Isaiah 45

A prophesy that king Cyrus should take the city of Babel, and should deliver the Jews out of captivity, vers.1. etc. reproof of those that murmur against God, 9. Who is almighty. 12. He promiseth assistance unto Cyrus, 13. A prophesy concerning the conversion of the Gentiles, 14. A threshing against the image-makers, 16 and Idol-worshippers. 20. The Gentiles are called and invited to turn unto Christ. 22. The Lord foretelleth that he should be acknowledged and honoured by all nations, 23.

1. Thus saith the Lord unto [Or of] his anointed, [that is, to or of that King whom God had chosen, anointed, exalted to be King in Persia, and also in Babylon, that he might deliver the Jews out of the Babylonish captivity] to [or of] Cores, whose right hand I do hold, to subdue nations [the Chaldeans and other nations] before his face, and I will loose the loins of Kings: [that is, the girdle wherewith their loins are girt about (of Kings) that is, of the King of Babylon, together with other Kings and Princes that adhere to him. I will loose their loins) that is, I will make them weak and unable to resist Cyrus, by depriving them of all power and means to oppose him. See Job 12.on ver.18.] to open the doors before his face, and they gates shall not be shut, [that is, he shall take all the cities and strong holds, especially the city of Babel; they shall not be able to hinder him from doing it]

2. I will go before thy face, [A speech of God] and I will make the crooked ways [Heb. The cornered, or the crookedness’s straight]: [that is, I will by my power remove all that may ly in thy way, or may any ways oppose or hinder thee] I will break in sunder the copper doors, and I will beat in pieces, [or cut down, hew down] the iron bars.

3. And I will give thee the treasures that are in darkness, [Heb. The treasures of darkness; that is, the treasures that lie hid in the dark] and the hidden riches [Heb. The treasures of hiding places; that is, which are stop up and lie hid in holes and corners] that thou maist know that I am the LORD, which calleth (thee) by thy name, [that is, which have called and appointed thee to this work] the God of Israel:

4. For Jacob my servants sake, and Israel mine elect (sake): [That is, that thou maist deliver the posterity of Jacob out captivity, and suffer them to return to their own country] yea I called thee by thy known thee (as we use to say) both by name and surname] though thou didst not know me [or when thou didst not know me. So likewise ver.5.]

5. I am the LORD, and (there is) none more, there is no God besides me: I will gird thee, [That is, I will give thee strength and ability to fight against the Babylonians. See above chap.22.on ver.21.] though thou knowest me not:

6. That they may know from the rising of the sun, and from the going down (thereof,) that there is nothing without me: [That is, that there is no God besides me, neither can anything else be or subsist without me. For we are in God, we live and move in him. Others, that there is none without or besides me] I am the LORD, and (there is) none more.

7. I form the light, [That is, I am he that causeth happiness and prosperity to happen unto men. Light for joy and prosperity. See Esth.chap.8.ver.16. and the Annotations there. See also Job 18.on ver.6. and Psalm 27.on verse 1.] and create darkness, [that is, misery and calamity. See Gen.15. the Annotat. On ver.12.] I make peace, [Compare Psal.46.10.] and create evil, [that is, plagues and punishments. See Gen.19.on ver.19. and Amos 3.on ver.6. Lament.3.38.] I the LORD do all these things.

8. Drop down, ye heavens from above, and let the clouds flow with righteousness: and let the earth open it self, and let all manner of salvation grow forth, and let righteousness spring forth together: [That which God here commandeth heaven and earth, the same he promiseth likewise to give unto his people. To speak properly, neither the earth not the heaven do understand that which God enjoineth and commandeth them. God promiseth his people that he will abundantly bless and satisfy them with the joy of their deliverance from Babylon: (and let the clouds flow with righteousness) the deliverance from the Babylonish captivity is a work of the righteousness or justice of God, both in respect of his promises, and likewise in respect of his promises, and likewise in respect that it is just and right in the fight of God, that his people should receive comfort and refreshing, and the Babylonians judgement or punishment. And understand withal spiritual deliverance or redemption by Christ. And so oft in that which followeth, (and let all manner of salvation grow forth) that is, the deliverance or redemption of my people, (and let righteousness spring forth together) Others, and let them (to wit, the clouds) bring forth salvation, and let it (to with the earth) cause them to spring forth together] I the Lord have created it, [or have created him; to wit, Cores, that is ordained him for that purpose; to wit, to deliver my people out of captivity.

