Isaiah 45:13
in Isaiah 45I will raise up Cyrus in righteousness, and I will make all his ways straight. He will rebuild My city and set My exiles free, but not for payment or reward, says the LORD of Hosts.”
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
I have raised him up in righteousness, and I will make straight all his ways: he shall build my city, and he shall let my exiles go free, not for price nor reward, saith Jehovah of hosts.
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.
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This verse in Isaiah 45
Commentary
11 notes on this verse(Verse 9 and following) Woe to those who contradict their maker, a pot made of clay, and say to the one who formed them, 'What are you making?' or 'Your work has no hands.' Woe to those who say to their father, 'What are you begetting?' or to their mother, 'What are you in labor with?' This is what the Lord says, the Holy One of Israel, and its maker: Ask me about the things to come, concerning my children, and about the work of my hands, give me orders.
This site's exposition
question Me about My sons
on Isaiah 45:11-13
In verse 11 the LORD asks who would “question Me about My sons, or instruct Me in the work of My hands”. Verse 12 restates the creation claim. Verse 13 returns to Cyrus, who “will rebuild My city and set My exiles free, but not for payment or reward.”
This site's exposition
I will raise up Cyrus in righteousness
Barnes links this verse to Isaiah 41:2, where the same conqueror is stirred up, and he hears in make straight the word of Isaiah 40:4. The righteousness belongs to the LORD's plan. Barnes holds that it says nothing of the character of Cyrus.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers1 voice
For taking into his hands the book of Isaiah he found as he read the section which contained the prophecy concerning himself; since Isaiah says in that section: Thus saith the Lord to his Anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I have holden to subdue …
The Medieval Church1 voice
And the direction of its execution: I have raised, to worthiness, him, Cyrus, using the past tense for the future, to carry out justice concerning the Chaldeans: in all your ways think on him, and he will direct your steps (Prov 3:6); and he promises …
The Puritans and the Awakening3 voices
A challenge given to the worshippers of idols and their doom read, and satisfaction given to the worshippers of the true God and their comfort secured, with an eye to the Mediator, who is made of God to us both righteousness and sanctification,
I have raised him up in righteousness,....
Cyrus is the man that shall proclaim it; and, in order hereunto, God will put power into his hands: I have raised him up in righteousness, that is, in pursuance and performance of my promises and to plead my people's just but injured cause.
3 more voices on this verse
The Nineteenth Century3 voices
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
I have raised him up - That is. Cyrus (see the notes at Isa 41:2). In righteousness - In Isa 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 Isa 41:2). And I will direct all his ways - Margin, ‘Make straight.’ This is the meaning of the Hebrew word (see the notes at Isa 40:4).
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
proposed
him--Cyrus, type of Messiah, who redeems the captives of Satan "without money and without price" (Isa 55:1), "freely" (gratuitously) (Isa 52:3; Ro 3:24). in righteousness--to fulfil My righteous purpose (see on Isa 41:2;
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — starts-lowercase+unbalanced-parens
I 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.
How the passage was read
What the Jewish commentators add
On the verses either side of this one
I made the earth and gave it to whoever pleased Me [lit. was straight in My eyes].
1 more on this passage, in their own words ▾
The toil of Egypt etc. I have informed how I will save My children from the hand of Babylon, for I have aroused Cyrus for that purpose with My righteousness. I further inform you of the salvation from Sennacherib that will take place in the days of Hezekiah.
This section is reception history: how the passage was read and kept in the Jewish tradition. Where a reading parts from an essential of the Christian faith, the section says so at that point.
Texts and citation data: Sefaria; each excerpt follows its version’s licence. 5 further sources are cited on this chapter that carry no English text this site may quote or only restate the verse.
