Isaiah 45:7 NIV

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Isaiah 45:7

Isaiah 45:7. I form the light, and create darkness, &c. All men’s comforts and calamities come from my hand. “It was the great principle of the Magian religion, which prevailed in Persia in the time of Cyrus, and in which probably he was educated, that there are two supreme, coeternal, and independent causes, always acting in opposition one to the other; one, the author of all good, the other, of all evil; the good being they called Light; the evil being Darkness; that, when Light had... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Isaiah 45:1-19

God uses Cyrus (45:1-19)Cyrus’s many victories, and the power and wealth he gained through them, were all planned by God. God was preparing the way so that Cyrus could conquer Babylon and release the Jews. Throughout these events, Cyrus did not know God and was unaware that God was using him to carry out his purposes for Israel (45:1-4).To Cyrus, his release of the captive Jews was a relatively minor event in his long and glorious career, but in the eyes of God it was the purpose for which he... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Isaiah 45:7

create. Hebrew the Poel Participle of the verb bara' (create) which, with "evil", requires the rendering "bring about". Not the same form as in verses: Isaiah 45:8 , Isaiah 45:12 , or Isaiah 45:18 , in connection with the earth. In Jeremiah 18:11 the verb is yazar, to frame, or mould. In Amos 3:6 it is 'ashah, to bring about. A word of wide meaning; its sense has to be determined by its context. Here, disturbance in contrast with "peace". evil: never rendered "sin". God brings calamity... read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Isaiah 45:4-7

Isaiah 45:4-7. For Jacob my servant's sake— The prophet here gives us the reasons why God shewed such favour to a prince addicted to the Pagan superstition of his country, and ignorant of the true God; that he prospered all his undertakings, and gave success to all his enterprises. These causes were particular and general: the one respecting the Jewish nation, ver, 4, 5 the other respecting all nations, and Cyrus himself, Isaiah 45:6-7. The principal cause of this whole event is subjoined to... read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 45:7

7. form . . . create—yatzar, to give "form" to previously existing matter. Bara, to "create" from nothing the chaotic dark material. light . . . darkness—literally ( :-), emblematical also, prosperity to Cyrus, calamity to Babylon and the nations to be vanquished [GROTIUS] . . . Isaiah refers also to the Oriental belief in two coexistent, eternal principles, ever struggling with each other, light or good, and darkness or evil, Oromasden and Ahrimanen. God, here, in opposition, asserts His... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Isaiah 45:1-8

God’s promise to Cyrus 45:1-8The promise to Cyrus was, of course, for the benefit of the Israelites who wondered how God would restore them to the land as He promised. read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Isaiah 45:1-13

The instrument of redemption 45:1-13This section begins with God’s promise to Cyrus (Isaiah 45:1-8; cf. Psalms 2; Psalms 110) and concludes with a vindication of God’s right to use whom He will (Isaiah 45:9-13). read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Isaiah 45:7

The point is that Yahweh alone is ultimately responsible for everything in nature and history. Everything that is in the universe, exists because of the creative will of God. God was not claiming that He creates moral "evil" (AV), but both well-being (Heb. shalom) and calamity (Heb. ra’). He causes (allows) bad things to happen to people for His own reasons (cf. Job 1-2), as well as good things, but He does not cause people to make morally evil decisions (cf. James 1:13)."Persian religion dealt... read more

John Dummelow

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - Isaiah 45:1-25

The Meaning of the Conquests of Cyrus1-13. The conquests of Cyrus are ordained by Jehovah for His purposes. Let not Israel Criticise the manner of its deliverance. 14-17. Great honour awaits Israel. 18-25. All the world shall recognise Jehovah’s righteousness and power.1. His anointed] as being consecrated to carry out the purposes of Jehovah, i.e. to release Israel from Babylon. This is the only place where a non-Israelite king is so entitled. Somewhat similarly Nebuchadnezzar is called... read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Isaiah 45:7

(7) I make peace, and create evil . . .—The words have no bearing on the insoluble problem of what we call the origin of evil. “Evil,” as opposed to “peace” or prosperity, is suffering, but not sin; normally, in the Divine counsels, at once the consequence and corrective of moral evil (comp. Isaiah 47:11; Isaiah 57:1.) read more

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Isaiah 45:7

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Isaiah 45:1-19

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Isaiah 45:7

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Isaiah 45:4-7

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 45:7

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Isaiah 45:1-8

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Isaiah 45:1-13

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Isaiah 45:7

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - Isaiah 45:1-25

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Isaiah 45:7

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