Text -- Isaiah 45:1-5 (NET)

45:1 This is what the Lord says to his chosen one, to Cyrus, whose right hand I hold in order to subdue nations before him, and disarm kings, to open doors before him, so gates remain unclosed: 45:2 “I will go before you and level mountains. Bronze doors I will shatter and iron bars I will hack through. 45:3 I will give you hidden treasures, riches stashed away in secret places, so you may recognize that I am the Lord, the one who calls you by name, the God of Israel. 45:4 For the sake of my servant Jacob, Israel, my chosen one, I call you by name and give you a title of respect, even though you do not recognize me. 45:5 I am the Lord, I have no peer, there is no God but me. I arm you for battle, even though you do not recognize me.

Commentary -- Verse Notes / Footnotes

NET Notes: Isa 45:1

¹ tn Heb “anointed” (so KJV, NAB, NIV, NRSV, NLT); NCV “his appointed king.”

² sn The “right hand” is a symbol of activity and strength; the Lord directs Cyrus’ activities and assures his success.

³ tn Heb “and the belts of kings I will loosen”; NRSV “strip kings of their robes”; NIV “strip kings of their armor.”

NET Notes: Isa 45:2

¹ tc The form הֲדוּרִים (hadurim) makes little, if any, sense here. It is probably a corruption of an original הָרָרִים (hararim, “mountains”), the reduplicated form of הָר (har, “mountain”).

² tn That is, on the gates. Cf. CEV “break the iron bars on bronze gates.”

NET Notes: Isa 45:3

¹ tn Heb “treasures of darkness” (KJV, NASB, NIV, NRSV); TEV “treasures from dark, secret places.”

NET Notes: Isa 45:4

¹ tn Or “know” (NCV, NRSV, TEV, NLT); NIV “acknowledge.”

NET Notes: Isa 45:5

¹ tn Heb “and there is none besides.” On the use of עוֹד (’od) here, see BDB 729 s.v. 1.c.

² tn Heb “gird you” (so NASB) or “strengthen you” (so NIV).

³ tn Or “know” (NAB, NCV, NRSV, TEV, CEV, NLT); NIV “have not acknowledged.”