Isaiah 45:21

KJV

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.

KJV (with Strong's)

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.

Complete Jewish Bible

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.

Berean Standard Bible

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.

American Standard Version

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.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Isaiah 45:21 stands as a powerful divine challenge and declaration, asserting the singular sovereignty, infallible foreknowledge, and unique nature of the Lord God of Israel. It is a profound polemic against the impotence of idols and false deities, contrasting their inability to predict or control history with God's exclusive power to declare ancient things and bring them to pass. The verse culminates in a foundational statement of absolute monotheism, revealing God's harmonious character as both perfectly just and the sole source of salvation.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is situated within the latter half of the Book of Isaiah (chapters 40-55), often referred to as 'Second Isaiah.' This section primarily addresses the Jewish exiles in Babylon, offering comfort, hope, and a renewed understanding of God's redemptive plan. The preceding chapters emphasize God's absolute control over history and nations, particularly His surprising choice to raise up Cyrus the Great, a pagan king, to conquer Babylon and facilitate the return of the exiles to Jerusalem. The immediate context of [Isaiah 45](/isaiah/45 "Isaiah 45 - God's Sovereignty Over Cyrus and All Nations") highlights God's unique ability to name Cyrus before his birth and orchestrate events for His people's deliverance, thereby demonstrating His unparalleled power over all creation and human affairs (e.g., [Isaiah 45:1-7](/isaiah/45-1 "Isaiah 45:1-7 - God's Anointing of Cyrus")). Verse 21, therefore, serves as a climactic rhetorical challenge to the idolaters and their false gods, demanding proof of their predictive power and exposing their utter futility in comparison to the Lord.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The historical setting is the Babylonian exile in the 6th century BCE. The Jewish people were living in a polytheistic empire where the worship of numerous gods and goddesses, often represented by elaborate idols, was pervasive. Babylonian religious practices included divination, astrology, and consulting oracles to discern the future. This cultural backdrop made God's direct challenge in [Isaiah 45:21](/isaiah/45-21 "Isaiah 45:21 - God's Challenge to Idols") particularly potent. The Lord directly confronts the claims of these false deities, highlighting their silence and inability to declare future events, let alone bring them to pass. This stands in stark contrast to the God of Israel, who not only declares the future but actively shapes it, demonstrating His unique power and sovereignty over all human history, including the rise and fall of empires like Babylon.
* **Key Themes:** [Isaiah 45:21](/isaiah/45-21 "Isaiah 45:21 - God's Uniqueness and Saving Power") powerfully encapsulates several major theological themes prevalent throughout Isaiah and the broader Old Testament. Firstly, it underscores God's **Unique Sovereignty and Foreknowledge**, emphasizing His exclusive ability to declare events "from ancient time" and bring them to fruition, serving as irrefutable proof of His divine authority and control over all creation and history. This theme is further developed in passages like [Isaiah 46:9-10](/isaiah/46-9 "Isaiah 46:9-10 - God Declares the End from the Beginning"). Secondly, the verse presents a foundational statement of **Absolute Monotheism**, repeatedly asserting, "there is no God else beside me; ... there is none beside me." This directly refutes the prevalent polytheism of the ancient Near East, proclaiming the Lord God of Israel as the one and only true God. This declaration echoes the core confession of faith in [Deuteronomy 6:4](/deuteronomy/6-4 "Deuteronomy 6:4 - The Shema, Hear O Israel"), known as the Shema. Thirdly, the verse beautifully reveals God's multifaceted character as both a **Just God and a Saviour**. He is righteous and holy, upholding His moral law and demanding justice, yet simultaneously He is the Deliverer, offering salvation and rescue to His people. These two attributes are not contradictory but complementary, revealing the fullness of His divine nature, where His salvation is always consistent with His perfect righteousness.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **LORD (Hebrew, _Yᵉhôvâh'_):** This is the sacred personal name of God, YHWH, often rendered "Jehovah" or "Yahweh." It signifies God's eternal, self-existent, and covenant-keeping nature. In this context, the use of "the LORD" (YHWH) emphasizes that it is the specific God of Israel, the one who revealed Himself to Moses and entered into covenant with His people, who makes these exclusive claims of sovereignty and salvation, distinguishing Himself from all other deities.
* **just (Hebrew, _tsaddîyq'_):** This word describes God's perfect moral character, meaning righteous, upright, or vindicating. It speaks to His adherence to truth, equity, and moral perfection. When God is called "just," it implies that His judgments are fair, His decrees are right, and His character is unimpeachable. His justice is not merely punitive but also restorative, ensuring that what is right ultimately prevails.
* **Saviour (Hebrew, _yâshaʻ'_):** From a root meaning "to be open, wide, or free," this term implies being safe, or causatively, to free or succor. It denotes a deliverer, rescuer, or one who brings salvation. The combination of "just" and "Saviour" is critical: God's salvation is not arbitrary or a compromise of His standards, but rather it flows from His righteous character, enabling Him to save justly. He is able to deliver while upholding His own perfect righteousness.
* **beside (Hebrew, _bilʻădêy'_ / _zûwlâh'_):** These two distinct Hebrew words are used in the verse to reinforce the absolute exclusivity of God. _Bilʻădêy_ (H1107) means "except, without, besides," emphasizing that there is no God *apart from* Him. _Zûwlâh_ (H2108) means "except, beside, but, only, save," further stressing that there is *none other* like Him. The repetition and use of these distinct terms underscore the polemical nature of the verse, leaving no room for polytheism or the existence of rival deities.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Tell ye, and bring [them] near; yea, let them take counsel together:"** This is a direct challenge, a divine summons to the idolaters and their false gods. God invites them to present their case, to demonstrate their power, and to engage in a "courtroom" debate. The phrase "take counsel together" implies a challenge to their collective wisdom and prophetic claims, daring them to prove their legitimacy.
* **"who hath declared this from ancient time? [who] hath told it from that time? [have] not I the LORD?"** This is a powerful rhetorical question, the crux of God's argument for His unique deity. He challenges anyone—any idol or any human—to demonstrate foreknowledge, to have predicted the unfolding of history from its very beginning. The emphatic "have not I the LORD?" asserts His exclusive claim to omniscience and control over all time and events, including the rise of Cyrus and the return of the exiles.
* **"and [there is] no God else beside me;"** This is a clear, unequivocal declaration of absolute monotheism. It directly refutes the polytheistic beliefs of the surrounding nations, stating that there is no other divine being, no other legitimate object of worship, apart from the Lord. This is a foundational theological truth for Israel.
* **"a just God and a Saviour; [there is] none beside me."** This clause reveals the two complementary aspects of God's character that are central to His unique identity and mission. He is both perfectly righteous (just) and the one who delivers (Saviour). The repetition of "there is none beside me" serves as a powerful concluding affirmation, solidifying the claim of His singular existence and unparalleled attributes. His justice and His saving power are not in conflict but are perfectly integrated in His divine nature.

