Isaiah 41:4

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Isaiah 41:1-9

That particular instance of God's care for his people Israel in raising up Cyrus to be their deliverer is here insisted upon as a great proof both of his sovereignty above all idols and of his power to protect his people. Here is, I. A general challenge to the worshippers and admirers of idols to make good their pretensions, in competition with God and opposition to him, Isa. 41:1. Isa. is renewed (Isa. 41:21): Produce your cause. The court is set, summonses are sent to the islands that lay... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 41:4

Who hath wrought and done it ,.... Contrived and effected it, formed the scheme, and brought it to pass; namely, raising up the righteous man from the east, and succeeding him in the manner described: calling the generations from the beginning ? or rather here begins the answer to the above question, which may be rendered, he that calleth the generations from the beginning F11 קורא הדורות מראש "ille qui vocat vel vocavit generationes ab inito", Munster, Tigurine version. So... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Isaiah 41:4

Who hath wrought and done it "Who hath performed and made these things" - A word is here lost out of the text. It is sups plied by an ancient MS., אלה elleh , "these things; "and by the Septuagint, ταυτα ; and by the Vulgate, haec ; and by the Chaldee, אלן elin ; all of the same meaning. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 41:1-7

ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE DELIVERER , AND EFFECT ON THE SURROUNDING NATIONS . Isaiah returns to the standpoint of Isaiah 40:9-11 . A deliverer of Israel is about to appear. The nations are therefore summoned to attend, and consider the facts ( Isaiah 40:1 ). He will carry all before him ( Isaiah 40:2 , Isaiah 40:3 ), being raised up by God ( Isaiah 40:4 ). The nations will tremble, and seek the protection of their idol-deities ( Isaiah 40:5-7 ). read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 41:1-7

Argument with the nations. Jehovah calls the countries to "come silently" unto him. Let the people pluck up what strength they may have, and let the cause between them and Jehovah come to the tribunal of reason. Have the idols any spiritual power? or is Jehovah only the true God? 1. THE VICTORIOUS CAREER OF CYRUS . This great man has, in the prophet's thought, a vocation from God. He is the minister of the Divine righteousness ( Isaiah 42:6 ; Isaiah 45:13 ). Cyrus is... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 41:1-7

The false refuge and the true. In the regulation of his life, a wise man will give a large place to the consideration of what resources he will have in the times of great emergency. For he knows that such times must come to him as they come to all men, and when they come there is urgent and even terrible need of a refuge to which the stricken soul may flee. We are here reminded of— I. THE REFUGE WHICH IS FALSE , AND WHICH WILL FAIL US . ( Isaiah 41:5-7 .) We smile... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 41:4

Who hath wrought and done it? i.e. "by whom has this mighty conqueror been raised up?" Can any of the idol-gods claim him as their protege ? Assuredly not. He is my work; I, Jehovah, that have called (into being) the generations (of man) from the beginning (of the world)—I, Jehovah, the First, and with the last, am he that he has done this thing. By "the First, and with the last"—a favourite phrase in these later chapters (see Isaiah 45:6 and Isaiah 48:12 )—seems to be meant simply... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 41:4

The eternal Alpha and Omega. The idea of these verses seems to be this—look back, if you will, to the very beginnings of nations: God is there. Watch the changes of nations, the uprising of great kings and leaders: God is presiding over all. Peer into the dim mysteries of the future, and still God is controlling and overruling all. The thought here set before the nation finds expression in the private meditations of the psalmist ( Psalms 139:1-24 .). Nowhere can he get away from the sense... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 41:4

Who hath wrought and done it? - By whom has all this been accomplished? Has it been by the arm of Cyrus? Has it been by human skill and powers. The design of this question is obvious. It is to direct attention to the fact that all this had been done by God, and that he who had raised up such a man, and had accomplished all this by means of him, had power to deliver his people.Calling the generations from the beginning - The idea here seems to be, that all the nations that dwell on the earth in... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Isaiah 41:4-6

Isaiah 41:4-6. Who hath done it? Whose work was this but mine? Calling the generations Calling them out of nothing; giving them breath and being; disposing and employing them as I see fit: from the beginning All persons and generations of mankind from the beginning of the world. I the Lord, the first, &c. Who was before all things, even from eternity, and shall be unto eternity: the isles saw it, and feared Even remote countries discerned the mighty work of God in delivering his... read more

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