Isaiah 45 4

Isaiah 45:4 kjv

For Jacob my servant's sake, and Israel mine elect, I have even called thee by thy name: I have surnamed thee, though thou hast not known me.

Isaiah 45:4 nkjv

For Jacob My servant's sake, And Israel My elect, I have even called you by your name; I have named you, though you have not known Me.

Isaiah 45:4 niv

For the sake of Jacob my servant, of Israel my chosen, I summon you by name and bestow on you a title of honor, though you do not acknowledge me.

Isaiah 45:4 esv

For the sake of my servant Jacob, and Israel my chosen, I call you by your name, I name you, though you do not know me.

Isaiah 45:4 nlt

"And why have I called you for this work?
Why did I call you by name when you did not know me?
It is for the sake of Jacob my servant,
Israel my chosen one.

Isaiah 45 verses

Isaiah 45 4 Meaning

Isaiah 45:4 declares God's divine intervention in history, appointing Cyrus, a foreign king, for the explicit purpose of restoring His chosen people, Jacob/Israel. This act is entirely God's initiative, born from His covenant faithfulness to Israel, even though Cyrus himself was unaware of the true God and His plans. God personally called Cyrus by name and bestowed upon him honor and authority to fulfill a critical part of His sovereign redemptive purpose for Israel and to demonstrate His unique deity to the nations.

Isaiah 45 4 Context

Isaiah chapter 45 continues the grand pronouncements of Yahweh's sole sovereignty and power, particularly in the context of His plans for Israel's return from Babylonian exile. This chapter immediately follows Isaiah 44, where God dismisses the impotence of idols and reveals His unique ability to predict the future. Here, God names Cyrus by name, an astonishing act given that Cyrus was not yet born when Isaiah prophesied. This direct naming and the designation of Cyrus as God's "anointed" (Hebrew: mashiaẖ) and "shepherd" (Isa 44:28) serve as powerful polemics against the gods of Babylon. The Babylonians believed their god Marduk had appointed Cyrus to conquer their city; Isaiah proclaims that it was Yahweh, the one true God, who truly empowered Cyrus, and He did so for the specific purpose of freeing His chosen people, Israel, and rebuilding His Temple. This verse underscores that all of history, even actions by pagan rulers, is subservient to God's ultimate plan for His covenant people and the revelation of His glory to the entire world.

Isaiah 45 4 Word analysis

• "For the sake of" (לְמַעַן, le•ma'an): This preposition clearly establishes the motivation and purpose of God's action. God acts primarily for the benefit and outworking of His covenant with Israel, His chosen people. It highlights His unfailing faithfulness.
• "My servant Jacob" (עַבְדִּי יַעֲקֹב, 'av•di Ya'akov): "Jacob" represents the physical lineage of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, personifying the entire nation of Israel. Calling Israel "My servant" signifies a chosen relationship of unique privilege and responsibility within God's divine economy, as seen repeatedly in Isaiah. This designation carries both the burden of being chosen and the comfort of God's care.
• "And Israel My chosen one" (וְיִשְׂרָאֵל בְּחִירִי, v'Yisra'el b'ḥiri): "Israel" is the name given to Jacob after his struggle with God (Gen 32:28), representing the spiritual identity of the nation that strives with God and humanity. "Chosen one" (bechiri) signifies divine selection, distinction, and favor. It speaks of election, an intentional act of God setting apart Israel from all other nations for a unique purpose. The parallelism between "Jacob" and "Israel" reinforces the identity and special status of God's covenant people.
• "I have called you by your name" (קָרָאתִי לְּךָ בִּשְׁמֶךָ, qarati l'kha bishmecha): This is a direct address to Cyrus. "Calling by name" is a profound biblical concept. It indicates intimate knowledge, personal appointment, and absolute authority. It implies predestination and pre-qualification by God Himself, far before Cyrus's birth. It's not a mere identification but a commissioning for a specific, weighty task. In ancient Near Eastern thought, naming often conveyed power or revealed destiny. God, therefore, establishes His absolute authority over even a world emperor.
• "I have given you a title of honor" / "named you" / "bestowed a title" (תְּכַנְּךָ, t'kan'nekha): This Hebrew verb, related to "naming" or "giving an appellation," indicates God's prerogative to bestow identity and significance. In previous verses (Isa 44:28, 45:1), God had given Cyrus specific, honorific titles like "My shepherd" and "My anointed" (mashiach). This highlights that Cyrus's authority and prominence were directly granted by God for His purposes, even without Cyrus's own knowledge or worship of Him. This act further establishes God's unmatched sovereignty over human affairs.
• "though you have not known Me" (וְלֹא יְדַעְתָּנִי, v'lo y'da'tani): This phrase is crucial. The Hebrew word yada' ("know") implies a deep, experiential, covenantal knowledge, not merely intellectual awareness. This highlights the radical grace and sovereignty of God. He uses and elevates individuals for His purposes who are completely outside His covenant relationship and without personal revelation of Him. It demonstrates God's independence from human cooperation or acknowledgment in achieving His plans, showcasing His omnipotence.

Words-group Analysis:

• "For the sake of My servant Jacob, And Israel My chosen one": This foundational clause reveals God's unyielding commitment to His covenant with Abraham and his descendants. Every action described for Cyrus stems from this unchanging divine purpose to redeem and restore Israel. It puts God's people at the center of His historical dealings.
• "I have called you by your name; I have given you a title of honor": This pairing emphasizes God's proactive, sovereign election and appointment of Cyrus. It denotes personal acquaintance and specific commissioning. God doesn't just know about Cyrus; He actively calls him and confers honor, setting him apart for an exceptional role in history.
• "I have given you a title of honor though you have not known Me": This striking contrast highlights God's transcendence and sovereignty. His plans and ability to enact them are not contingent on human knowledge, recognition, or faithfulness. It also powerfully demonstrates God's grace, working even through those who are far from Him to bring about His perfect will. It underscores the profound theological truth that God is the primary actor in history.

Isaiah 45 4 Bonus section

The remarkable detail of calling Cyrus "My shepherd" (Isa 44:28) and "My anointed" (mashiach, Isa 45:1) elevates a pagan king to titles usually reserved for Israel's kings and, preeminently, the coming Messiah. This underscores the theological shockwave this prophecy would have created among the original audience, who had been promised a Jewish messiah for deliverance. By granting such a designation to Cyrus, God powerfully demonstrated His ability to use anyone, even an unsuspecting Gentile ruler, to fulfill His will for His covenant people. It highlights that God's ways are not confined by human expectations or nationalistic boundaries, and His ultimate purpose is the glory of His name through the redemption of Israel, leading to a wider recognition of Him among the nations.

Isaiah 45 4 Commentary

Isaiah 45:4 reveals a breathtaking dimension of God's sovereign power: His ability to meticulously orchestrate world events and deploy pagan rulers as unconscious instruments for His redemptive plans, specifically for His chosen people, Israel. The calling of Cyrus by name and the bestowal of honor before his birth and without his acknowledgment of Yahweh is a profound assertion of divine foresight and absolute control over history. It fundamentally challenges the prevailing pagan beliefs of the time, asserting that it is not the gods of Babylon but the One True God, the LORD of Israel, who directs kings and establishes their authority. This verse is not about Cyrus's spiritual status, but about God's steadfast faithfulness to His covenant, using unexpected means to deliver His people, gather them, and ultimately magnify His unique glory before all nations. It is a testament to God's all-encompassing wisdom and omnipotence, assuring Israel that their restoration is a certainty because it rests entirely on God's initiative, not human effort or the strength of their enemies.