Isaiah 45

1 This is what the LORD [Yehovah, the self-existent God] says to Cyrus [His chosen leader, the one He has appointed] His anointed [Messiah, the one set apart], whose right hand I have grasped [taken hold of, empowered] to subdue [conquer, bring under control] nations before him, to disarm [loosen the strength of, weaken] kings, to open [unlock, make accessible] the doors before him, so that the gates [city entrances, access points] will not be shut [closed, obstructed]: word study 2 “I [the Lord] will go before you [to lead and guide] and level [make smooth, straighten] the mountains [obstacles, challenges]; I will break down [shatter, demolish] the gates [doors, entrances] of bronze [copper, strong metal] and cut through [shatter, sever] the bars [bolts, iron rods] of iron [strong, unyielding metal]. word study 3 I will give you the treasures [hidden riches, secret stores] of darkness [physical and spiritual, misery or wickedness] and the riches [valuables, wealth] hidden in secret places [concealed, mysterious locations], so that you may know [ascertain, learn, perceive] that I am the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God], the God [Elohim, the supreme God] of Israel [the symbolic name of Jacob, and his descendants], who calls you by name [identity, honor, character]. word study 4 For the sake of Jacob [My beloved servant, Israel’s father] My servant [one who serves and obeys God] and Israel [God’s chosen people, Jacob’s descendants] My chosen one [select, preferred by God], I call [summon, invite] you by name [your personal identity, character]; I have given you a title of honor [a flattering surname, a name of dignity], though you have not known [been aware of, understood] Me [the one true God, my divine nature]. word study 5 I am the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God], and there is no other [none else, no one]; there is no God [Elohim, the supreme deity] but Me [except Me]. I will equip [gird, surround with strength] you for battle [war], though you have not known [ascertained, perceived] Me [in a personal, intimate way], word study 6 so that all may know [from the rising of the sun to the west], from where the sun [the east, the sunrise] rises to where it sets, that there is none but Me [beside me, except Me]; I am the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God], and there is no other [none else, nothing apart from Me]. word study 7 I form [shape and mold, as a potter] the light [natural and spiritual illumination] and create [bring into being, make] the darkness [physical and spiritual, misery or wickedness]; I bring [produce, cause to exist] prosperity [peace, wellness, and happiness] and create [make, bring forth] calamity [evil, adversity, or distress]. I, the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God], do [make, accomplish] all [everything, the whole] these things [events, circumstances]. word study 8 Drip down [like dew from above], O heavens [the sky, the celestial realm], from above [on high, from the highest point], and let the skies [the atmosphere, the clouds] pour down righteousness [justice, moral integrity, having God’s nature]. Let the earth [the land, the ground] open up [be fruitful, bring forth] that salvation [deliverance, rescue, liberation] may sprout [grow, flourish] and righteousness [virtue, morality, justice] spring up [arise, emerge] with it; I, the LORD [Yehovah, the covenant God], have created [brought into being, formed] it. word study 9 Woe [a cry of sorrow, a lament] to him who quarrels [striveth, contends] with his Maker [the One who formed him, his Creator]— one clay pot [a potsherd, earthenware vessel] among many. Does the clay [a lump of earthy material] ask the potter [the One who shapes and forms], ‘What [a question of purpose] are you making [creating or fashioning]?’ Does your work [something made or done] say, ‘He has no hands’? word study 10 Woe [a cry of sorrow, deep distress] to him who says [speaks, utters words] to his father [parent, ancestor], ‘What have you begotten [brought into being, given life to]?’ or to his mother [the one who gave birth], ‘What have you brought forth [given birth to, produced]?’” word study 11 Thus [in this manner, at this time] says the LORD [Yehovah, the self-existent God], the Holy One [set apart, sacred] of Israel [the symbolic name of Jacob, and his descendants], and its Maker [the One who forms and shapes]: “How dare you question [ask, inquire of] Me about My sons [children, descendants], or instruct [command, give orders to] Me in the work [deeds, actions] of My hands [power, direction]? word study 12 It is I [the Creator, Almighty] who made [formed, brought into existence] the earth [land, ground] and created [brought forth, formed] man [humanity, Adam] upon it [on its surface, above it]. It was My hands [My power, strength] that stretched out [expanded, spread] the heavens [the sky, universe], and I ordained [commanded, appointed] all their host [army, celestial bodies]. word study 13 I [the Lord] will raise up Cyrus [in My sovereign power] in righteousness [justice, moral integrity], and I will make all his ways [paths, journeys] straight [smooth, level]. He will rebuild [restore, renew] My city [Jerusalem, the holy city] and set My exiles [captive people, those in bondage] free, but not for payment [price, wages] or reward [bribe, gift], says the LORD [Yehovah, the supreme God] of Hosts [armies, heavenly forces].” word study 14 This is what the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] says: “The products [labor, toil] of Egypt and the merchandise [trade, commerce] of Cush, along with the Sabeans, men of [great] stature [measured height], will come over to you and will be yours; they will trudge [walk, go] behind you; they will come over in chains [fetters, bondage] and bow down [prostrate themselves] to you. They will confess [make supplication, pray] to you: ‘God [Elohim, the one supreme God] is indeed with you, and there is no other [none else, no one beside]; there is no other God [no other deity, no idol].’” word study 15 Truly [surely, without a doubt] You are a God [Elohim, the supreme Creator] who hides [conceals, keeps secret] Himself, O God [the one supreme God] of Israel [the descendants of Jacob], the Savior [Deliverer, Rescuer]. word study 16 They will all [every single one, without exception] be put to shame [be ashamed, feel guilt or disappointment] and humiliated [be insulted or shamed]; the makers [artificers, skilled craftsmen] of idols [images, carved figures] will depart [go, walk away] together [in unity, as one] in disgrace [shame, reproach]. word study 17 But Israel [the descendants of Jacob, God’s chosen people] will be saved [rescued, delivered] by the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] with an everlasting [age-during, eternal] salvation [deliverance, rescue]; you will not [never] be put to shame [ashamed, humiliated] or [nor] humiliated [confounded, disgraced], to ages [perpetuity, eternity] everlasting [forever, always]. word study 18 For thus [in this manner, at this time] says the LORD [Yehovah, the covenant God], who created [brought into being, formed] the heavens [the visible sky and the spiritual realm]—He is God [Elohim, the supreme Creator]; He formed [shaped, molded] the earth [the land, the material world] and fashioned [made, prepared] it; He established [set up, founded] it; He did not create [make, bring into being] it to be empty [a waste, without purpose], but formed [shaped, prepared] it to be inhabited [dwelled in, lived upon]: “I am the LORD [the self-existent, eternal God], and there is no other [none besides, no alternative]. word study 19 I have not spoken [from a place of concealment] in secret, from a place [location, region] in a land [earth, territory] of darkness [spiritual gloom, misery]. I did not say [command, utter] to the descendants [seed, offspring] of Jacob [Israel’s father], ‘Seek Me [inquire of, search for] in a wasteland [desolate place, void].’ I, the LORD [Yehovah, the self-existent God], speak [declare, proclaim] the truth [righteousness, uprightness]; I say [declare, utter] what is right [just, fair]. word study 20 Come [assemble], gather together, and draw near [approach, come close], you fugitives [survivors, refugees] from the nations [Gentiles, non-Hebrew peoples]. Ignorant [lacking knowledge, unaware] are those who carry [lift, bear] idols [graven images, carved wooden figures] of wood [trees, wooden planks] and pray [intercede, make petition] to a god [deity, false idol] that cannot [is unable to, lacks the power to] save [rescue, deliver]. word study 21 Speak up [declare openly, tell boldly] and present your case [your argument, your evidence]— yes, let them take counsel [advise, discuss] together [in unity, as one]. Who [which one, what person] foretold [proclaimed, predicted] this long ago [from ancient times, in the past]? Who announced [declared, told] it from ancient times [from the beginning, of old]? Was it not I, the LORD [Yehovah, the supreme God]? There is no other God [no other deity, no alternative] but Me, a righteous [just, upright] God and Savior [Redeemer, Deliverer]; there is none but Me [no one else, none apart from Me]. word study 22 Turn [face towards, look to] to Me and be saved [rescued, delivered], all [every part of] the ends [extremities, farthest reaches] of the earth [land, world]; for I [Myself, personally] am God [the one true deity], and there is no [none, nothing] other [alternative, substitute]. word study 23 By Myself [alone, without oath] I have sworn [taken an oath, made a vow]; truth [righteousness, faithfulness] has gone out from My mouth [lips, words], a word [declaration, promise] that will not be revoked [changed, turned back]: Every [all, everything] knee [part of the body used for movement and flexibility] will bow [bend, sink down] before Me, every [all, everything] tongue [language, speech] will swear [take an oath, make a promise] allegiance [loyalty, devotion]. word study 24 Surely [certainly, without a doubt] they will say of Me, ‘In the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] alone [exclusively, as the only source] are righteousness [moral integrity, justice] and strength [power, might].’” All [every single one] who rage [are incensed, furious] against Him will come [approach, draw near] to Him and be put to shame [be ashamed, disappointed]. word study 25 In the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] all [every single one, everything] descendants [seed, offspring] of Israel [the symbolic name of Jacob, his descendants] will be justified [made right, declared righteous] and will exult [glory, shine, celebrate]. word study