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Isaiah 45:1

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¶ Thus saith the LORD to his anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I have holden, to subdue nations before him; and I will loose the loins of kings, to open before him the two leaved gates; and the gates shall not be shut;

Thus saith {H559} the LORD {H3068} to his anointed {H4899}, to Cyrus {H3566}, whose right hand {H3225} I have holden {H2388}, to subdue {H7286} nations {H1471} before {H6440} him; and I will loose {H6605} the loins {H4975} of kings {H4428}, to open {H6605} before {H6440} him the two leaved gates {H1817}; and the gates {H8179} shall not be shut {H5462};

Thus says ADONAI to Koresh, his anointed, whose right hand he has grasped, so that he subdues nations before him and strips kings of their robes, so that doors open in front of him, and no gates are barred:

This is what the LORD says to Cyrus His anointed, whose right hand I have grasped to subdue nations before him, to disarm kings, to open the doors before him, so that the gates will not be shut:

Thus saith Jehovah to his anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I have holden, to subdue nations before him, and I will loose the loins of kings; to open the doors before him, and the gates shall not be shut:

Commentary

Isaiah 45:1 introduces a remarkable prophecy concerning Cyrus, the Persian king, delivered by the prophet Isaiah approximately 150-200 years before Cyrus was born and before the Babylonian exile even began. This verse powerfully illustrates God's sovereign control over history and His ability to name and empower individuals, even those who do not acknowledge Him, to fulfill His divine purposes.

Context

This prophecy is part of Isaiah's larger message of comfort and restoration for Israel, anticipating their future exile to Babylon and their eventual return. Chapters 40-55 of Isaiah, often called the "Book of Comfort," emphasize God's unique power and faithfulness in contrast to the impotence of idols. Here, God directly addresses Cyrus, a pagan king, identifying him as His chosen instrument. The historical fulfillment came when Cyrus conquered Babylon in 539 BC, famously allowing the Jewish exiles to return to their homeland and rebuild the temple, as recorded in Ezra 1:1-4.

Key Themes

  • Divine Sovereignty and Foreknowledge: The LORD explicitly names Cyrus centuries before his birth, demonstrating God's absolute control over human history and His perfect foreknowledge. He orchestrates world events and raises up leaders, even pagan ones, to accomplish His will. This underscores God's unique power compared to false gods (Isaiah 46:10).
  • God's "Anointed" (mashiaḥ): Cyrus is called God's "anointed" (Hebrew: mashiaḥ), a term typically reserved for Israelite kings, priests, or the Messiah. This unexpected designation highlights that God can set apart anyone, regardless of their faith or background, for a specific task in His plan. Cyrus was functionally anointed by God for the specific mission of delivering Israel.
  • Irresistible Divine Power: God promises to "hold Cyrus's right hand," signifying divine guidance and strength. He will "subdue nations before him" and "loose the loins of kings," meaning to weaken their resolve and power, making them vulnerable. The prophecy of "opening the two leaved gates" and ensuring "the gates shall not be shut" refers to the specific historical detail of Babylon's massive gates being left open, allowing Cyrus's army to enter without resistance, leading to the city's fall. This illustrates that no human obstacle can stand against God's determined purpose.
  • God's Purpose for His People: Ultimately, Cyrus's conquests and decree were for the sake of Israel's restoration and the rebuilding of Jerusalem and its temple. God uses global events to fulfill His covenant promises to His people.

Linguistic Insights

  • The Hebrew word for "anointed" is mashiaḥ (מָשִׁיחַ), from which we get "Messiah." Its application to Cyrus is remarkable, showing that God's "anointing" is not limited to spiritual or covenantal relationships but can refer to anyone chosen and empowered by God for a specific divine purpose.
  • "Loose the loins of kings" is an idiomatic expression signifying the weakening of their strength, courage, or ability to resist, causing them to lose their authority and power.

Practical Application

Isaiah 45:1 offers profound comfort and challenge for believers today. It reminds us that God is sovereign over all governments, world leaders, and historical events. Even when circumstances seem chaotic or leaders appear ungodly, God remains in control, working all things according to His eternal plan. We can trust that He is actively involved in history, guiding nations and individuals to accomplish His purposes, often in ways we cannot foresee or fully comprehend. This verse encourages us to place our hope not in human power or political systems, but in the God who holds the world in His hands and faithfully works for the good of His people and the advancement of His kingdom, as He did for His people through Cyrus (Romans 8:28).

Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash (May 20, 2025) using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Isaiah 44:28 (11 votes)

    That saith of Cyrus, [He is] my shepherd, and shall perform all my pleasure: even saying to Jerusalem, Thou shalt be built; and to the temple, Thy foundation shall be laid.

  • Jeremiah 51:20 (11 votes)

    Thou [art] my battle axe [and] weapons of war: for with thee will I break in pieces the nations, and with thee will I destroy kingdoms;

  • Jeremiah 51:24 (11 votes)

    And I will render unto Babylon and to all the inhabitants of Chaldea all their evil that they have done in Zion in your sight, saith the LORD.

  • Isaiah 42:6 (11 votes)

    I the LORD have called thee in righteousness, and will hold thine hand, and will keep thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles;

  • Psalms 73:23 (9 votes)

    Nevertheless I [am] continually with thee: thou hast holden [me] by my right hand.

  • Isaiah 41:13 (8 votes)

    For I the LORD thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee.

  • Jeremiah 51:11 (6 votes)

    Make bright the arrows; gather the shields: the LORD hath raised up the spirit of the kings of the Medes: for his device [is] against Babylon, to destroy it; because it [is] the vengeance of the LORD, the vengeance of his temple.