ends of the earth to look and be saved

Chapter outline4 sections

1-4The LORD appoints Cyrus to subdue nations for Israel’s sake 5-10There is no God besides the LORD, who creates and rules all things 11-19The Creator raises Cyrus and declares that his word has not been spoken in secret 20-25The nations are called to turn to the LORD, before whom every knee will bow

Thus saith the LORD to his anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I have holden, to subdue nations before him; and I will loose the loins of kings, to open before him the two leaved gates; and the gates shall not be shut;

I will go before thee, and make the crooked places straight: I will break in pieces the gates of brass, and cut in sunder the bars of iron:

And I will give thee the treasures of darkness, and hidden riches of secret places, that thou mayest know that I, the LORD, which call thee by thy name, am the God of Israel.

For Jacob my servant's sake, and Israel mine elect, I have even called thee by thy name: I have surnamed thee, though thou hast not known me.

I am the LORD, and there is none else, there is no God beside me: I girded thee, though thou hast not known me:

That they may know from the rising of the sun, and from the west, that there is none beside me. I am the LORD, and there is none else.

I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these things.

Drop down, ye heavens, from above, and let the skies pour down righteousness: let the earth open, and let them bring forth salvation, and let righteousness spring up together; I the LORD have created it.

Woe unto him that striveth with his Maker! Let the potsherd strive with the potsherds of the earth. Shall the clay say to him that fashioneth it, What makest thou? or thy work, He hath no hands?

Woe unto him that saith unto his father, What begettest thou? or to the woman, What hast thou brought forth?

Thus saith the LORD, the Holy One of Israel, and his Maker, Ask me of things to come concerning my sons, and concerning the work of my hands command ye me.

I have made the earth, and created man upon it: I, even my hands, have stretched out the heavens, and all their host have I commanded.

I have raised him up in righteousness, and I will direct all his ways: he shall build my city, and he shall let go my captives, not for price nor reward, saith the LORD of hosts.

Thus saith the LORD, The labour of Egypt, and merchandise of Ethiopia and of the Sabeans, men of stature, shall come over unto thee, and they shall be thine: they shall come after thee; in chains they shall come over, and they shall fall down unto thee, they shall make supplication unto thee, saying, Surely God is in thee; and there is none else, there is no God.

Verily thou art a God that hidest thyself, O God of Israel, the Saviour.

They shall be ashamed, and also confounded, all of them: they shall go to confusion together that are makers of idols.

But Israel shall be saved in the LORD with an everlasting salvation: ye shall not be ashamed nor confounded world without end.

For thus saith the LORD that created the heavens; God himself that formed the earth and made it; he hath established it, he created it not in vain, he formed it to be inhabited: I am the LORD; and there is none else.

I have not spoken in secret, in a dark place of the earth: I said not unto the seed of Jacob, Seek ye me in vain: I the LORD speak righteousness, I declare things that are right.

Assemble yourselves and come; draw near together, ye that are escaped of the nations: they have no knowledge that set up the wood of their graven image, and pray unto a god that cannot save.

Tell ye, and bring them near; yea, let them take counsel together: who hath declared this from ancient time? who hath told it from that time? have not I the LORD? and there is no God else beside me; a just God and a Saviour; there is none beside me.

Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else.

I have sworn by myself, the word is gone out of my mouth in righteousness, and shall not return, That unto me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear.

Surely, shall one say, in the LORD have I righteousness and strength: even to him shall men come; and all that are incensed against him shall be ashamed.

In the LORD shall all the seed of Israel be justified, and shall glory.

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Isaiah 45:22

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