9. Wo unto him that striveth with his framer; as a potsherd (striveth) with earthen potsherds: [Here the Lord rebuketh and reproveth them that did murmur because he suffered them to remain so long in captivity in Babylon, and on the contrary, suffered their enemies to be all the while at ease and merry: he setteth afore their eyes his own power and sovereignty which he hath over his creatures; and he saith that this murmuring is as if a potsherd should strive and contend with the potter, which is not seemly: one potsherd may indeed strive and contend with another as with its equal, but for a man who is but like a potsherd in comparison, to strive with God, is most unseemly and absurd. The following words are likewise thus rendered by some, let a potsherd (strive) with earthen potsherd, or as (if) a potsherd (should strive) with earthen potsherds (wo unto him that striveth with his farmer,) God in the beginning formed and created Adam, and all of us in him, out of earth] shall also the clay say unto his former, what makest thou? [Compare Jerem.18.6. Rom.9.20.] or (shall) the work (say) he hath no hands? [to wit, to make a thing well.]

10. Wo unto him that saith unto (his) father, what begettest thou? And to the woman, [To wit, to his fathers wife, that is, to his mother] what bringest thou forth?

11. Thus saith the LORD, the holy One of Israel, and his former: they [To wit, the wicked ones among the people, and in general all unbelievers] have asked me of things to come: [They are the words of God. They did this with profane boldness and impudence, as desiring to make trial of my divine knowledge] concerning my children, [Others thus: do ye asked me of things to come concerning have my children?] should ye give me a command concerning the work of mine hands?

12. I have made the earth, and I have created men upon on it, I am be, mine hands have spread out the heavens, and I have given command to all their hosts, [To wit, to the Sun, Moon, and Stars. See Genes.2.1. As if God had said, I cannot want power to deliver you out of Babel, in regard I am that Almighty God that have created heaven and earth out of nothing]

13. I have raised him up [To wit, Cores mine anointment, ver.1 to wit, to deliver my people out of Babel] in righteousness, and I will make all his paths straight: [to wit, all the wares that he shall march against the Babylonians. The meaning is, I will prosper him, and give him good success in his enterprises] he [to wit, Cores. See Dan.9.25.] shall build my city, [to wit Jerusalem, which I have chosen to my self to dwell therein. See above chap.31.9. See also 2 Chron.36.22. Ezra 1:1.above chap.44.28.] and be shall release my captives [the Jews that are my people, notwithstanding they are prisoners in Babylon. Heb. My captivity, he shall release them, to wit, that they may go to Judea their own country] not for price nor for gift, [but freely, and for nought, out of bounty and liberality, for my sake, who will give him such a great victory against the Babylonians. See below chap.52.3.] saith the LORD of hosts.

14. Thus saith the LORD, the labour of the Egyptians, [That is, the riches which the Egyptians have gotten and gathered together by their labour] and the merchandise of the Ethiopians, and of the Sabeans, [that is, the money which they have gained and gotten by merchandise] men of great length [Heb. Men of measure; that is great strong men. See Numb.13.ver.32.] shall come over unto thee, [O Jerusalem; that is, unto thee my people, to wit, after they shall have embraced the Christian Religion] and they [to wit, those nations] shall be thine, they shall follow thee, in fetters shall they come over, [being conquered, not by sword, or spear, or by outward power, but being convinced in their own consciences by the power and efficacy of heavenly truth, and of the holy Ghost] and they shall bow themselves before thee, they shall make supplication unto thee, (saying) surely God is in thee, [Others, God is onely with thee or in thee O thou city of God. Understand hereby, first Jerusalem, and secondly, the Christian Church] and there is no other God more. [See above ver.5.]

15. Verily, thou art a God that keepeth himself secret: [That is, who art invisible and incomprehensible, and to whom one cannot come, as dwelling in an inaccessible light: and who hast kept secret from the Gentiles the Majesty of redemption, which the Messiahs should bring both to the Jews and Gentiles, and consequently who keepest thy self secret, and as it were hidden, forasmuch as thou sufferest thy Church to be tempted, not rising up nor shewing thy self for her deliverance before the appointed time] the God of Israel, the Saviour.

