Isaiah 45 11

Isaiah 45:11 kjv

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.

Isaiah 45:11 nkjv

Thus says 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, you command Me.

Isaiah 45:11 niv

"This is what the LORD says? the Holy One of Israel, and its Maker: Concerning things to come, do you question me about my children, or give me orders about the work of my hands?

Isaiah 45:11 esv

Thus says the LORD, the Holy One of Israel, and the one who formed him: "Ask me of things to come; will you command me concerning my children and the work of my hands?

Isaiah 45:11 nlt

This is what the LORD says ?
the Holy One of Israel and your Creator:
"Do you question what I do for my children?
Do you give me orders about the work of my hands?

Isaiah 45 verses

Isaiah 45 11 Meaning

This verse declares the absolute sovereignty and authority of the LORD, the Holy One of Israel and its Creator. It functions as a rhetorical challenge to humanity, contrasting genuine inquiry about divine plans with presumptuous attempts to dictate to God concerning His chosen people ("my children") and His universal creation or specific purposes ("the work of my hands"). It emphasizes that the future is known and controlled by God alone, and no one can command or counsel Him.

Isaiah 45 11 Context

Isaiah 45:11 is situated within the "Book of Comfort" (Chapters 40-55) of Isaiah, following Yahweh's powerful declarations of His sovereignty, particularly over the nations and false gods. Chapters 40-48 focus on God's ability to foretell and control the future, His choice of Cyrus as His instrument, and His steadfast love for Israel, despite their idolatry. Leading up to verse 11, Isaiah 45 contrasts Yahweh's purposeful creation and historical action with the futility of idols (vv. 5-7). Verses 9-10 specifically denounce those who dare to question or contend with their Maker, using the analogy of clay arguing with the potter. Verse 11 directly continues this theme, affirming God's unchallenged authority over His plans, His people, and His creation. The historical context is the Babylonian exile, and God is assuring His exiled people that He remains in control and will bring about their restoration according to His will, not human expectation or command. It implicitly counters any reliance on pagan divination or human wisdom to predict or influence future events, especially Israel's destiny.

Isaiah 45 11 Word analysis

• Thus says the LORD (Koh amar YHWH / כֹּה־אָמַר יְהוָה): This is a prophetic formula, authenticating the following words as a direct divine utterance. It underscores the ultimate source of authority for the statement.
• the Holy One of Israel (Qedos Yisrael / קְדוֹשׁ יִשְׂרָאֵל): A distinctive title for God frequently used in Isaiah. It emphasizes God's unique transcendence, moral purity, and set-apartness, especially in His covenant relationship with Israel. It signifies His absolute distinctness from both humanity and idols.
• and his Maker (wəYotsro / וְיֹצְרוֹ): From the verb yatsar (יָצַר), meaning "to form" or "to fashion" like a potter. This highlights God's role as Creator, specifically of Israel, who He formed with a divine purpose, connecting to the potter analogy in Isa 45:9.
• “Ask me of things to come (Shi'aluni 'otiyot ba'ot / שְׂאֵלוּנִי אֹתִיּוֹת בָּאוֹת): "Ask me concerning the coming signs/events." This is an imperative, yet in this context, it is presented as a rhetorical challenge or invitation to inquire respectfully, juxtaposed with the arrogance of the following clause. It signifies God alone holds the knowledge of future events, "the signs that are arriving."
• will you command me (tetsavuni / תְּצַוֻּנִי): This is a direct rhetorical question implying extreme arrogance. From tsavah (צָוָה), "to command, order." It strongly contrasts a humble inquiry with an audacious attempt to dictate or prescribe to the divine Creator. It challenges any human pretense of having authority over God.
• concerning my children ('al-banay / עַל־בָּנַי): Refers specifically to Israel, God's chosen covenant people. God refers to them as "my children," highlighting His paternal ownership, affection, and sovereign rights over them. No one, not even Israel, has the right to command God about His relationship with His own people or their destiny.
• and the work of my hands (u'ma'aseh yadayi / וּמַעֲשֵׂה יָדַי): This phrase is broad, referring to God's entire creation. In context, it can refer to Israel specifically (as the work of His hands), or more universally to all of God's creative acts, including the unfolding of history. It re-emphasizes His exclusive right and power as the Creator.

Words-group analysis

• Thus says the LORD, the Holy One of Israel, and his Maker: This powerful introduction identifies the speaker unequivocally. The combination of "LORD" (YHWH - covenant God), "Holy One of Israel" (transcendent and unique), and "his Maker" (creator and shaper) asserts full divine authority, moral distinctiveness, and personal claim over His people from the outset.
• “Ask me of things to come; will you command me": This sets up a profound contrast. A legitimate, humble "asking" (seeking knowledge from the omniscient God) is permitted. However, it is immediately contrasted with the offensive idea of "commanding" God. This juxtaposition underscores the boundary between respectful inquiry and insolent dictation to the Almighty. The "things to come" refers to God's preordained plans for Israel and the world.
• concerning my children and the work of my hands?: This phrase pinpoints the specific objects of God's sovereignty. "My children" grounds His authority in His paternal claim over Israel as His special people, while "the work of my hands" expands it to all His creative and providential endeavors. The rhetorical question asserts that neither Israel's fate nor the course of history is subject to human demands.

Isaiah 45 11 Bonus section

The concept of "my children and the work of my hands" directly relates to the covenant relationship. God identifies Israel not just as His creation, but as His offspring by covenant. This gives Him an inherent and unchallengeable right to determine their destiny. Furthermore, this verse also holds a powerful polemic against the divination practices prevalent in Babylonian culture, where people sought to manipulate deities or discover hidden knowledge about the future through various forbidden means. Isaiah emphatically states that only the God of Israel declares and directs the future, and He is not to be dictated to by any human scheme or divination. The invitation to "ask" is not a call to use divination, but rather to humbly seek revelation from the true God, in line with righteous prayer.

Isaiah 45 11 Commentary

Isaiah 45:11 serves as a forceful declaration of divine sovereignty, challenging any human or idol's claim to influence God's predetermined will. God, as the unique Holy One and Creator, possesses exclusive knowledge and control over future events ("things to come"). The verse is a powerful rhetorical device, contrasting humble inquiry ("ask me") with impudent demand ("will you command me?"), especially regarding Israel, whom God refers to intimately as "my children," and all His creation. It emphatically reasserts God's prerogative to act according to His counsel alone, without being subject to human dictation, doubt, or counsel. This divine independence undergirds the prophecies of Israel's restoration, affirming that their future lies solely in God's sovereign and benevolent hands. It warns against anthropocentric views that reduce God to a manageable entity or attempt to manipulate His plans.