Isaiah 44:28 kjv
That saith of Cyrus, He is my shepherd, and shall perform all my pleasure: even saying to Jerusalem, Thou shalt be built; and to the temple, Thy foundation shall be laid.
Isaiah 44:28 nkjv
Who says of Cyrus, 'He is My shepherd, And he shall perform all My pleasure, Saying to Jerusalem, "You shall be built," And to the temple, "Your foundation shall be laid." '
Isaiah 44:28 niv
who says of Cyrus, 'He is my shepherd and will accomplish all that I please; he will say of Jerusalem, "Let it be rebuilt," and of the temple, "Let its foundations be laid."?'
Isaiah 44:28 esv
who says of Cyrus, 'He is my shepherd, and he shall fulfill all my purpose'; saying of Jerusalem, 'She shall be built,' and of the temple, 'Your foundation shall be laid.'"
Isaiah 44:28 nlt
When I say of Cyrus, 'He is my shepherd,'
he will certainly do as I say.
He will command, 'Rebuild Jerusalem';
he will say, 'Restore the Temple.'"
Isaiah 44 28 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Isaiah 44:28 | "Who says of Cyrus, 'He is my shepherd, and he shall perform all my pleasure' " | Isaiah 44:28 |
| Isaiah 45:1 | "Thus says the LORD to his anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I have grasped" | Isaiah 45:1 (Direct Fulfillment) |
| 2 Chron 36:22-23 | "Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled, the LORD stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, so that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom and also put it in writing: 'Thus says Cyrus king of Persia: The LORD, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth, and he has charged me to build him a house at Jerusalem, which is in Judah. Whoever is among you of all his people, may the LORD his God be with him. Let him go up.' " | 2 Chron 36:22-23 (Historical fulfillment) |
| Ezra 1:1-4 | "In the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, in order to fulfill the word of the LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah, the LORD stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, so that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom and also put it in writing: 'Thus says Cyrus king of Persia: The LORD, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth, and he has charged me to build him a house at Jerusalem, which is in Judah. Whoever is among you of all his people, may the LORD his God be with him. Let him go up to Jerusalem, which is in Judah, and rebuild the house of the LORD, the God of Israel—he is the God who is in Jerusalem. And wherever any survivors are, in whatever town they may live, let their neighbors help them with silver and gold, with goods and with other things, in addition to the voluntary offerings to the house of God that is in Jerusalem.' " | Ezra 1:1-4 (Detailed fulfillment) |
| Psalm 44:3 | "For they did not get the land into their possession by their sword, nor did their own arm save them, but your right hand and your arm and the light of your face, for you delighted in them." | Psalm 44:3 (God's action in salvation) |
| Psalm 78:53 | "He led them on securely, so that they were not afraid, but the sea engulfed their enemies." | Psalm 78:53 (God's protection) |
| Isaiah 45:13 | "I have raised him up in righteousness, and I will direct all his ways; he will build my city and let out my exiles, not for price or reward," says the LORD of hosts." | Isaiah 45:13 (God's active guidance of Cyrus) |
| Isaiah 46:10 | "Remember the former things of old; for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me, declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done, saying, 'My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose,' " | Isaiah 46:10 (God's sovereign plan) |
| Jeremiah 25:12 | "But when the seventy years are completed, I will punish the king of Babylon and that nation, says the LORD, for their iniquity, and the land of the Chaldeans, and will make it a perpetual desolation." | Jeremiah 25:12 (Prophecy of Babylonian captivity and its end) |
| Jeremiah 29:10 | "For thus says the LORD: When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will visit you, and I will fulfill to you my promise and bring you back to this place." | Jeremiah 29:10 (Promise of return from exile) |
| Luke 4:18-19 | " 'The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor.' " | Luke 4:18-19 (Jesus' ministry echoes liberation themes) |
| Acts 13:34 | "And as for the fact that he raised him from the dead—no more to return to corruption—he has spoken to this effect: ' 'I will give you the holy and sure blessings of David.' " | Acts 13:34 (Resurrection and sure blessings) |
| 1 Peter 2:9 | "But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people of his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light." | 1 Peter 2:9 (Believers as God's people) |
| Romans 8:28 | "We know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose." | Romans 8:28 (God's purpose for believers) |
| Genesis 17:6 | "And I will make you exceedingly fruitful, and I will make nations of you, and kings shall come from you." | Genesis 17:6 (God's promise of kings) |
| Deuteronomy 28:36 | "The LORD will bring you and your king, whom you set over you, to a nation that neither you nor your fathers have known, and there you shall serve other gods of wood and stone." | Deuteronomy 28:36 (Warning of exile) |
| 2 Samuel 7:12-16 | "When your days are ended and you lie with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring after you, who shall come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever." | 2 Samuel 7:12-16 (Davidic covenant, kingship theme) |
| Haggai 1:1 | "In the second year of Darius the king, in the sixth month, on the first day of the month, the word of the LORD came by Haggai the prophet to Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest," | Haggai 1:1 (Post-exilic rebuilding context) |
| Zechariah 1:1 | "In the eighth month of the second year of Darius, the word of the LORD came to Zechariah the son of Berechiah, son of Iddo the prophet," | Zechariah 1:1 (Prophetic encouragement for rebuilding) |
| Revelation 18:4 | "Then I heard another voice from heaven saying, 'Come out of her, my people, lest you take part in her sins, and lest you receive her plagues.' " | Revelation 18:4 (Call for separation from corrupt systems) |
| Matthew 1:22 | "All this took place to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet:" | Matthew 1:22 (Fulfillment language in NT) |
Isaiah 44 verses
Isaiah 44 28 Meaning
This verse declares that Cyrus is God's shepherd, appointed to fulfill all of God's purposes, including rebuilding Jerusalem and freeing its people. He is called God's anointed one.
