45:20 45:20

Isaiah 45:21

45:22 45:22

Bible Versions

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.
Tell {H5046} ye, and bring them near {H5066}; yea, let them take counsel {H3289} together {H3162}: who hath declared {H8085} this from ancient time {H6924}? who hath told {H5046} it from that time? have not I the LORD {H3068}? and there is no God {H430} else beside {H1107} me; a just {H6662} God {H410} and a Saviour {H3467}; there is none {H369} beside {H2108} me.
Let them stand and present their case! Indeed, let them take counsel together. Who foretold this long ago, announced it in times gone by? Wasn't it I, ADONAI? There is no other God besides me, a just God and a Savior; there is none besides me.
Speak up and present your case— yes, let them take counsel together. Who foretold this long ago? Who announced it from ancient times? Was it not I, the LORD? There is no other God but Me, a righteous God and Savior; there is none but Me.
Declare ye, and bring it forth; yea, let them take counsel together: who hath showed this from ancient time? who hath declared it of old? have not I, Jehovah? and there is no God else besides me, a just God and a Saviour; there is none besides me.

Isaiah 45:21 presents a powerful challenge from God to the false gods and idolaters of the ancient world, asserting His unique sovereignty, foreknowledge, and singular nature as the only true Deity. It is a profound declaration of monotheism and God's dual character as both righteous Judge and merciful Deliverer.

Context

This verse is situated within the latter part of the Book of Isaiah, often referred to as 'Second Isaiah' (chapters 40-55), which addresses the Jewish exiles in Babylon. The prophet Isaiah comforts them with promises of restoration and challenges their captors' polytheistic beliefs. God reveals His master plan, which includes raising up Cyrus the Great, a pagan king, to conquer Babylon and allow the exiles to return to Jerusalem (Isaiah 45:1-7). In this context, God directly confronts the impotence of idols and the inability of their worshippers to predict or control future events, contrasting it with His own infallible prophetic declarations.

Key Themes

  • God's Unique Sovereignty and Foreknowledge: The central question, "who hath declared this from ancient time? ... have not I the LORD?", emphasizes God's exclusive ability to foretell the future and bring it to pass. This serves as undeniable proof of His divine authority and control over all history and nations.
  • Absolute Monotheism: The repeated assertion, "there is no God else beside me; ... there is none beside me," is a foundational statement of biblical monotheism. It directly refutes polytheism and the worship of idols prevalent in the surrounding cultures, declaring the Lord God of Israel as the one and only true God. This echoes the core declaration found in the Shema in Deuteronomy 6:4.
  • God as Just and Saviour: This verse beautifully encapsulates God's character: "a just God and a Saviour." He is righteous and holy, demanding justice and upholding His moral law. Simultaneously, He is a Deliverer, offering salvation and rescue to His people. These two attributes are not contradictory but complementary, revealing the fullness of His divine nature.

Linguistic Insights

  • "The LORD" (KJV): This translates the Hebrew personal name of God, YHWH (Yahweh), which signifies His eternal, self-existent, and covenant-keeping nature.
  • "Just God": The Hebrew word for "just" is tzaddiq (צַדִּיק), meaning righteous, upright, or vindicating. It describes God's perfect moral character and His adherence to truth and equity.
  • "Saviour": The Hebrew term is Moshia' (מוֹשִׁיעַ), meaning deliverer, rescuer, or one who brings salvation. The combination of tzaddiq and Moshia' highlights that God's salvation is not arbitrary but flows from His righteous character, enabling Him to save justly.

Related Scriptures

The theme of God's unparalleled ability to declare the future is further emphasized in Isaiah 46:10, where He states, "Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done." The exclusivity of God's being is a recurring motif in Isaiah, as seen in Isaiah 44:6: "I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God." The concept of God as both righteous and a Saviour is foundational to the Christian understanding of atonement, where God's justice is satisfied and His salvation is offered through Christ, as seen in Titus 2:13, referring to Jesus Christ as "the great God and our Saviour."

Practical Application

Isaiah 45:21 offers profound comfort and a clear call to trust. In a world filled with uncertainties and competing ideologies, this verse reminds us that the Lord God is the only reliable source of truth and the ultimate controller of history. It encourages us to abandon reliance on human systems, wealth, or self-effort (modern "idols") and instead to place our full faith in the One who knows the end from the beginning. His dual nature as a just God and a Saviour assures us that while He will hold all accountable, He also provides a way of deliverance and hope for all who turn to Him.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Isaiah 45:5

    ¶ I [am] the LORD, and [there is] none else, [there is] no God beside me: I girded thee, though thou hast not known me:

  • Isaiah 43:11

    I, [even] I, [am] the LORD; and beside me [there is] no saviour.

  • Isaiah 44:7

    And who, as I, shall call, and shall declare it, and set it in order for me, since I appointed the ancient people? and the things that are coming, and shall come, let them shew unto them.

  • Isaiah 44:8

    Fear ye not, neither be afraid: have not I told thee from that time, and have declared [it]? ye [are] even my witnesses. Is there a God beside me? yea, [there is] no God; I know not [any].

  • Isaiah 43:9

    Let all the nations be gathered together, and let the people be assembled: who among them can declare this, and shew us former things? let them bring forth their witnesses, that they may be justified: or let them hear, and say, [It is] truth.

  • Isaiah 46:9

    Remember the former things of old: for I [am] God, and [there is] none else; [I am] God, and [there is] none like me,

  • Isaiah 46:10

    Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times [the things] that are not [yet] done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure:
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