Read & Study the Bible Online - Bible Portal
E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Isaiah 41:2

the righteous man from the east: i.e. Abraham. Compare Cyrus raised up from the north, Isaiah 41:25 . kings: i.e. those mentioned in Genesis 14:1 , Genesis 14:8 , Genesis 14:9 . stubble = straw. Hebrew. kash, as in Isaiah 40:24 . read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Isaiah 41:2-4

Isaiah 41:2-4. Who raised up the righteous man, &c.— Who hath raised up the righteous man from the east; hath called him to attend his steps? Hath subdued nations at his presence; and given him dominion over kings? Hath made them like the dust before his sword; and like the driven stubble before his bow? He pursueth them; he passeth in safety; by a way never trodden before with his feet. Who hath performed, and made these things, calling the several generations from the beginning? I... read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 41:2

2. Who—else but God? The fact that God "raiseth up" Cyrus and qualifies him for becoming the conqueror of the nations and deliverer of God's people, is a strong argument why they should trust in Him. The future is here prophetically represented as present or past. the righteous man—Cyrus; as Isaiah 44:28; Isaiah 45:1-4; Isaiah 45:13; Isaiah 46:11, "from the East," prove. Called "righteous," not so much on account of his own equity [HERODOTUS, 3.89], as because he fulfilled God's righteous will... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Isaiah 41:1-9

God’s promises to His servants 41:1-42:9The intent of this unit of material was to assure Israel that God had both the power and the desire to deliver her and to bring salvation to the whole world. It contains three basic themes: the pagans’ inability to refute Yahweh’s sovereignty, the promise to deliver fearful Israel, and the divine plan to use an ideal servant as redeemer. read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Isaiah 41:1-20

The fearful servant, Israel 41:1-20The Lord, through His prophet, assured fearful Israel in this segment. Israel need not fear the nations (Isaiah 41:1-7) because Yahweh remained committed to His people and would use them to accomplish His purposes in the world (Isaiah 41:8-20). This expression of God’s grace would have encouraged and motivated the Israelites to serve their Lord.The courtroom setting pictured in Isaiah 41:1-7 enabled Isaiah to make God’s transcendent monotheism clear and... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Isaiah 41:1-22

2. The servant of the Lord 41:1-44:22There is an emphasis on the uniqueness of the Lord compared to other gods in this section, a theme that Isaiah introduced earlier (ch. 40 especially). The prophet particularly stressed Yahweh’s ability to control history in this connection. He did this to assure Israel that God loved her and had a future for her beyond the Exile, specifically to serve Him by demonstrating to the world that He is sovereign over history. These emphases become increasingly... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Isaiah 41:2-3

The Lord asked the nations a question: Who had righteously summoned a conqueror from the East who would defeat nations and overcome kings as easily and swiftly as one blows away dust and chaff? Later, Isaiah would identify this conqueror as Cyrus the Persian (Isaiah 44:28; Isaiah 45:1), but here the emphasis is on the One who sovereignly called him into action, namely: Yahweh. The four Mesopotamian kings who invaded Canaan in Abraham’s day and took Lot captive were the prototype of this... read more

John Dummelow

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - Isaiah 41:1-29

Cyrus God’s Agent1-7. Jehovah and the gods of the heathen compared as in a court of judgment. Jehovah has raised up Cyrus and given him victory, in order to carry out His good purposes, while the heathen gods are powerless to affect the course of events. 8-20. A digression: the events which bring terror to the nations bring deliverance to Israel. 21-29. Comparison of Jehovah with the gods of the heathen continued.1. The heathen nations lately conquered by Cyrus are called to plead their case as... read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Isaiah 41:2

(2) Who raised up . . .—More accurately, Who hath raised up from the East the man whom Righteousness calls (or, whom He calls in righteousness) to tread in His steps. (Comp. Isaiah 45:2.) The man so raised up to rule over the “islands” and the “peoples” is none other than Koresh (Cyrus), the future restorer of Israel. The thought of Cyrus as working out the righteousness of God is dominant in these chapters (Isaiah 42:6; Isaiah 45:13). In the rapidity of his conquest, the prophet bids men see... read more

William Nicoll

Expositor's Dictionary of Texts - Isaiah 41:1-29

The Antidote to Fear Isaiah 41:10 Fear is common to man; increased by, if it does not originate in, a consciousness of sin. The text indicates three reasons why the Christian should not be afraid. I. God's Presence. 'I am with thee.' Powerful, wise, and loving. II. God's Relationship. 'I am thy God.' These words imply on our part reverence, obedience, and submission; on His part guardianship and blessing. We naturally take special care of that which is our own. III. God's Promise. 1. 'I... read more

Group of Brands