Isaiah 41:25 kjv
I have raised up one from the north, and he shall come: from the rising of the sun shall he call upon my name: and he shall come upon princes as upon morter, and as the potter treadeth clay.
Isaiah 41:25 nkjv
"I have raised up one from the north, And he shall come; From the rising of the sun he shall call on My name; And he shall come against princes as though mortar, As the potter treads clay.
Isaiah 41:25 niv
"I have stirred up one from the north, and he comes? one from the rising sun who calls on my name. He treads on rulers as if they were mortar, as if he were a potter treading the clay.
Isaiah 41:25 esv
I stirred up one from the north, and he has come, from the rising of the sun, and he shall call upon my name; he shall trample on rulers as on mortar, as the potter treads clay.
Isaiah 41:25 nlt
"But I have stirred up a leader who will approach from the north.
From the east he will call on my name.
I will give him victory over kings and princes.
He will trample them as a potter treads on clay.
Isaiah 41 25 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Isaiah 41:25 | Who has stirred up one from the north? | Divine initiative |
| Isaiah 41:2 | Who stirred up from the east one righteousness? | God's sovereignty |
| Isaiah 43:5-6 | I will bring your offspring from the east, and from the west I will gather you. | God's people gathering |
| Jeremiah 16:15 | but the LORD lives who brought up the children of Israel from the land of the north | Deliverance from exile |
| Jeremiah 23:5-6 | Behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch | Prophecy of a king |
| Jeremiah 30:9-10 | but they shall serve the LORD their God and David their king, whom I will raise up for them. | Davidic king raised up |
| Ezekiel 37:24-25 | My servant David shall be king over them; and they shall all have one shepherd | David as king and shepherd |
| John 5:39-40 | You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me. | Jesus as the fulfillment |
| John 10:30 | I and the Father are one. | Unity of Christ with the Father |
| Acts 4:12 | And there is no salvation in no other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved. | Jesus as the only savior |
| Romans 10:12-13 | For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him. For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. | Universal call on the Lord |
| 1 Corinthians 1:2 | To the church of God that is in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints together with all those who in every place call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. | Calling on Jesus' name |
| 1 Corinthians 8:5 | For although there may be so-called gods in heaven or on earth—as there are many gods and many lords— | False gods contrasted with Christ |
| 1 Corinthians 8:6 | yet for us there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things, and for whom we exist, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things, and through whom we exist. | The Father and the Lord Jesus Christ |
| Revelation 1:8 | I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.” | Jesus as Alpha and Omega |
| Revelation 17:14 | They will wage war against the Lamb, and the Lamb will conquer them, for he himself is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those with him are called and chosen and faithful.” | Jesus as Lord of lords and King of kings |
| Psalm 2:10-11 | Now therefore, O kings, be wise; be warned, O rulers of the earth. Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling. | Kings and rulers exhorted |
| Psalm 72:11 | May all kings fall down before him, all nations serve him! | Kings serving Christ |
| Zechariah 6:12-13 | Behold, a man whose name is the Branch, and he shall branch out from his place, and he shall build the temple of the LORD... | The Branch's building the temple |
| Philippians 2:9-11 | Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow... | Jesus highly exalted |
| Matthew 1:21 | You shall name his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins. | Jesus saves from sins |
| Hebrews 1:3 | He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his powerful word. | Christ's divine nature |
| Isaiah 44:24-28 | Thus says the LORD, your Redeemer, who formed you from the womb: “I am the LORD, who made all things, who stretched out the heavens alone, who spread out the earth by myself. | God the sole creator |
Isaiah 41 verses
Isaiah 41 25 Meaning
This verse powerfully declares that God has raised up one from the north, who, like a ruler of nations, will come to a place of prominence. He will invoke God's name, signifying his divine appointment and authority. The verse emphasizes that this figure is not to be associated with pagan deities or their pronouncements but rather with the singular, true God of Israel, underscoring his unique and divinely sanctioned role.
