Isaiah 46:11

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

Calling a ravenous bird from the east, the man that executeth my counsel from a far country: yea, I have spoken [it], I will also bring it to pass; I have purposed [it], I will also do it.

Complete Jewish Bible:

I call a bird of prey from the east, the man I intended, from a distant country. I have spoken and will bring it about; I have made a plan, and I will fulfill it.

Berean Standard Bible:

I summon a bird of prey from the east, a man for My purpose from a far-off land. Truly I have spoken, and truly I will bring it to pass. I have planned it, and I will surely do it.

American Standard Version:

calling a ravenous bird from the east, the man of my counsel from a far country; yea, I have spoken, I will also bring it to pass; I have purposed, I will also do it.

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

Calling^{H7121} a ravenous bird^{H5861} from the east^{H4217}, the man^{H376} that executeth my counsel^{H6098} from a far^{H4801} country^{H776}: yea, I have spoken^{H1696} it, I will also bring^{H935} it to pass; I have purposed^{H3335} it, I will also do^{H6213} it.

Cross-References (KJV):

Explore This Verse Across Other Resources:

BibleHub.com BibleRef.com

Commentary for Isaiah 46:11

Isaiah 46:11 is part of the larger context of the book of Isaiah, which is a prophetic text in the Hebrew Bible, dating back to the 8th century BCE. The book contains oracles attributed to the prophet Isaiah, and it addresses the moral and religious behavior of the kingdom of Judah, with a particular focus on the faithful worship of Yahweh.

In the verse itself, the prophet Isaiah conveys the message of God, who declares the calling of a ravenous bird from the east—a metaphor for a fierce and swift invader—and the summoning of a man who will execute God's counsel from a far country. This figure is often interpreted as a reference to Cyrus the Great, the Persian king who would later conquer Babylon and play a crucial role in the restoration of the Jewish people to their homeland, as foretold in other parts of Isaiah (notably Isaiah 44:28-45:1).

The themes present in this verse include God's sovereignty over history and nations, the fulfillment of divine prophecy, and the use of foreign agents to accomplish God's purposes. The verse emphasizes God's power to declare the future and bring it to pass, showcasing divine determination and the certainty that God's plans will be executed. This assurance is meant to comfort the Israelites during times of exile and distress, reminding them that God's promises are reliable and that He will use even pagan rulers to achieve His ends.

Historically, this verse reflects the period when Judah was under threat from various empires, and it served to reassure the people that despite the impending doom, God was in control and had a plan for their deliverance. The prophecy's fulfillment with the rise of Cyrus and the subsequent return of the Jews from exile would have validated the prophetic message and reinforced the belief in Yahweh's dominion over all the earth.

*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model

Strong's Numbers and Definitions:

Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)

1. Strong's Number: H7121
   There are 689 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: קָרָא
   Transliteration: qârâʼ
   Pronunciation: kaw-raw'
   Description: a primitive root (rather identical with קָרָא through the idea of accosting a person met); to call out to (i.e. properly, address by name, but used in a wide variety of applications); bewray (self), that are bidden, call (for, forth, self, upon), cry (unto), (be) famous, guest, invite, mention, (give) name, preach, (make) proclaim(-ation), pronounce, publish, read, renowned, say.
   
2. Strong's Number: H5861
   There are 6 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: עַיִט
   Transliteration: ʻayiṭ
   Pronunciation: ah'-yit
   Description: from עִיט; a hawk or other bird of prey; bird, fowl, ravenous (bird).
   
3. Strong's Number: H4217
   There are 71 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: מִזְרָח
   Transliteration: mizrâch
   Pronunciation: miz-rawkh'
   Description: from זָרַח; sunrise, i.e. the east; east (side, -ward), (sun-) rising (of the sun).
   
4. Strong's Number: H376
   There are 1507 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: אִישׁ
   Transliteration: ʼîysh
   Pronunciation: eesh
   Description: contracted for אֱנוֹשׁ (or perhaps rather from an unused root meaning to be extant); a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term (and in such cases frequently not expressed in translation); also, another, any (man), a certain, [phrase] champion, consent, each, every (one), fellow, (foot-, husband-) man, (good-, great, mighty) man, he, high (degree), him (that is), husband, man(-kind), [phrase] none, one, people, person, [phrase] steward, what (man) soever, whoso(-ever), worthy. Compare אִשָּׁה.
   
