Isaiah 45:18 kjv
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.
Isaiah 45:18 nkjv
For thus says the LORD, Who created the heavens, Who is God, Who formed the earth and made it, Who has established it, Who did not create it in vain, Who formed it to be inhabited: "I am the LORD, and there is no other.
Isaiah 45:18 niv
For this is what the LORD says? he who created the heavens, he is God; he who fashioned and made the earth, he founded it; he did not create it to be empty, but formed it to be inhabited? he says: "I am the LORD, and there is no other.
Isaiah 45:18 esv
For thus says the LORD, who created the heavens (he is God!), who formed the earth and made it (he established it; he did not create it empty, he formed it to be inhabited!): "I am the LORD, and there is no other.
Isaiah 45:18 nlt
For the LORD is God,
and he created the heavens and earth
and put everything in place.
He made the world to be lived in,
not to be a place of empty chaos.
"I am the LORD," he says,
"and there is no other.
Isaiah 45 18 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Isaiah 44:24 | "Thus says the LORD, your Redeemer, and he 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'" | Creator God, sole existence |
| Genesis 1:1 | "In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth." | Primacy of Creation, God as Maker |
| Genesis 1:2 | "The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep." | Earth not created wasteland |
| John 1:3 | "All things were made through him, and without him was not made anything that was made." | Christ's role in Creation |
| Colossians 1:16 | "For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him." | Universal Creation by Christ |
| Acts 17:24 | "The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by man." | God as Lord of all, non-temple dweller |
| Nehemiah 9:6 | "You are the LORD, you alone. You have made heaven, the heaven of heavens, with all their host, the earth and all that is on it, the seas and all that is in them; and you preserve all of them; and the host of heaven worships you." | LORD as the only one, Preserver |
| Psalm 24:1 | "The earth is the LORD’s, and the fullness thereof, the world and those who dwell therein." | God's ownership of the earth |
| Jeremiah 32:17 | "Ah, Lord GOD! Behold, you have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and by your outstretched arm! Nothing is too hard for you." | Great power in creation |
| Romans 1:20 | "For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse." | Creator reveals His nature |
| Isaiah 40:28 | "Have you not known? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable." | Everlasting Creator, Unsearchable understanding |
| Isaiah 45:12 | "I made the earth and created man on it; it was my hands that stretched out the heavens, and I commanded all their host." | Direct claim of creating earth and heavens |
| Isaiah 45:5 | "I am the LORD, and there is no other, no God besides me." | Declaration of being the only God |
| Deuteronomy 6:4 | "Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one." | Shema, foundational statement of monotheism |
| 1 Corinthians 8:4 | "...There is no other God but one." | Reinforces oneness of God |
| Galatians 3:20 | "Now a mediator is not for one, but God is one." | God’s oneness, Mediator concept |
| 1 Timothy 2:5 | "For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus." | One God, one Mediator |
| John 17:3 | "And this is eternal life, that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent." | Knowing the only true God |
| Romans 11:36 | "For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever! Amen." | All things originate from God |
| Ephesians 3:9 | "and to bring to light for everyone what is the plan for the mystery hidden for ages in God who created all things." | God's plan in creation |
| Psalm 136:1-9 | "Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever. ...To him who made the heavens with skill, ...who spread out the earth above the waters, ...who made the great lights, ..." | Thanksgiving for creation |
Isaiah 45 verses
Isaiah 45 18 Meaning
The God who made the heavens, who is God, who formed the earth and made it, who established it, who did not create it a wasteland, but formed it to be inhabited, declares: “I am the LORD, and there is no other.” This verse strongly asserts the unique divinity of the LORD, the Creator of all, emphasizing His intentional design for the earth to be populated, contrasting it with a chaotic void. It highlights His sole existence and power as the ultimate maker.
Isaiah 45 18 Context
This verse is part of the final section of Isaiah, which focuses on God's sovereignty and redemptive plan, specifically in relation to His chosen people, Israel, and the surrounding nations. In chapters 44-46, God contrasts Himself with idols, demonstrating their futility and His unique power. Chapter 45 specifically addresses Cyrus the Great, God's chosen instrument for the restoration of Israel and the rebuilding of Jerusalem. The immediate context is God speaking about His role as Creator, emphasizing that He intentionally formed the earth for habitation, not leaving it formless or void. This assertion of His creative power and purposeful design serves to undergird His authority and ability to execute His plans for His people, including the enablement of Cyrus.