#### Literary Devices
Isaiah 45:21 employs several potent literary devices to convey its message. The most prominent is the **Rhetorical Question**, "who hath declared this from ancient time? ... have not I the LORD?" This question is not posed to elicit information but to make an undeniable point: only the Lord possesses true foreknowledge and the power to bring His declarations to pass. This device powerfully highlights God's unique attribute of omniscience. **Repetition** is also key, particularly in the phrases "there is no God else beside me" and "there is none beside me." This deliberate reiteration emphasizes God's absolute monotheism and exclusivity, leaving no room for doubt or polytheistic compromise. Furthermore, the verse utilizes **Antithesis** by implicitly contrasting the silent, impotent idols and their worshippers with the living, speaking, and acting God of Israel. While the false gods cannot declare or save, the Lord is explicitly named as both "a just God and a Saviour." This creates a powerful **Divine Challenge** or polemic, where God directly confronts and dismantles the false claims of rival deities through a public, unanswerable demonstration of His unique power and character.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Isaiah 45:21 is a cornerstone text for understanding the nature of God in biblical theology. It powerfully articulates His unique identity as the sole, self-existent, and sovereign deity, whose foreknowledge is perfect and whose declarations are infallible. This verse harmonizes God's attributes of justice and salvation, demonstrating that His righteousness is not a barrier to His grace but the very foundation upon which His saving work is accomplished. He is not merely a powerful being, but the only true God, whose character perfectly balances His demand for righteousness with His provision of deliverance. This truth provides both a basis for worship and a profound source of hope, assuring believers that the one who controls all history is also their just and merciful redeemer.

