New Living Translation
Isaiah 45:2
2This is what the Lord says: “I will go before you, Cyrus, and level the mountains. I will smash down gates of bronze and cut through bars of iron.
Isaiah 45:2 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)I will go before thee, and make the crooked places straight: I will break in pieces the gates of brass, and cut in sunder the bars of iron:
- New International Version (NIV)I will go before you and will level the mountains; I will break down gates of bronze and cut through bars of iron.
- English Standard Version (ESV)"I will go before you and level the exalted places, I will break in pieces the doors of bronze and cut through the bars of iron,
- New King James Version (NKJV)‘I will go before you And make the crooked places straight; I will break in pieces the gates of bronze And cut the bars of iron.
Context of Isaiah 45:2
1This is what the Lord says to Cyrus, his anointed one, whose right hand he will empower. Before him, mighty kings will be paralyzed with fear. Their fortress gates will be opened, never to shut again. This is what the Lord says: “I will go before you, Cyrus, and level the mountains. I will smash down gates of bronze and cut through bars of iron. 3And I will give you treasures hidden in the darkness— secret riches. I will do this so you may know that I am the Lord, the God of Israel, the one who calls you by name. 4“And why have I called you for this work? Why did I call you by name when you did not know me? It is for the sake of Jacob my servant, Israel my chosen one.
Read all of Isaiah 45Isaiah 45:2 word by word
אֲנִי֙ לְפָנֶ֣יךָ אֵלֵ֔ךְ וַהֲדוּרִ֖ים אֲיַשֵּׁ֑ר דַּלְת֤וֹת נְחוּשָׁה֙ אֲשַׁבֵּ֔ר וּבְרִיחֵ֥י בַרְזֶ֖ל אֲגַדֵּֽעַ׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- I will goיָלַךְyâlak · to walkH3212
- beforeפָּנֶהpânîym · face: beforeH6440
- thee, and makeיָשַׁרyâshar · to smoothH3474
- the crooked placesהָדַרhâdar · to honorH1921
- I will break in piecesשָׁבַרshâbar · to breakH7665
- the gatesדֶּ֫לֶתdeleth · doorH1817
- of brassנְחוּשָׁהnechûshâh nechûshâh · bronzeH5154
- and cut in sunderגָּדַעgâda‛ · to cut down/offH1438
- the barsבְּרִיחַberîyach · barH1280
- of ironבַּרְזֶלbarzel · ironH1270
Cross-references for Isaiah 45:2
- Isaiah 13:4Hear the noise on the mountains! Listen, as the vast armies march! It is the noise and shouting of many nations. The Lord of Heaven’s Armies has called this army together.
- Isaiah 40:4Fill in the valleys, and level the mountains and hills. Straighten the curves, and smooth out the rough places.
- Isaiah 42:16I will lead blind Israel down a new path, guiding them along an unfamiliar way. I will brighten the darkness before them and smooth out the road ahead of them. Yes, I will indeed do these things; I will not forsake them.
- Acts 1:15During this time, when about 120 believers were together in one place, Peter stood up and addressed them.
- Luke 3:5The valleys will be filled, and the mountains and hills made level. The curves will be straightened, and the rough places made smooth.
- Psalms 107:16For he broke down their prison gates of bronze; he cut apart their bars of iron.
Commentaries on Isaiah 45:2
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 2The crooked places "The mountains" - For הדורים hodurim, crooked places, a word not easily accounted for in this place, the Septuagint read הררים hararim, , the mountains. Two MSS. have הדרים hadarim, without the ו vau, which is hardly distinguishable from the reading of the Septuagint. The Divine protection that attended Cyrus, and rendered his expedition against Babylon easy and prosperous is finely expressed by God's going before him, and making the…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 2I will go before thee - To prepare the way for conquest, a proof that it is by the providence of God that the proud conquerors of the earth are enabled to triumph. The idea is, I will take away everything that would retard or oppose your victorious march. And make the crooked paths straight - (See the note at Isaiah 40:4). The Chaldee renders this, My word shall go before thee, and I will prostrate the walls.‘ Lowth renders it, Make the mountains plain.‘…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 1-8The Lord alone is sovereign over history. He raised up Cyrus of Persia to execute judgment on Babylon and restore Israel to the Holy Land.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 22. crooked ... straight--(Is 40:4), rather, "maketh mountains plain" [Lowth], that is, clear out of thy way all opposing persons and things. The Keri reads as in Is 45:13, "make straight" (Margin). gates of brass--(Psa 107:16). Herodotus (1.179) says, Babylon had a hundred massive gates, twenty-five on each of the four sides of the city, all, as well as their posts, of brass. bars of iron--with which the gates were fastened.Read the comment
Topics related to Isaiah 45:2
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
New Living Translation — © 1996, 2004, 2015 Tyndale House Foundation
Commentaries