Isaiah 45 21

Isaiah 45:21 kjv

Tell ye, and bring them near; yea, let them take counsel together: who hath declared this from ancient time? who hath told it from that time? have not I the LORD? and there is no God else beside me; a just God and a Saviour; there is none beside me.

Isaiah 45:21 nkjv

Tell and bring forth your case; Yes, let them take counsel together. Who has declared this from ancient time? Who has told it from that time? Have not I, the LORD? And there is no other God besides Me, A just God and a Savior; There is none besides Me.

Isaiah 45:21 niv

Declare what is to be, present it? let them take counsel together. Who foretold this long ago, who declared it from the distant past? Was it not I, the LORD? And there is no God apart from me, a righteous God and a Savior; there is none but me.

Isaiah 45:21 esv

Declare and present your case; let them take counsel together! Who told this long ago? Who declared it of old? Was it not I, the LORD? And there is no other god besides me, a righteous God and a Savior; there is none besides me.

Isaiah 45:21 nlt

Consult together, argue your case.
Get together and decide what to say.
Who made these things known so long ago?
What idol ever told you they would happen?
Was it not I, the LORD?
For there is no other God but me,
a righteous God and Savior.
There is none but me.

Isaiah 45 verses

Isaiah 45 21 Meaning

Isaiah 45:21 serves as God's direct challenge to the false gods and idol-worshippers of the nations, particularly Babylon. He calls upon them to present their strongest arguments and consult among themselves to prove that any of their deities have ever foretold future events accurately from ancient times. The verse emphatically asserts that only Yahweh, the Lord, possesses such divine foreknowledge, thereby demonstrating His singular existence as the one true, righteous God and Savior, beyond whom there is no other.

Isaiah 45 21 Context

Isaiah 45 is a pivotal chapter within the "Book of Consolation" (Isaiah 40-55), a section largely addressed to the exiles in Babylon. Following God's declaration of His sovereignty over all nations and His specific appointment of Cyrus to conquer Babylon and facilitate the return of the Jews (Isaiah 45:1-8), verse 21 encapsulates the logical conclusion of God's arguments. It functions as a legal challenge, a divine lawsuit against the impotent idols worshipped by the Babylonians and other surrounding nations. The historical backdrop is the Babylonian Empire, where various gods and divination practices were prominent, with elaborate rituals used to attempt to discern the future. Isaiah consistently asserts that only Yahweh can declare the future and then bring it to pass, thereby dismantling the foundations of polytheism and reinforcing His unique position as the one true God who controls history and destiny for His people and the entire world.