* [Isaiah 46:9-10](/isaiah/46-9 "God Declares the End from the Beginning")
* [Isaiah 44:6](/isaiah/44-6 "God as the First and the Last")
* [Psalm 9:7-8](/psalm/9-7 "The Lord Sits Enthroned as Judge")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Isaiah 45:21 offers profound comfort and a clear call to trust in a world often characterized by uncertainty, competing ideologies, and the allure of false securities. This verse reminds us that the Lord God is the only reliable source of truth, the ultimate controller of history, and the sole arbiter of justice and salvation. In an age where people often place their trust in human systems, technological advancements, financial stability, or self-actualization—modern "idols" that promise control or fulfillment—this passage urges us to abandon such fleeting dependencies. Instead, it calls us to place our full and unwavering faith in the One who knows the end from the beginning, whose plans cannot be thwarted, and whose character is perfectly just and unfailingly redemptive. His dual nature as a just God and a Saviour assures us that while He will hold all accountable for their actions, He has also graciously provided a way of deliverance and hope for all who turn to Him in repentance and faith. True peace and security are found only in acknowledging His singular reign and embracing His saving grace.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **What "idols" or false securities do I tend to rely on in my life, consciously or unconsciously, instead of fully trusting in the Lord's sovereignty and provision?**
* **How does the truth of God's perfect foreknowledge (His ability to "declare this from ancient time") bring comfort or challenge to my own anxieties about the future?**
* **In what ways do I see God's "just" character and His nature as "Saviour" at work in my life or in the world today? How do these two attributes complement each other?**
* **What practical steps can I take to deepen my conviction that "there is no God else beside me," allowing this truth to shape my daily decisions and priorities?**

### FAQ
**Why does God challenge other gods if they don't truly exist?**

Answer: God's challenge to other gods in [Isaiah 45:21](/isaiah/45-21 "God's Challenge to Idols") and throughout Isaiah is not an acknowledgment of their existence as divine beings, but rather a powerful polemic against the *belief* in them and the *practice* of idolatry. It's a rhetorical strategy to expose their utter impotence and futility in contrast to the living God. The challenge serves to dismantle the false claims of polytheism and to demonstrate to both Israel and the nations that only the Lord has the power to declare the future and bring it to pass. It highlights the absurdity of worshipping man-made objects or imagined deities that have no power to save, predict, or intervene, thereby drawing people back to the one true God who is both just and a Saviour. This divine confrontation is meant to lead people to repentance and true worship, as seen in [Isaiah 44:9-20](/isaiah/44-9 "The Folly of Idolatry").

**How can God be both a "just God" and a "Saviour" without contradiction?**

Answer: The seemingly paradoxical combination of God being both "just" and "Saviour" is one of the profound theological truths revealed in Scripture, and it finds its ultimate resolution in the person and work of Jesus Christ. As a "just God," He is perfectly righteous, holy, and cannot tolerate sin, which demands a penalty. His justice requires that sin be punished. However, as a "Saviour," He is merciful, loving, and desires to redeem humanity from the consequences of sin. The resolution lies in the concept of atonement. God's justice is satisfied through the substitutionary sacrifice of Jesus Christ, who, being fully God and fully man, bore the penalty for humanity's sins on the cross. In this way, God demonstrates His righteousness by punishing sin (in Christ) and simultaneously provides salvation to those who believe. As [Romans 3:25-26](/romans/3-25 "God's Righteousness and Justification") states, God "presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement... to demonstrate his righteousness... so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus." Thus, His salvation is not arbitrary but flows from His righteous character, enabling Him to save justly.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Isaiah 45:21, with its declaration of God as the sole "just God and a Saviour" and the one who declares "from ancient time," finds its ultimate and most profound fulfillment in Jesus Christ. The very foreknowledge of God, highlighted in this verse, points to the meticulously planned advent of the Messiah, who was "foreknown before the foundation of the world" ([1 Peter 1:20](/1_peter/1-20 "Christ Foreknown Before the World's Foundation")). Jesus is the embodiment of God's unique identity, for He is God incarnate, the "Word made flesh" who dwelt among us ([John 1:14](/john/1-14 "The Word Became Flesh")). The question "have not I the LORD?" resonates deeply with Christ's claims of divine authority and pre-existence, as when He declared, "Before Abraham was, I am" ([John 8:58](/john/8-58 "Jesus' Claim to Pre-Existence")). Furthermore, the tension between God's justice and His role as Saviour is perfectly resolved in the cross of Christ. God's justice demanded a penalty for sin, and in Christ, that penalty was fully paid, allowing God to be "just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus" ([Romans 3:26](/romans/3-26 "God's Justice and Justification")). Jesus is not merely *a* savior, but *the* Saviour, the "Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!" ([John 1:29](/john/1-29 "Jesus, the Lamb of God")). He is the one "in whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace" ([Ephesians 1:7](/ephesians/1-7 "Redemption Through Christ's Blood")). Thus, the ancient declaration of Isaiah 45:21 culminates in the person of Jesus, who perfectly reveals the singular God as both righteous Judge and the ultimate Deliverer of humanity.

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.

Cross-References

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: