Isaiah 45 1

Isaiah 45:1 kjv

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;

Isaiah 45:1 nkjv

"Thus says the LORD to His anointed, To Cyrus, whose right hand I have held? To subdue nations before him And loose the armor of kings, To open before him the double doors, So that the gates will not be shut:

Isaiah 45:1 niv

"This is what the LORD says to his anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I take hold of to subdue nations before him and to strip kings of their armor, to open doors before him so that gates will not be shut:

Isaiah 45:1 esv

Thus says the LORD to his anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I have grasped, to subdue nations before him and to loose the belts of kings, to open doors before him that gates may not be closed:

Isaiah 45:1 nlt

This is what the LORD says to Cyrus, his anointed one,
whose right hand he will empower.
Before him, mighty kings will be paralyzed with fear.
Their fortress gates will be opened,
never to shut again.

Isaiah 45 verses

Isaiah 45 1 Meaning

Isaiah 45:1 declares God's authoritative declaration concerning Cyrus, the Persian king. It presents God, the Lord of all, asserting His sovereign choice and empowerment of Cyrus, His 'anointed,' for a specific divine purpose. This purpose includes subduing nations and breaking down impregnable defenses, thereby preparing the way for the liberation of the Jewish exiles and the rebuilding of Jerusalem and its Temple. The verse highlights God's absolute control over world leaders and historical events, using even pagan kings as instruments of His divine plan.

Isaiah 45 1 Context

Isaiah 45:1 is situated within the "Book of Comfort" (Isaiah 40-55), addressed primarily to the Jewish exiles in Babylon. Following prophecies of judgment and warning, this section offers immense hope and assurance of their return to Judah. The overarching context is God's sovereign plan of salvation and restoration for His people, demonstrating His power over all creation and all human history. Chapter 45, specifically, further underscores God's absolute uniqueness as the only true God, directly challenging the idolatry and polytheism prevalent in Babylon. It declares God's deliberate choice of a specific historical figure, Cyrus, a non-Jewish king, to be His instrument in fulfilling prophecies concerning Israel's restoration, years before Cyrus's birth and ascent to power.

Isaiah 45 1 Word analysis

• "Thus" (כֹּה - koh): Signifies a divine decree, a solemn and authoritative declaration directly from God. It introduces a message of absolute truth and certainty.
• "says" (אָמַר - amar): Indicates spoken word, divine communication. Emphasizes that this is not a human prediction or wish, but a direct revelation from the Creator.
• "the LORD" (יְהוָה - YHWH): The Tetragrammaton, the covenant name of God, revealing His self-existent, eternal, and covenant-keeping nature. It is the name signifying His personal relationship with Israel and His unique sovereignty.
• "to His anointed" (לִמְשִׁיחוֹ - li'mshicho): From the root mashach (to anoint). This is a pivotal term. It means "to his Messiah/Anointed One." While primarily applied to kings, priests, and prophets in Israel, its application here to a pagan king, Cyrus, is extraordinary. It highlights God's universal sovereignty, that He can consecrate and use anyone, even outside the covenant, for His purposes. It foreshadows the ultimate Anointed One, the Messiah, Jesus Christ.
• "to Cyrus" (לְכוֹרֶשׁ - l'Koresh): The specific naming of Cyrus (born around 590-580 BC, king of Persia from 559-530 BC) over a century before his actions. This precise naming serves as powerful evidence of predictive prophecy, validating the divine authorship of Isaiah's message.
• "whose right hand" (אֲשֶׁר הֶחֱזַקְתִּי יְמִינוֹ - asher heḥezaqti y'mino): "Whose right hand I have grasped/held firm." The right hand symbolizes strength, power, and authority. God taking hold of Cyrus's right hand denotes divine empowerment, direction, and sustained assistance, making him invincible in battle. It implies that Cyrus's successes are not his own, but God's work through him.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "to subdue nations before him": God’s purpose for empowering Cyrus. It speaks of divine military strategy, assuring that Cyrus's victories against mighty nations were orchestrated by God. It promises complete submission of enemy kingdoms without Cyrus needing to expend maximal effort.
• "and loosen the belts of kings": Belts were tightened before battle for readiness. Loosening them implies disarmament, defeat, surrender, or even stripping of authority and dignity. It pictures kings humbled, stripped of power, no longer prepared for war, effectively enslaved. It underscores the ease with which God allows Cyrus to overcome his foes.
• "to open before him double doors": Refers to the massive, multi-leaved city gates, particularly those of Babylon, known for their impenetrability. It suggests an unobstructed path and easy access into heavily fortified cities, implying divine removal of obstacles. This directly foreshadowed how Babylon fell, famously through its opened gates along the Euphrates river.
• "and gates shall not be shut": Reinforces the idea of effortless entry and lack of resistance. No gate, no matter how strong, will remain closed when God has purposed for it to be opened for His chosen instrument. It denotes the utter lack of hindrance for Cyrus's conquest as guided by God.

Isaiah 45 1 Bonus section

• The naming of Cyrus by name (לְכוֹרֶשׁ) prior to his birth and reign is considered one of the most remarkable predictive prophecies in the Bible, establishing God's omniscience and control over time itself.
• The term "anointed" (מָשִׁיחַ - mashiach) used for Cyrus is significant. While not implying he was a personal follower of YHWH, it shows he was divinely designated and empowered for a sacred task concerning Israel's restoration, akin to a messianic figure in a functional sense. He became God's instrument to prepare the way for the exiles' return.
• The detail of "open before him double doors, and gates shall not be shut" remarkably corresponds to the historical account of Babylon's fall to Cyrus's army. The city was taken not by breaching its walls, but reportedly by diverting the Euphrates river which flowed through it, allowing soldiers to march under the city gates, which had been carelessly left open (Herodotus, Xenophon). This precise fulfillment emphasizes God's exact planning.

Isaiah 45 1 Commentary

Isaiah 45:1 is a monumental statement of God's universal sovereignty and meticulous providential control over human history. It presents the startling revelation that YHWH, the God of Israel, orchestrates events even through a pagan king, Cyrus, whom He designates as His "anointed" for a specific mission. This declaration served multiple vital purposes for the exiles: providing hope through a concrete historical figure who would facilitate their return, validating YHWH as the sole, true God against Babylonian idols (whose gods had "failed" to protect Babylon), and demonstrating God's faithfulness to His covenant promises despite Israel's disobedience. The unprecedented act of naming Cyrus over a century in advance, coupled with details about his victories, underscores the absolute predictive power of God's Word. The "loosening of belts" and "opening of gates" were literal historical events surrounding the fall of Babylon, showing that God's power translates into tangible, physical outcomes that shape world empires to serve His redemptive plan for His people. It ultimately points to Christ, the ultimate Anointed One, through whom all things are subdued and opened according to God's greater redemptive purpose.