Isaiah 45:2 kjv
I will go before thee, and make the crooked places straight: I will break in pieces the gates of brass, and cut in sunder the bars of iron:
Isaiah 45:2 nkjv
'I will go before you And make the crooked places straight; I will break in pieces the gates of bronze And cut the bars of iron.
Isaiah 45:2 niv
I will go before you and will level the mountains; I will break down gates of bronze and cut through bars of iron.
Isaiah 45:2 esv
"I will go before you and level the exalted places, I will break in pieces the doors of bronze and cut through the bars of iron,
Isaiah 45:2 nlt
This is what the LORD says:
"I will go before you, Cyrus,
and level the mountains.
I will smash down gates of bronze
and cut through bars of iron.
Isaiah 45 2 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Isaiah 45:1 | "Thus says the LORD to his anointed, to Cyrus..." | God's chosen leader |
| 2 Chron 36:22 | Cyrus' decree allowing Jews to return to Jerusalem and rebuild the temple. | Historical fulfillment |
| Ezra 1:1-4 | Record of Cyrus' proclamation for the return of the exiles. | Detailed account of fulfillment |
| Jeremiah 29:10 | Prophecy of the end of Babylonian captivity after 70 years. | Timeframe of the prophecy |
| Psalm 105:14 | "He allowed no one to do them violence..." | God's protection over His people |
| Isaiah 13:3 | God commanding His consecrated ones for His anger. | God using nations in His plan |
| Isaiah 41:2 | Who stirred up one from the east whom righteousness calls to his foot? | God's control over history |
| Isaiah 44:28 | Cyrus, who says of Jerusalem, 'She shall be rebuilt.' | Specific prophecy about Cyrus |
| Acts 17:25 | God giving life and breath and all things. | God as the ultimate sovereign |
| Psalm 24:1 | The earth is the LORD's, and the fullness thereof. | God's dominion |
| Deuteronomy 32:43 | God avenges the blood of his servants and punishes his enemies. | God's justice |
| Isaiah 54:3 | Your offspring shall possess the nations. | Future restoration |
| Psalm 72:17 | May his name endure forever, his fame as long as the sun! | Blessing upon God's anointed |
| Zechariah 1:12 | "O LORD of hosts, how long will you have no mercy on Jerusalem?" | Prayer for divine intervention |
| Luke 1:52 | He has brought down the powerful from their thrones and exalted those of humble estate. | God's inversion of earthly power |
| Acts 2:36 | "Therefore let all the house of Israel know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified." | Jesus as Lord and Christ |
| 1 Corinthians 3:17 | God will destroy anyone who destroys God's temple. | Consequences for defilement |
| Galatians 6:7 | You will reap what you sow. | Principle of sowing and reaping |
| Ephesians 2:14 | Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone. | Christ as the foundation |
| Hebrews 1:3 | Upholding all things by the word of his power. | Christ's supreme authority |
Isaiah 45 verses
Isaiah 45 2 Meaning
The verse describes God's sovereign hand in raising up Cyrus, the Persian king, to execute His justice and dismantle pagan temples. This action would lead to the release of captive Israelites and the rebuilding of Jerusalem.
Isaiah 45 2 Context
This chapter is a profound declaration of God's sovereignty over all nations and rulers. It speaks to a future time when God would use a foreign king, Cyrus, as His instrument to bring about the deliverance of His people from Babylonian captivity. The message is highly relevant to the exiles in Babylon, offering them hope and assurance of their eventual return and the rebuilding of Jerusalem. It also stands as a polemic against the pagan deities and idol worship prevalent in Babylon, asserting the supremacy of the one true God.
Isaiah 45 2 Word Analysis
"I will go before you": (Hebrew: לִפְנֵיכֶם, lifneikhem) - literally "before your faces." It signifies leading, guiding, and protecting.
"and level the {transliteration}, {transliteration}": (Hebrew: וְאֶת־קוֹמָמִיִּ֛ו וְאֶת־הַדְּרָכִ֣ים və’et-qōmāmîyyô wə’et-haddərākîm) -
- קוֹמָמִיִּו (qōmāmîyyô): Refers to high places, proud things, or stout or lofty ones. Implies things that are exalted and perhaps defy God.
- הַדְּרָכִים (haddərākîm): Paths or ways. God will make the paths straight or navigable.
"level the haughty places": Suggests bringing down those who are proud and exalted in their own might, contrasting with God's power.
"break in pieces the gates of bronze": (Hebrew: וְאַשְׁבֵּר שַׁעֲרֵי־בַּרְזֶל wə’ašəbēr ša‘arê-barzel) - Bronze gates were strong fortifications. God will overcome even the strongest obstacles.
"cut in sunder the bars of iron": (Hebrew: וּבְרִיחֵ֥י נְחֹ֖שֶׁת ūvərîḥê-nəḥōšeṯ) - Iron bars represented immense strength and imprisonment. This imagery emphasizes the absolute liberation God will grant.
Grouped Analysis: The progression from leveling haughty places to breaking bronze gates and sundering iron bars illustrates a complete removal of all barriers, both physical and metaphorical, that hinder God's people. It conveys absolute power over opposition.
Isaiah 45 2 Bonus Section
The use of Cyrus as an instrument of God's will, despite his own paganism, highlights a crucial theological concept: God can use unbelievers to accomplish His sovereign purposes. This is not an endorsement of their beliefs but a demonstration of God's absolute authority over all of creation, including rulers and nations. The prophecies in Isaiah concerning Cyrus were remarkable, written over a century before his reign, demonstrating the supernatural foreknowledge and power of God. This also serves as a testament to the truthfulness of God's word and His ability to fulfill His promises, providing immense encouragement to the faithful in times of distress.
Isaiah 45 2 Commentary
This verse powerfully declares God's active role in orchestrating human history to achieve His divine purposes. He doesn't just permit events; He actively intervenes and directs. The "anointed" refers to Cyrus, not in the religious sense as with David or Israel's kings, but as God's chosen tool. The "haughty places" can symbolize pagan temples and the proud philosophies or rulers that oppose God. Breaking bronze gates and iron bars signify the demolition of insurmountable barriers, signifying liberation from bondage, oppression, and idolatry. God's action here is to enable the return of His people from exile, facilitating the rebuilding of Jerusalem and the temple.