Isaiah 45 18 Word Analysis
- אָנֹכִי (anokhi): "I." First-person singular pronoun. This emphatic personal pronoun underscores the speaker's identity.
- יְהוָה (Yahweh): "The LORD." The covenantal name of God, indicating His personal relationship with His people and His active presence in history.
- עָשָׂה (asah): "made" (from the root עָשָׂה, to do, make, fashion). Refers to the act of creation.
- שָׁמַיִם (shamayim): "heavens." Refers to the sky, the celestial realm, the abode of God and His host.
- אֱלֹהִים (Elohim): "God." A general term for deity, here referring to the supreme God.
- צַר (tsar): "formed" (from the root צָרַר, to bind, to fashion, to shape). Indicates deliberate shaping and molding, not just a casual making.
- תֵּבֵל (tevel): "earth." The habitable world.
- קָּבַע (kava'): "established" (from the root קָבַע, to sink, fix, establish firmly). Implies a solid foundation and order.
- לֹא (lo): "not." Negation.
- תֹהוּ (tohu): "wasteland, formless, void." Describes a state of chaos or emptiness. This is a crucial contrast to the earth's created state.
- בָרָא (bara'): "create" (from the root בָּרָא, to create, especially out of nothing, or to make new). Specifically used for God's unique creative work.
- לָשֶׁבֶת (lashevet): "to inhabit, to dwell." Indicates purpose, the earth was meant to be lived in.
- כִּי־ (ki-): "for," "but." Here it introduces a contrasting statement.
- אֲנִי (ani): "I." Repetition of the personal pronoun.
- יְהוָה (Yahweh): "the LORD." Reinforcement of His name.
- וְאֵין (ve'ein): "and there is not." A conjunction with negation.
- עוֹד (od): "another," "other."
Words-group by words-group analysis:
- "The LORD, who made the heavens, who is God": This sequence establishes His identity as both Yahweh (covenantal God) and Elohim (universal God), linked to the primary act of creating the heavens.
- "who formed the earth and made it, who established it": This emphasizes not only His making of the earth but also the careful shaping and setting of its order.
- "who did not create it a wasteland, but formed it to be inhabited": This highlights a critical distinction. God did not produce a chaotic, useless expanse, but rather deliberately prepared it for human dwelling. The word bara' implies creation from nothing or creation ex nihilo, suggesting a profound origin.
- "I am the LORD, and there is no other": This is a powerful declaration of monotheism and absolute exclusivity. No other deity possesses His creative power or His singular existence.
Isaiah 45 18 Bonus Section
The Hebrew phrase "lo yatsartaha tohu" (לא בְּרָאתָהּ תֹּהוּ) emphasizes that the earth's initial state was not one of complete chaos ("tohu") in a way that negates God's creative intent or order. Rather, God created it with potential and purpose. Genesis 1:2 speaks of the earth being "formless and void," but even then, the Spirit of God was present and actively involved in bringing order. This verse in Isaiah clarifies that God’s intention from the outset was habitation, contrasting His purposeful creation with the aimlessness of idol worship. It underscores that God is not a distant, uninvolved architect, but the active sustainer and purposeful designer of all that exists. The entire sweep of salvation history, from creation to redemption through Christ, is His purposeful plan.
Isaiah 45 18 Commentary
Isaiah 45:18 is a cornerstone of biblical monotheism and theology of creation. It unequivocally states that Yahweh is the one and only God. His status is not merely declared but is proven by His sovereign act of creation. He brought the universe into existence, not by accident or by some prior chaotic state that was then merely repurposed, but with inherent purpose. The earth was formed specifically to be a place of habitation. This speaks to God's immanence and His good design for humanity to dwell upon His creation.
The verse refutes any notion of a dualistic creator god or a god who merely tinkers with pre-existing materials. The creator is one, and His act was deliberate and good. This affirmation is particularly significant in the context of Isaiah, where the prophet is confronting polytheism and idolatry prevalent in ancient Near Eastern cultures. God’s assertion of His uniqueness as the Creator is an indictment against the impotence of idols. For believers, it signifies assurance: the God who masterfully designed and established the cosmos is the same God who covenants with His people and works out His redemptive purposes. His creative power guarantees His ability to fulfill His promises, even when His actions, like raising up a foreign king like Cyrus, might seem unusual or difficult to comprehend.