God’s Word Translation
Isaiah 45:13
13I prepared Cyrus for my righteous purpose. I will make all his roads straight. He will build my city and let my exiles go free without any payment or any reward, says the Lord of Armies.
Isaiah 45:13 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)I have raised him up in righteousness, and I will direct all his ways: he shall build my city, and he shall let go my captives, not for price nor reward, saith the Lord of hosts.
- New International Version (NIV)I will raise up Cyrus in my righteousness: I will make all his ways straight. He will rebuild my city and set my exiles free, but not for a price or reward, says the Lord Almighty.”
- English Standard Version (ESV)I have stirred him up in righteousness, and I will make all his ways level; he shall build my city and set my exiles free, not for price or reward," says the Lord of hosts.
- New King James Version (NKJV)I have raised him up in righteousness, And I will direct all his ways; He shall build My city And let My exiles go free, Not for price nor reward,” Says the Lord of hosts.
Context of Isaiah 45:13
11The Lord is the Holy One and the maker of Israel. This is what the Lord says: Ask me about what is going to happen to my children! Are you going to give me orders concerning my handiwork? 12I made the earth and created humans on it. I stretched out the heavens with my own hands. I commanded all the stars ⌞to shine⌟. I prepared Cyrus for my righteous purpose. I will make all his roads straight. He will build my city and let my exiles go free without any payment or any reward, says the Lord of Armies. 14This is what the Lord says: The products from Egypt, the merchandise from Sudan, and the important Sabaeans will come to you. They will belong to you. They will follow you. They will come to you in chains. They will bow to you and pray to you, “Certainly God is with you alone, and there is no other God.” 15Certainly, you are a God who has hidden himself. You are the God of Israel, the Savior!
Read all of Isaiah 45Isaiah 45:13 word by word
אָנֹכִי֙ הַעִירֹתִ֣הֽוּ בְצֶ֔דֶק וְכָל־דְּרָכָ֖יו אֲיַשֵּׁ֑ר הֽוּא־יִבְנֶ֤ה עִירִי֙ וְגָלוּתִ֣י יְשַׁלֵּ֔חַ לֹ֤א בִמְחִיר֙ וְלֹ֣א בְשֹׁ֔חַד אָמַ֖ר יְהוָ֥ה צְבָאֽוֹת׃ פRead the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- I have raised him upעוּר‛ûr · to rouseH5782
- in righteousnessצֶ֫דֶקtsedeq · righteousnessH6664
- and I will directיָשַׁרyâshar · to smoothH3474
- all his waysדֶּ֫רֶךְderek · way: conductH1870
- he shall buildבָּנָהbânâh · to buildH1129
- my cityעִיר‛îyr ‛âr ‛âyar · cityH5892
- and he shall let goשָׁלַחshâlach · to send: let goH7971
- my captivesגָּלוּתgâlûth · captivityH1546
- not for priceמְחִירmechîyr · priceH4242
- nor rewardשֹׁ֫חַדshachad · bribeH7810
- saithאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
- the Lordיְהֹוָהyehôvâh · LORDH3068
- of hostsצָבָאtsâbâ' tsebâ'âh · HostsH6635
Cross-references for Isaiah 45:13
- Isaiah 45:1This is what the Lord says about Cyrus, his anointed one: I have held him by his right hand so he could conquer the nations ahead of him, strip kings of their power, and open doors ahead of him so that the gates would not be shut.
- Isaiah 41:2“Who has raised up from the east someone to whom the Lord gives victory with every step he takes? Nations are handed over to him. He defeats kings. With his sword he turns them into dust. With his bow he turns them into straw blown by the wind.
- Isaiah 46:11I will call a bird of prey from the east. I will call someone for my plan from a faraway land. I have spoken, and I will bring it about. I have planned it, and I will do it.
- Isaiah 48:14Gather together, all of you, and listen. What idol has revealed such things? The Lord loves Cyrus. He will carry out the Lord’s plan against Babylon. He will use his strength against the Babylonians.
- Isaiah 42:6I, the Lord, have called you to do what is right. I will take hold of your hand. I will protect you. I will appoint you as my promise to the people, as my light to the nations.
- Psalms 65:5You answer us with awe-inspiring acts ⌞done⌟ in righteousness, O God, our savior, the hope of all the ends of the earth and of the most distant sea,
- Isaiah 44:28He says about Cyrus, “He is my shepherd. He will do everything I want him to do.” He says about Jerusalem, “It will be rebuilt.” He says about the temple, “Your foundation will be laid.”
- Isaiah 52:5So what do I find here? asks the Lord. My people are taken away for no reason. Their rulers are screaming, declares the Lord. And my name is cursed all day long.
- 2 Chronicles 36:22The promise the Lord had spoken through Jeremiah was about to come true in Cyrus’ first year as king of Persia. The Lord inspired the king to make this announcement throughout his whole kingdom and then to put it in writing.
- Ezra 1:3May God be with all of you who are his people. You may go to Jerusalem (which is in Judah) and build a temple for the Lord God of Israel. He is the God who is in Jerusalem.
- Isaiah 49:25This is what the Lord says: Prisoners will be freed from mighty men. Loot will be taken away from tyrants. I will fight your enemies, and I will save your children.
- Isaiah 52:2Shake the dust from yourselves. Get up, captive Jerusalem. Free yourself from the chains around your neck, captive people of Zion.
- Romans 3:24They receive God’s approval freely by an act of his kindness through the price Christ Jesus paid to set us free ⌞from sin⌟.
- 1 Peter 1:18Realize that you weren’t set free from the worthless life handed down to you from your ancestors by a payment of silver or gold which can be destroyed.
- Isaiah 13:17I’m going to stir up the Medes against them. They don’t care for silver and aren’t happy with gold.
Commentaries on Isaiah 45:13
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 13I have raised him up - This evidently refers to Cyrus, and to what he did for the Jews; and informs us by whom he was excited to do it.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 13I have raised him up - That is. Cyrus (see the notes at Isaiah 41:2). In righteousness - In Isaiah 41:2, he is called the righteous man.‘ He had raised him up to accomplish his own righteous plans. It does not necessarily mean that Cyrus was a righteous man (see the notes at Isaiah 41:2). And I will direct all his ways - Margin, Make straight.‘ This is the meaning of the Hebrew word (see the notes at Isaiah 40:4). The sense here is, I will make his paths…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 11-19Verses 11-19 Believers may ask in prayer for what they need; if for their good, it will not be withheld. But how common to hear God called to account for his dealings with man! Cyrus provided for the returning Jews. Those redeemed by Christ shall be provided for. The restoration would convince many, and convert some; and all that truly join the Lord, find his service perfect freedom. Though God be his people's God and Saviour, yet sometimes he lays them…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 9-13The Lord addresses those who doubt his decision to use a non-believing king for his plans. As the Creator, he is free and has complete authority. He promised to return his people to their land and would use anyone he chooses to fulfill that promise.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1313. him--Cyrus, type of Messiah, who redeems the captives of Satan "without money and without price" (Is 55:1), "freely" (gratuitously) (Is 52:3; 61:1; Zec 9:11; Ro 3:24). in righteousness--to fulfil My righteous purpose (see on Is 41:2; Is 42:6; Jr 23:6).Read the comment
Topics related to Isaiah 45:13
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Isaiah 45
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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