Isaiah 44 28 Context
Chapter 44 of Isaiah builds upon God's promise of restoration and blessing to His people after the Babylonian exile. It presents a strong polemic against idolatry, exposing the futility of man-made gods. In stark contrast, the chapter emphasizes God's unique power and sovereignty, identifying Cyrus as the instrument through which His redemptive purposes will be accomplished. This verse, coming at the end of a chapter focused on God's unique ability to save and the inadequacy of idols, serves as the definitive statement of divine enablement for His people's future. The immediate context is the impending return from exile, a pivotal event in Israel's history.
Isaiah 44 28 Word Analysis
Who (mi): Interrogative pronoun, used here in a rhetorical statement emphasizing the absurdity of challenging God's decree.
says (yomar): Future tense of the verb 'amar, meaning "to say." It indicates a declaration or pronouncement.
of (miqereb): This preposition can mean "from" or "concerning." Here, it signifies "concerning" or "about" Cyrus.
Cyrus (Koresh): The name of the Persian king who issued the decree allowing the Jews to return to Jerusalem and rebuild the Temple (see 2 Chron 36:22-23).
He (hu'ah): Third-person masculine singular pronoun.
is (yiphyeh): Present tense, indicating a statement of being or identity.
my (li): Possessive pronoun, indicating ownership and direct relation to God.
shepherd (ro'i): From the root ra'ah, meaning "to feed," "to pasture," "to tend." This is a title of leadership, care, and guidance, often applied to God Himself (Psalm 23:1) and to human leaders appointed by God (like David, Psalm 78:71). Here, it designates Cyrus as God's appointed caregiver for His flock (the people of Israel).
and (wa): Conjunction connecting two clauses.
he (hu'): Third-person masculine singular pronoun.
shall (ya'asah): Future tense of the verb 'asah, meaning "to do," "to make," "to perform," "to accomplish."
perform (ya'asah): Again, "to do," "to make," or "to accomplish."
all (kol): Universal quantifier, indicating totality.
my (li): Possessive pronoun, indicating God's ownership of His purposes.
pleasure (chef'tsi): From the root chafetz, meaning "to delight in," "to desire," "to be pleased with," "purpose." It signifies God's will, His good pleasure, His divine counsel and intentions. It highlights that Cyrus is an instrument chosen to enact God's sovereign will and design.
Word Group Analysis:
- "Who says of Cyrus, 'He is my shepherd'": This phrase sets up Cyrus as a figure actively used by God, echoing the concept of a divinely appointed leader who tends to God's people, akin to David. The rhetorical "who says" implicitly points to the surety of this divine pronouncement.
- "and he shall perform all my pleasure": This clause emphasizes Cyrus's complete subjection to God's will. "All my pleasure" signifies God's sovereign decree and comprehensive plan for His people and His house, which Cyrus, despite his pagan origins, is chosen to execute.
Isaiah 44 28 Bonus Section
The prophetic identification of Cyrus as God's shepherd and fulfiller of His purposes demonstrates God's omnipotence and His unfailing faithfulness to His covenant people. It establishes a pattern seen throughout Scripture where God uses pagan rulers or nations to carry out His judgment and deliverance. For instance, Nebuchadnezzar was called God's "servant" in Jeremiah 25:9 for judging Israel. Similarly, in the New Testament, the Roman government and its officials, though often antagonistic, are part of God's providential plan for the spread of the Gospel. The Messianic implications are also noted by scholars, as Christ Himself is the ultimate Shepherd who lays down His life for His sheep (John 10:11) and fulfills all of God's pleasure on our behalf. This verse reassures believers that even when human circumstances seem dire, God is actively orchestrating events through appointed agents to bring about His promised salvation and restoration.
Isaiah 44 28 Commentary
This verse is profoundly significant as it marks a critical prophetic declaration about God's sovereign intervention in human history. God identifies an alien king, Cyrus the Great, as His "shepherd" and the executor of His "pleasure." This is not a statement of Cyrus's personal faith or devotion, but rather a recognition of his role as an unwitting instrument in God's hands. The term "shepherd" is evocative, highlighting care, guidance, and responsibility over a flock – in this instance, God's people returning from exile. The phrase "all my pleasure" underlines the completeness of God's sovereign plan and His ability to work through any means, even non-believers, to achieve His divine purposes. It is a testament to God's ultimate control over nations and kings, who are ultimately accountable to Him.