1God calleth Cyrus for his church's sake: 5he asserteth his own omnipotency, and promiseth salvation thereby to Israel. 20The ignorance of those who worship idols. 22God's salvation will extend unto all nations.
1THUS saith the LORD 1to 2his anointed, 3to Cyrus, whose right hand I have holden, 4to subdue nations before him; and I will 5loose 6the loins 7of kings, to open 8before him the two leaved gates; and the gates shall not be shut;
1 Or, of.
2 That is, to or of that king whom God had chosen, anointed and exalted to be king in Persia, and also in Babylon, in order that he would deliver the Jews out of the Babylonian captivity.
3 Or, of.
4 The Chaldeans and other nations.
5 That is, I shall make them weak and unable to resist Cyrus, by depriving them of all power and means to oppose him. See Job 12 on verse 18.
6 That is, the girdle wherewith their loins are girt about.
7 Of the king of Babylon, together with other kings and princes who are attached to him.
8 That is, he shall take all cities and strongholds, especially the city of Babylon; they shall not be able to hinder him from doing it.
29I will go before thee, and make 10the crooked places straight: I will break in pieces the gates of brass, and 11cut in sunder the bars of iron:
9 An address from God to Cyrus.
10 Hebr. the cornered, or, the crookednesses, that is, I will remove by My power all that may lie in your way, or may hinder you.
11 Or cut down, hew down.
3And I will give thee 12the treasures of darkness, 13and hidden riches of secret places, that thou mayest know that I, the LORD, 14which call thee by thy name, am the God of Israel.
12 Hebr. the treasures of darkness, that is, the treasures that lie hid in the dark.
13 Hebr. the treasures of hiding places, that is, which are concealed and lie hidden in corners and holes.
14 That is, Who has called and appointed thee to this work.
415For Jacob my servant's sake, and Israel mine elect, I have even called thee by thy name: 16I have surnamed thee, 17though thou hast not known me.
15 That is, in order that thou deliverest or dischargest the descendants of Jacob out of imprisonment, and that they return to their native country.
16 That is, I have perfectly known thee (as we usually say) by name and surname.
17 Or, when thou didst not know me. Likewise verse 5.
5¶Iaam the LORD, and there is none else, there is no God beside me: 18I girded thee, though thou hast not known me:
a Deut. 4:35, 39; 32:39; Isa. 44:8.
18 That is, I will give thee strength and ability to fight against the Babylonians. See Isa. 22 on verse 21.
6That they may know from the rising of the sun, and from the west, 19that there is none beside me. I am the LORD, and there is none else.
19 That is, that there is no God beside Me, neither can anything else be or subsist outside of Me; for, we are in God, we live and move in Him. Other, that there is none without or besides me.
720I form the light, and create 21darkness: I make 22peace, and create 23evil:b I the LORD do all these things.
20 That is, I am He Who causes happiness and prosperity to happen unto men. Light for joy and prosperity. See Esther 8:16 and the annotation there. See also Job 18 on verse 6; Psalm 27 on verse 1.
21 That is, misery and calamity. See the annotation at Gen. 15 on verse 12.
22 Compare Psalm 46:9.
23 That is, plagues and punishments. See Gen. 19 on verse 19; Amos 3 on verse 6.
b Lam. 3:38; Amos 3:6.
8Drop down, 24ye heavens, from above, and let the skies pour down 25righteousness: let the earth open, and let them bring forth 26salvation, and let righteousness spring up 27together; I the LORD 28have created it.
24 That which God here commands heaven and earth, the same He prophecies likewise to give unto His people. To speak properly, neither the earth nor the heaven do understand that which God commands them. God promises His people that He would abundantly bless and satisfy them with the joy of their deliverance from Babylon.
25 The deliverance from the Babylonian captivity is a work of the justice of God, both in respect of His promises and likewise in respect that it is just, that His people would receive comfort and the Babylonians punishment; and understand herewith the spiritual deliverance by Christ. And likewise in the sequel more than once.
26 That is, the deliverance of My people.
27 Other, and that they, namely, the clouds, bring forth salvation, and it, namely, the earth, cause them to spring forth together.
28 Or, have created him, namely, Cyrus, that is, ordained him for that purpose, namely, to deliver My people out of captivity. Or, have created it.
929Woe unto him that striveth with his 30Maker! Let the potsherdcstrive with the potsherds of the earth. Shalld the clay say to him that fashioneth it, What makest thou? or thy work, 31He hath no hands?