16. They [To wit, all the makers of images, and Idolaters] shall be ashamed and also confounded all of them: they shall go away together with shame that make Idols, [Heb. Torments, sorrows, distresses: Such things do Idols bring unto those that worship them. Compare 1 Sam.31.on ver.9. and 2. Sam.5.on ver.21. Compare above chapo.44.ver.11.

17. (But) Israel [That is, the true Church of God] is delivered [or, is saved, that is, shall be saved] by the Lord, (with) an everlasting deliverance: [Heb. With a deliverance, or salvation of eternities world without end. [Heb. Unto eternities of eternity.

18. For thus saith the Lord that created the heavens, [Compare above chap.42.5.] that God that formed the earth, and that made it: he established it, he created it not that it should be empty, [Heb. Emptiness, or vanity] (but) formed it that men should dwell in it: [and also especially for that end and purpose, that he might gather unto himself a Church from among men upon earth, wherein he might be a acknowledged and confessed] I am the LORD, and (there is) none more. So ver.5.and 14.]

19. I have not spoken in secret, in a dark place of the earth: [that is, the promises which I have made unto you are clear and plain, therefore ye have no cause to doubt of them. Others conceive that the Prophet here hath respect to the promulgation or publishing of the law by Moses, Exod.19.] I said not unto the seed of Jacob, seek men in vain: [Others, seek me as if I were a thing of nought. Heb. (with) emptiness or vanity] I am the LORD that speaketh righteousness, that declareth right things, [the word of God is the rule of all righteousness, and whatsoever he promiseth his people is sure and stable.

20. Assemble your selves, and come, approach hither [To wit, to the Church of God] together ye that are escaped of the heathen: [Heb. The escaped ones of the heathen] they know nothing that carry their wooden carved images, [as is done in processions: Heb. The wood of the carved image] and pray unto a God (that) cannot deliver.

21. Declare it, [Tell one another what ye have found or experienced concerning the great acts of God, and concerning his truth in his promises] and up way hither, [To wit, how ye shall bring one another to the Church of God] who hath caused it to be heard from ancient time? [To wit, from that time that the Lord revealed himself unto his church: whether ye take it of the promulgation of the law, or whether it be meant of the Covenant which God made with Abraham, or with Adam the father of us all in Paradise] (who) hath declared it, [To wit, that which is mentioned in the former Annotation, and likewise that Christ should bring salvation unto believers, which was typified by the deliverance from the Babylonish captivity] from that time? [See above 41.22,26,27. And 43.9,10.] Am not I he, the LORD? And there is no God more besides me, a just God, and a Saviour, there is none but I. [Compare above vers.5,14,18.]

22. Turn yourselves towards me, [Or, look upon me] be saved, all the ends of the earth: [That is, all ye that dwell in the ends of the earth] for I am God, and (there is) none more.

23. I have sworn by my self, there is a word of righteousness gone out of my mouth, [Or, a word is gone out of my mouth (in) righteousness: that is, in fidelity and faith; that is, a word that is sure, firm, and unalterable, that shall not ail] and it shall not return: [that is, it shall not be revoked, or called back] that unto me [that is, to my honour and glory. Rom.14.11. Psal.2.10.] all (or every) knee shall bow, [The meanings is, All people and nations shall by the Messiahs be called to the true knowledge of God and many shall be effectually brought unto it] all ( or every) tongue shall swear (unto me). [That is, all nations shall know and confess me. That is, honouring and confessing of God, when men in judgement do swear truly and sincerely by his Name.]

24. They shall say of me, [To wit, every believer shall say of me] surely in the LORD are righteousnesses and strength: [That is, the LORD hath these goods or riches in himself, and he giveth them unto his elect. (in the LORD are righteousnesses,) Or, all, or, perfect righteousness (and strength:) To wit, to preserve his Church, and to save it in righteousness. Others; Surely in the Lord (shall they say) have I righteousness and strength] they shall come unto him; [Or, before him: to wit, before his judgement-seat, to receive reward according to their works. Rom.14.11,12,13. [but they shall be ashamed, all that are incensed against him. [They: to wit, all wicked and ungodly men that murmur against him, and are incensed or kindled with wrath, or that rise up against him. Compare above chap.41.11.]

25. (But) in the LORD [To wit, by the Lord Jesus Christ, who is our righteousness before God] shall all the seed of Israel [that is, all the children of Israel; to wit, the spiritual children of Israel: that is, believers both of Jews and Gentiles. See above chap.44.vers.5.] be justified, and (shall) glory.