2:1 Here is the message about Judah and Jerusalem 1 that was revealed to Isaiah son of Amoz. 2
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 3 me.
45:7 I am 4 the one who forms light
and creates darkness; 5
the one who brings about peace
and creates calamity. 6
I am the Lord, who accomplishes all these things.
1 map For location see Map5-B1; Map6-F3; Map7-E2; Map8-F2; Map10-B3; JP1-F4; JP2-F4; JP3-F4; JP4-F4.
2 tn Heb “the word which Isaiah son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem.”
3 tn Or “know” (NCV, NRSV, TEV, NLT); NIV “acknowledge.”
5 tn The words “I am” are supplied in the translation for stylistic reasons. In the Hebrew text the participle at the beginning of v. 7 stands in apposition to “the Lord” in v. 6.
6 tn On the surface v. 7a appears to describe God’s sovereign control over the cycle of day and night, but the following statement suggests that “light” and “darkness” symbolize “deliverance” and “judgment.”
7 sn This verses affirms that God is ultimately sovereign over his world, including mankind and nations. In accordance with his sovereign will, he can cause wars to cease and peace to predominate (as he was about to do for his exiled people through Cyrus), or he can bring disaster and judgment on nations (as he was about to do to Babylon through Cyrus).