29 Here the Lord rebukes and reproves them who did murmur because He suffered them to remain so long in captivity in Babylon, and on the contrary, permitted their enemies to be all the while at ease and merry. He sets before their eyes His power and supreme freedom which he has over His creatures. He says that this murmuring is as if a potsherd would strive and contend with the potter, which is not proper; one potsherd may strive and contend with another as with its equal, but for a man, who is but like a potsherd in comparison, to strive with God, is most unseemly and absurd. The following words are likewise thus rendered by some: let a potsherd strive. Or, as if a potsherd would strive with earthen pots.
30 God in the beginning formed and created Adam, and all of us in him, out of earth.
c piece of broken pottery*
d Jer. 18:6; Rom. 9:20.
31 Namely, to make a thing well.
10Woe unto him that saith unto his father, What begettest thou? or 32to the woman, What hast thou brought forth?
32 Namely, to his father’s wife, that is, to his mother.
11Thus saith the LORD, the Holy One of Israel, and his Maker, 33Ask me 34of things to come 35concerning my sons, and concerning the work of my hands command ye me.
33 Namely, the wicked ones among the people, and in general all unbelievers. They are the words of the Lord.
34 They did this with profane boldness and impudence, as desiring to make trial of My knowledge.
35 Other thus: Do ye ask me of things to come? Of my children?
1236I have made the earth, and created man upon it: I, even my hands, have stretched out the heavens, and 37all their host have I commanded.
36 As if God said: I would not lack the power to deliver you out of Babel, since I am that almighty God, Who has created the heaven and the earth out of nothing.
37 Namely, the sun, moon and stars. See Gen. 2:1.
13I have 38raised 39him up in righteousness, and I will direct 40all his ways: 41he shall builde42my city, and he shall 43let go 44my captives, 45not for price nor reward, saith the LORD of hosts.
38 Namely, to deliver My people out of Babel.
39 Namely, Cyrus, Mine anointed, verse 1.
40 Namely, all the ways which he shall march against the Babylonians. The sense is: I will prosper him, and give him good success in his enterprises.
41 Namely, Cyrus. See Dan. 9:25.
e 2 Chron. 36:22; Ezra 1:1; Isa. 44:28.
42 Namely, Jerusalem, which I have chosen for Myself to dwell therein. See Isa. 31:9.
43 Namely, that they may go to Judea, their native country.
44 The Jews, who are My people, although they are prisoners in Babylon. Hebr. my captivity.
45 But freely and for nought, out of bounty and liberality, for My sake, Who will give him such a great victory against the Babylonians. See Isa. 52:3.
14Thus saith the LORD, 46The labour of Egypt, and 47merchandise of Ethiopia and of the Sabeans, 48men of stature, shall come 49over unto thee, and 50they shall be thine: they shall come after thee; 51in chains they shall come over, and they shall fall down unto thee, they shall make supplication unto thee, saying, 52Surely God is in thee; and theref is none else, there is no God.
46 That is, the riches which the Egyptians have gotten and gathered together by their labor.
47 That is, the money which they have gained by merchandise.
48 Hebr. men of measure, that is, great, strong men. See Num. 13:32.
49 O Jerusalem, that is, unto thee, My people, namely, after they shall have embraced the christian religion.
50 Namely, those nations.
51 Being conquered, not by sword or spear, or by external power, but being convinced in their own conscience by the power and efficacy of heavenly truth, and of the Holy Ghost.
52 Other, God is only with thee or in thee, O thou city of God. Understand here, first Jerusalem, and secondly the christian church.
f verse 5.
1553Verily thou art a God 54that hidest thyself, O God of Israel, the Saviour.
53 These are the words of the prophet.
54 That is, Who art invisible and incomprehensible, and to Whom one cannot come as dwelling in an inaccessible light, and Who has kept secret from the Gentiles the mystery of redemption, which the Messiah would bring, both to the Jews and Gentiles, and consequently Who keepest Thyself secret, and as it were hidden, forasmuch as Thou sufferest Thy church to be tempted, not rising up nor showing Thyself for her deliverance before the appointed time.
1655They shall be ashamed, and also confounded, all of them: they shall go to confusion together thatg are 56makers of idols.
55 Namely, all the makers of images and idolaters.
g Isa. 44:11.
56 Hebr. that is, torments, sorrows, distresses, such things do idols bring unto their servants. Compare 1 Sam. 31 on verse 9; 2 Sam. 5 on verse 21.
17But 57Israel 58shall be saved in the LORD 59with an everlasting salvation: 60ye shall not be ashamed nor confounded world 61without end.
57 That is, the true church of God.
58 Or, is saved, that is, shall be saved.
59 Hebr. with a deliverance or salvation of eternities.
60 Namely, ye Israelites, My people, all believers, whether they be Jews or Gentiles.
61 Hebr. unto eternities of eternity.
18For thus saith the LORD thath created the heavens; God himself that formed the earth and made it; he hath established it, he created it not 62in vain, he formed it 63to be inhabited: Iiam the LORD; and there is none else.
h Isa. 42:5.
62 Hebr. emptiness, or, vanity.
63 And especially for this purpose, in order that He likewise gathers from among men unto Himself a church, in which He is acknowledged and confessed.
i verses 5 and 14.
1964I have notj spoken in secret, in a dark place of the earth: I said not unto the seed of Jacob, 65Seek ye me in vain: I the LORD speak 66righteousness, I declare things that are right.
64 That is, the promises, which I have made unto you, are clear and plain, therefore ye have no cause to doubt them. Others conceive that the prophet here has respect to the proclamation of the law of God by Moses, Exodus 19.
j Deut. 30:11.
65 Other, Seek me as if I were a thing of nought. Hebr. with emptiness or vanity.
66 The Word of God is the rule of all righteousness, and whatsoever He promises His people is sure and stable.
20¶Assemble yourselves and come; 67draw near together, 68ye that are escaped of the nations: theyk have no knowledge that set up the wood of 69their graven image, and pray unto a god that cannot save.
67 Namely, to the church of God.
68 Hebr. ye escaped ones of the Gentiles.
k Isa. 44:18, 19.
69 As is done in processions. Hebr. the wood of the carved image.
2170Tell ye, and 71bring them near; yea, 72let them take counsel together: who hath declared this 73from ancient time? who hath told 74it froml that time? have not Im the LORD? and there is no God else beside me; a just God and a Saviour; there is none beside me.
70 Declare one another what ye have found or experienced concerning the great acts of God and concerning His truth in His promises.
71 Namely, to the congregation of God.
72 Namely, how ye shall bring one another to the church of God.
73 Namely, from that time that the Lord revealed Himself unto His church; whether we take it from the proclamation of the law, whether it is meant from the covenant which God made with Abraham, or with Adam, the father of us all, in Paradise.
74 Namely, that which is mentioned in the previous annotation, and likewise that Christ would bring salvation unto believers, which was typified by the deliverance from the Babylonian captivity.
l Isa. 41:22, 26, 27; 43:9, 10.
m verses 5, 14, 18.
2275Look unto me, and be ye saved, 76all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else.
75 Or, Turn your selves towards me.
76 That is, all ye who dwell in the ends of the earth.
23I have sworn by myself, the word is gone out of my mouth 77in righteousness, and 78shall not return, That unto 79men80every knee shall bow, 81every tongue shall swear.
77 Or, of righteousness, that is, in fidelity and faith, that is, a word that is sure, firm and infallible.
78 That is, it shall not be revoked.
79 That is, to My honor and glory, Rom. 14:11; Philip. 2:10.
n Rom. 14:11; Philip. 2:10.
80 The meaning is: All people and nations shall be called by the Messiah to the true knowledge of God, and many shall be effectually brought unto it.
81 That is, all nations shall know and confess Me, that is, honoring and confessing God, when men in judgment do swear truly and sincerely by His Name.
24Surely, 82shall one say, 83in the LORD have I 84righteousness and 85strength: even 86to him shall men come; and 87allo that are incensed against him shall be ashamed.
82 Namely, every believer shall say of Me. Or thus: Surely, in the LORD (they shall say) have I righteousness and strength.
83 That is, the Lord has these goods or riches in Himself, and He gives them unto His elect.
84 Or, all or, perfect righteousness.
85 Namely, to preserve His church, and to save it in righteousness.
86 Or, before him, namely, before His judgment seat, to receive reward according to their works, Rom. 14:10, 11, 12.
87 Namely, all wicked and ungodly men, who murmur against Him, and are incensed or kindled with wrath, or that rise up against him.
o Isa. 41:11.
2588In the LORD shall 89all the seed of Israel be justified, and shall glory.
88 Namely, by the Lord Christ, Who is our Righteousness before God.
89 All the children of Israel, namely, the spiritual children of Israel, that is, believers both of Jews and Gentiles. See Isa, 44:5.