The words behind it
18 Hebrew wordsEvery Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Hebrew | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| אָנֹכִי֙ | ʾanokhi | I | H595 → | 359 times |
| הַעִירֹתִ֣הֽוּ | hairotihu | I have stirred up him | H5782 → | 80 times |
| בְצֶ֔דֶק | vetzedek | in righteousness | H6664 → | 119 times |
| וְכָל־ | vekhol | and all | H3605 → | 5413 times |
| דְּרָכָ֖יו | derakhav | ways his | H1870 → | 707 times |
| אֲיַשֵּׁ֑ר | ʾayasher | I will make smooth | H3474 → | 25 times |
| הֽוּא־ | hu'- | he | H1931 → | 1879 times |
| יִבְנֶ֤ה | yivneh | he will build | H1129 → | 376 times |
| עִירִי֙ | ʾiri | city my | H5892 → | 1090 times |
| וְגָלוּתִ֣י | vegaluti | and exile[s] my | H1546 → | |
| יְשַׁלֵּ֔חַ | yeshaleach | he will let go | H7971 → | 845 times |
| לֹ֤א | lo' | not | H3808 → | 5168 times |
| בִמְחִיר֙ | vimchir | for hire | H4242 → | |
| וְלֹ֣א | velo' | and not | H3808 → | 5168 times |
| בְשֹׁ֔חַד | veshochad | for a bribe | H7810 → | 23 times |
| אָמַ֖ר | ʾamar | he says | H559 → | 5305 times |
| יְהוָ֥ה | yahweh | Yahweh | H3068 → | 6520 times |
| צְבָאֽוֹת׃ פ | tzevaot | of hosts | H6635 → | 485 times |
אָנֹכִי֙I
ʾanokhiH595 →359 times
הַעִירֹתִ֣הֽוּI have stirred up him
hairotihuH5782 →80 times
בְצֶ֔דֶקin righteousness
vetzedekH6664 →119 times
וְכָל־and all
vekholH3605 →5413 times
דְּרָכָ֖יוways his
derakhavH1870 →707 times
אֲיַשֵּׁ֑רI will make smooth
ʾayasherH3474 →25 times
הֽוּא־he
hu'-H1931 →1879 times
יִבְנֶ֤הhe will build
yivnehH1129 →376 times
עִירִי֙city my
ʾiriH5892 →1090 times
וְגָלוּתִ֣יand exile[s] my
vegalutiH1546 →
יְשַׁלֵּ֔חַhe will let go
yeshaleachH7971 →845 times
לֹ֤אnot
lo'H3808 →5168 times
בִמְחִיר֙for hire
vimchirH4242 →
וְלֹ֣אand not
velo'H3808 →5168 times
בְשֹׁ֔חַדfor a bribe
veshochadH7810 →23 times
אָמַ֖רhe says
ʾamarH559 →5305 times
יְהוָ֥הYahweh
yahwehH3068 →6520 times
צְבָאֽוֹת׃ פof hosts
tzevaotH6635 →485 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Isaiah 49:25Indeed, this is what the LORD says: “Even the captives of the mighty will be taken away, and the plunder of the tyrant will be retrieved; I will contend with those who contend with…
it leads to
- Isaiah 54:15–17
If anyone attacks you, it is not from Me; whoever assails you will fall before you.
- Isaiah 35:4
Say to those with anxious hearts: “Be strong, do not fear! Behold, your God will come with vengeance. With divine retribution He will come to save you.”
- Isaiah 41:11–12
Behold, all who rage against you will be ashamed and disgraced; those who contend with you will be reduced to nothing and will perish.
- Jeremiah 50:33–34
This is what the LORD of Hosts says: “The sons of Israel are oppressed, and the sons of Judah as well. All their captors hold them fast, refusing to release them.
- Isaiah 54:13
Then all your sons will be taught by the LORD, and great will be their prosperity.
- Isaiah 54:15–17
Through
Isaiah 41:25I have raised up one from the north, and he has come—one from the east who calls on My name. He will march over rulers as if they were mortar, like a potter who…
it leads to
- 2 Samuel 22:43
I ground them as the dust of the earth; I crushed and trampled them like mud in the streets.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Isaiah 41:2
Who has aroused one from the east and called him to his feet in righteousness? He hands nations over to him and subdues kings before him. He turns them to dust with his sword,…
- 2 Samuel 22:43
Through
Isaiah 13:17Behold, I will stir up against them the Medes, who have no regard for silver and no desire for gold.
it leads to
- Isaiah 41:25
I have raised up one from the north, and he has come—one from the east who calls on My name. He will march over rulers as if they were mortar, like a potter who…
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Isaiah 41:25
Where this verse is studied
About Isaiah
This page draws on 10 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes on the Book of Isaiah; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Cosmas Indicopleustes, The Christian Topography, Book 8; Franz Delitzsch, Biblical Commentary on the Prophecies of Isaiah; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; Jerome, Commentary on Isaiah; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763); Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible and Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on Isaiah.