Isaiah 45 explained: A Foreign King Chosen to Free Israel

Cyrus called by name (vv. 1-6)

Cyrus was the Persian king who took Babylon in 539 BC and let exiled peoples, including the Jews, go home. Calling him the LORD's "anointed" (a title for someone chosen and set apart, normally Israel's own kings) is startling, since he did not know or worship Israel's God.

Light, darkness, and disaster (v. 7)

Here "disaster" means calamity such as war, set against peace and prosperity, not moral wickedness. Some scholars think the line also pushes back against the idea of two rival gods of light and darkness, though that is uncertain.

Clay arguing with the potter (vv. 8-13)

The poem pictures rescue raining down and growing up like crops, then rebukes anyone who objects to how God works, like a pot criticizing its maker. The objection seems to be to God freeing Israel through a foreigner, and the reply is that the maker of the heavens may choose whom he uses.

Nations and a hidden God (vv. 14-17)

Peoples from Egypt and the lands south of it are pictured coming in chains to admit that Israel's God is the only God, a hard image of reversal for a people who had been captives. Who speaks verse 15, "a God who has been hiding himself," is disputed: it may continue the nations' words, or be the prophet marveling that this hidden God proves to be Israel's Savior while idol makers are shamed.

A God who speaks openly (vv. 18-21)

Unlike oracles given in hidden places, the LORD says he has spoken plainly and made the earth to be lived in, not left empty. He challenges the idols to show they foretold these events the way he did.

Every knee will bow (vv. 22-25)

The chapter ends by inviting the whole world, not only Israel, to turn to the LORD and be saved. The early Christian writer Paul applied the words of verse 23 to Jesus, and Christians read the passage as pointing to him.

Key verse: Isaiah 45:22

Where Christians differ

Christians differ on whether Isaiah himself named Cyrus long before he was born, as traditionally held, or whether these chapters come from a later prophet speaking during the exile as Cyrus was rising to power.

Something to think about

When something good comes through a person who does not share your beliefs or values, how do you make sense of it?