Isaiah 45:5

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Isaiah 45:5-10

God here asserts his sole and sovereign dominion, as that which he designed to prove and manifest to the world in all the great things he did for Cyrus and by him. Observe, I. How this doctrine is here laid down concerning the sovereignty of the great Jehovah, in two things:?1. That he is God alone, and there is no God besides him. This is here inculcated as a fundamental truth, which, if it were firmly believed, would abolish idolatry out of the world. With what an awful, commanding, air of... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 45:5

I am the Lord, and there is none else ,.... Whom thou, O Cyrus, for the words are directed to him, ought to own, serve, and worship: there is no God besides me ; in heaven or earth, in any of the countries conquered by thee, and thou rulest over; for though there were gods and lords many, so called, these were only nominal fictitious deities; not gods by nature, as he was; of which the following, as well as what is before said, is a proof: I girded thee, though thou hast not known me ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 45:1-5

The unfelt hand on the human heart. Of this passage the most striking and inviting words are those in the fourth and fifth verses: "I have surnamed thee, though thou hast not known me;" "I girded thee, though thou hast not known me." But while these sentences furnish the theme of consideration, the other part of the passage suggests three particular things in which the prophetic word was fulfilled. 1 . The opening of the gates of brass ( Isaiah 45:1 ), fulfilled during the capture of... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 45:1-7

GOD 'S WILL CONCERNING HIM ANNOUNCED TO CYRUS . This direct address of God to a heathen king is without a parallel in Scripture. Nebuchadnezzar, Pharaoh, Abimelech, were warned through dreams. Nebuchadnezzar was even promised Divine aid ( Ezekiel 30:24 , Ezekiel 30:25 ). But no heathen monarch had previously been personally addressed by God, much less called "his anointed," and spoken to by his name ( Isaiah 45:4 ). Three motives are mentioned for this special favour... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 45:1-8

Cyrus the anointed of Jehovah. I. THE REASON OF THE DIVINE FAVOR TO CYRUS . Cyrus is the only king out of Israel who bears the title of Jehovah's anointed. He is solemnly set apart as an instrument to perform an important public service in the cause of Jehovah. It does not necessarily imply the piety of Cyrus. For the purposes of Jehovah he is upheld, "grasped by the right hand," that he may subdue nations before him—from the Euxine to Egypt, from the Indian Ocean to the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 45:4-5

The Divine surnaming. "I that call thee by thy name." "I have titled thee" (Cheyne's translation). Some think the reference is to the name Cyrus, or Koresh, regarded as a new title for one who was originally known as Agradates." Others, with more probability, think the reference is to the honourable epithets, "my shepherd," "my anointed." Our knowledge of Cyrus has been modified, in some very important particulars, by recent discoveries of Babylonian inscriptions. Professor Sayce is of... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 45:5

I girded thee . As God "loosed the loins" of Cyrus's adversaries ( Isaiah 45:1 ), to weaken them, so he "girded" those of Cyrus, to give him strength (comp. Psalms 18:32 ). read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 45:5

God in our past life. "I girded thee, though thou hast not known me." When the soul of man is renewed, and his rebellion against God ceases, wonderment often arises in the heart that life has not been altogether a ruin. So many times we have been near the precipice; the crumbling stones fell down into the plain; our feet well-nigh slipped. Here is the open secret. I. UNCONSCIOUS HELP . "I girded thee." We have not seen a face nor even heard a voice, but an invisible arm has been... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 45:5

I am the Lord ... - (see the notes at Isaiah 42:8; Isaiah 43:2; Isaiah 44:8; Isaiah 45:14, Isaiah 45:18, Isaiah 45:22).I girded thee ... - (see the note at Isaiah 45:1). The sense is, I girded thee with the girdle - the military belt; I prepared thee, and strengthened thee for war and conquest. Even people who are strangers to the true God are sustained by him, and are unable to accomplish anything without his providential aid. read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Isaiah 45:4-6

Isaiah 45:4-6. For Jacob my servant’s sake, &c. The prophet here gives us the reasons why God showed such favour to a prince, who had been addicted to the superstition of his country, and ignorant of the true God, that he prospered all his undertakings, and gave success to all his endeavours. It was, 1st, For Israel’s sake: For Israel, mine elect, I have even called thee, &c. I have called thee to this honour, and that by name; not for thy own sake, but for Israel’s sake:... read more

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