5. Strong's Number: H6098
   There are 85 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: עֵצָה
   Transliteration: ʻêtsâh
   Pronunciation: ay-tsaw'
   Description: from יָעַץ; advice; by implication, plan; also prudence; advice, advisement, counsel(l-(or)), purpose.
   
6. Strong's Number: H4801
   There are 18 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: מֶרְחָק
   Transliteration: merchâq
   Pronunciation: mer-khawk'
   Description: ; from רָחַק; remoteness, i.e. (concretely) a distant place; often (adverbially) from afar; (a-, dwell in, very) far (country, off). See also בֵּית הַמֶּרְחָק.
   
7. Strong's Number: H776
   There are 2739 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: אֶרֶץ
   Transliteration: ʼerets
   Pronunciation: eh'-rets
   Description: from an unused root probably meaning to be firm; the earth (at large, or partitively a land); [idiom] common, country, earth, field, ground, land, [idiom] natins, way, [phrase] wilderness, world.
   
8. Strong's Number: H1696
   There are 1050 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: דָבַר
   Transliteration: dâbar
   Pronunciation: daw-bar'
   Description: a primitive root; perhaps properly, to arrange; but used figuratively (of words), to speak; rarely (in a destructive sense) to subdue; answer, appoint, bid, command, commune, declare, destroy, give, name, promise, pronounce, rehearse, say, speak, be spokesman, subdue, talk, teach, tell, think, use (entreaties), utter, [idiom] well, [idiom] work.
   
9. Strong's Number: H935
   There are 2307 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: בּוֹא
   Transliteration: bôwʼ
   Pronunciation: bo
   Description: a primitive root; to go or come (in a wide variety of applications); abide, apply, attain, [idiom] be, befall, [phrase] besiege, bring (forth, in, into, to pass), call, carry, [idiom] certainly, (cause, let, thing for) to come (against, in, out, upon, to pass), depart, [idiom] doubtless again, [phrase] eat, [phrase] employ, (cause to) enter (in, into, -tering, -trance, -try), be fallen, fetch, [phrase] follow, get, give, go (down, in, to war), grant, [phrase] have, [idiom] indeed, (in-) vade, lead, lift (up), mention, pull in, put, resort, run (down), send, set, [idiom] (well) stricken (in age), [idiom] surely, take (in), way.
   
10. Strong's Number: H3335
    There are 55 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: יָצַר
    Transliteration: yâtsar
    Pronunciation: yaw-tsar'
    Description: probably identical with יָצַר (through the squeezing into shape); (compare יַצַע); to mould into a form; especially as apotter; figuratively, to determine (i.e. form a resolution); [idiom] earthen, fashion, form, frame, make(-r), potter, purpose.
    
11. Strong's Number: H6213
    There are 2286 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: עָשָׂה
    Transliteration: ʻâsâh
    Pronunciation: aw-saw'
    Description: a primitive root; to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application; accomplish, advance, appoint, apt, be at, become, bear, bestow, bring forth, bruise, be busy, [idiom] certainly, have the charge of, commit, deal (with), deck, [phrase] displease, do, (ready) dress(-ed), (put in) execute(-ion), exercise, fashion, [phrase] feast, (fight-) ing man, [phrase] finish, fit, fly, follow, fulfill, furnish, gather, get, go about, govern, grant, great, [phrase] hinder, hold (a feast), [idiom] indeed, [phrase] be industrious, [phrase] journey, keep, labour, maintain, make, be meet, observe, be occupied, offer, [phrase] officer, pare, bring (come) to pass, perform, pracise, prepare, procure, provide, put, requite, [idiom] sacrifice, serve, set, shew, [idiom] sin, spend, [idiom] surely, take, [idiom] thoroughly, trim, [idiom] very, [phrase] vex, be (warr-) ior, work(-man), yield, use.