Isaiah 45 21 Word analysis

• Declare (הַגִּישׁוּ - hag·gî·šū): From the root "n-g-sh," meaning "to bring near, to present, to draw near." In this legalistic context, it signifies a command to present arguments or evidence in a courtroom setting.
• and present your case (וְהַקְרִיבוּ - wə·haq·rī·ḇū): From the root "q-r-v," meaning "to come near, to bring an offering, to bring forward." Continues the legal metaphor; "present your arguments," as if placing them before a judge.
• indeed, let them consult together (יִוָּעֲצוּ - yiū·wā·‘ă·ṣū): From "ya-‘ats," meaning "to take counsel, to deliberate." It sarcastically highlights the need for their false gods to consult each other due to their lack of individual foresight, unlike God's inherent wisdom.
• Who (מִי - mî): A challenging, rhetorical interrogative, inviting a definitive, but absent, answer from any other "god."
• has announced this (הִשְׁמִיעַ זֹאת - hiš·mî·a‘ zōṯ): From "sha-ma'," "to hear, to proclaim, to announce." Specifically refers to making future events known. "This" points to the prophetic declarations mentioned earlier in Isaiah.
• from of old (מִקֶּדֶם - miq·qe·ḏem): From "qe-dem," meaning "antiquity, before, ancient times." Emphasizes the deep past, indicating that God's plans and declarations span eternity.
• Who has declared it (הִגִּידָהּ - hig·gî·ḏāh): From "na-gad," "to declare, to tell, to make known." Repetition for emphasis on prophecy and foreknowledge.
• from ancient times (מֵאָז - mê·’āz): "Since then, from that time, long ago." Reinforces the concept of timelessness and long-standing divine knowledge.
• Is it not I (הֲלֹא אֲנִי - hă·lō Anī): A strong rhetorical question implying an emphatic "Yes!" and asserting His identity.
• the Lord (יְהוָה - Yahweh): God's covenant name, signifying His eternal, self-existent, and active nature.
• And there is no other God besides Me (וְאֵין עוֹד אֱלֹהִים זוּלָתִי - wə·’ên ‘ōḏ ’ĕ·lō·hîm zū·lā·ṯî): A declaration of absolute monotheism. "Zulathi" means "except for me, apart from me," powerfully negating the existence of other deities.
• a righteous God (אֵל צַדִּיק - ’êl ṣad·dîq): "El" signifies divine power, "tzaddiq" means just, upright, vindicated, faithful. Highlights God's perfect moral character, which underpins His truthfulness and reliability.
• and a Savior (וּמוֹשִׁיעַ - ū·mō·šî·a‘): From "yasha'," "to save, to deliver, to preserve." Connects His righteousness and power with His redemptive purpose for His people.
• there is none besides Me (אֵין זוּלָתִי - ’ên zū·lā·ṯî): A powerful reiteration of the uniqueness and exclusivity of God, reinforcing the entire assertion.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "Declare and present your case; indeed, let them consult together": This forms a challenge presented in the terms of a legal court, calling for any opposing deity or human follower to present their "proofs" or "witnesses." The added "let them consult" emphasizes their inherent inability, suggesting confusion and inadequacy. It is a public contest designed to expose the impotence of idols.
• "Who has announced this from of old? Who has declared it from ancient times?": This forms the specific demand for evidence. The repeated question and reference to "of old" or "ancient times" underscores the necessity of demonstrating supernatural foreknowledge, stretching beyond human capacity or mere educated guesses. This is the exclusive domain of the omniscient God.
• "Is it not I, the Lord?": This rhetorical question provides the undeniable answer. God affirms His identity and unique ability. The use of "Yahweh" signifies not just a deity, but the specific, covenant-keeping God of Israel.
• "And there is no other God besides Me, a righteous God and a Savior; there is none besides Me": This powerful crescendo encapsulates the core theological claim. The unique ability to foretell history is presented as irrefutable evidence for Yahweh's solitary divinity. His nature is then described as both "righteous" (perfectly just, reliable, and faithful) and a "Savior" (delivering and redeeming). These attributes stem from His ultimate, singular power and knowledge. The final reiteration "there is none besides Me" solidifies the assertion of His absolute monotheism.

Isaiah 45 21 Bonus section

• The Nature of Prophecy: This verse defines true prophecy as the accurate declaration of distant future events, serving as irrefutable proof of the divine origin of the message and the speaker's true deity.
• Foundational for Biblical Worldview: Isaiah 45:21 asserts a strong monotheistic worldview directly contrasting with polytheistic beliefs, emphasizing that history is not arbitrary or controlled by multiple competing deities, but divinely ordained and governed by one sovereign God.
• Connection to Christ: As the "Savior" (Moshiach) aspect is highlighted, this verse lays groundwork for understanding how God's ultimate salvation would come, eventually fulfilled in Jesus Christ, who perfectly embodied both the righteousness of God and became the perfect and final Savior for all humanity, consistent with God's ancient declarations.
• The Uniqueness of the Covenant God: The consistent use of "Yahweh" distinguishes the God of Israel from all other gods. He is not merely "a god" but the personal, relational, covenant-making and covenant-keeping God.

Isaiah 45 21 Commentary

Isaiah 45:21 encapsulates the central theme of Isaiah 40-48: Yahweh's unchallenged supremacy over all creation and all other alleged deities. Through a rhetorical legal challenge, God calls out to the idols and their adherents to prove their claims by demonstrating foresight into historical events. The very existence of God's fulfilled prophecies, such as the rise of Cyrus explicitly named beforehand in this chapter, stands as His unanswerable proof. Unlike the dumb, carved idols or unreliable pagan divinations, Yahweh reveals His absolute power and control over human history by declaring future events from antiquity and bringing them to pass. This profound capacity for true prophecy is inextricably linked to His exclusive identity as the one and only God. Furthermore, the verse beautifully marries His omnipotence with His character, revealing Him as a "righteous God," whose justice undergirds His every declaration and action, and a "Savior," whose ultimate purpose is to deliver His people. His righteous nature ensures His truthfulness, and His saving power ensures His intervention. Thus, God's uniqueness is not merely about power, but about His consistent, just, and redemptive nature, a nature inherently superior to anything conceived or worshipped by humanity.