Isaiah 41 25 Context
Isaiah chapter 41 presents a powerful discourse where God defends his chosen people, Israel, against the accusations and taunts of the nations and their idols. God asserts his absolute sovereignty and power, contrasting it with the impotence of the gods worshipped by other nations. He highlights his past deliverances of Israel and promises future restoration. Verse 25 stands as a pronouncement against these rival nations and their deities, foretelling the rise of a powerful figure who will bring judgment and serve as a testament to God's supremacy. Historically, this was a period when the influence of surrounding empires, often associated with various cults, was significant, and the people of Israel were often tempted or pressured to conform. The prophecy points towards a future leader, divinely appointed, who will operate with God's authority, making no reference to idols or pagan practices.
Isaiah 41 25 Word Analysis
“Who has stirred up from the north”
- "Stirred up": (Hebrew: עורר - `orer) - implies to awaken, arouse, incite, or raise up.
- Contextually, it signifies God’s sovereign action in bringing someone into power or a particular role.
“one from the north”
- "North": Refers to the geographical direction from which invaders and dominant powers historically came against Israel (e.g., Assyria, Babylon).
- The prophecy likely alludes to figures like Cyrus the Great, who, though a pagan king, was used by God as an instrument of deliverance for Israel from Babylonian exile.
“one from the rising of the sun”
- "Rising of the sun": (Hebrew: מִמִּזְרַח שֶׁמֶשׁ - mim’mizrach shemesh) - the East. Another direction associated with conquerors and powerful entities in ancient Near Eastern contexts.
“will call on my name”
- "Call on my name": (Hebrew: יִקְרָא בְשֵׁם - yiqra’ v’shem) - To invoke, to proclaim, or to claim allegiance.
- In this context, it signifies not just calling God by His name, but acting under His authority and claiming His power, perhaps even being empowered by Him. It is an acknowledgment of divine sanction.
“and come upon rulers as upon mortar”
- "Come upon": (Hebrew: יָבֹא עַל - yavo’ ‘al) - To advance against, to come against.
- "Rulers": (Hebrew: שָׂרִים - sarim) - Chiefs, princes, or rulers.
- "As upon mortar": (Hebrew: כְּמוֹ-טִוְחָה - kemo-tiv’hah) - Like clay or building material that can be easily molded or crushed. This powerfully illustrates utter devastation and effortless conquest over earthly powers.
“and as the potter treads the clay”
- "Potter": (Hebrew: יוֹצֵר - yotzer) - A shaper or former, here representing God as the ultimate potter who shapes all things.
- "Treads the clay": (Hebrew: וְכַאֲשֶׁר יִרְמֵס יוֹצֵר אֶת הַחֹמֶר - v’k’asher yirmes yotzer et ha-chomer) - To trample or tread down. It implies complete and absolute control and subjugation of the clay, which represents the conquered rulers. This highlights the absolute power of God’s chosen instrument over human authority.
Isaiah 41 25 Bonus Section
The passage emphasizes God's sovereign use of both believers and non-believers to achieve His purposes. Cyrus, a pagan king, is described as God’s “anointed” (Isaiah 45:1) and “shepherd” (Isaiah 44:28) for a specific redemptive task. This demonstrates that God's plan is not dependent on the perfect alignment of all instruments with His will, but rather on His ultimate control and purpose, which He will ensure are fulfilled. The act of "calling on God's name" by the figure from the north suggests an acknowledgment, even if not full worship, of the God of Israel, positioning him as an instrument of divine justice against the pagan powers that oppressed God's people. The complete destruction of opposition, likened to easily molded clay, underscores the futility of resisting God's overarching will.
Isaiah 41 25 Commentary
Isaiah 41:25 presents a divine oracle concerning a ruler, called forth by God from the north, who will conquer and subdue nations. The imagery used—mortar and clay trampled by a potter—vividly depicts the absolute and effortless authority this divinely appointed individual will wield over the rulers of the earth. This figure will not operate by his own strength or the wisdom of men but will invoke God’s name, indicating that his actions are sanctioned and empowered by the Almighty. This contrasts sharply with the false claims of power made by the idols of surrounding nations, which are repeatedly challenged in Isaiah. While often interpreted as a prophecy concerning Cyrus the Great, who was used by God to free the Israelites from Babylonian exile, the language also resonates with messianic interpretations in the New Testament, pointing to Jesus Christ as the ultimate King and conqueror who decisively triumphed over the powers of sin and death, and whose reign is eternal.