Isaiah 41:2

God's power and sovereignty

¹ “Be silent before Me, O islands, and let the peoples renew their strength. Let them come forward and testify; let us together draw near for judgment.

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, to windblown chaff with his bow.

³ He pursues them, going on safely, hardly touching the path with his feet.

⁴ Who has performed this and carried it out, calling forth the generations from the beginning? I, the LORD—the first and the last— I am He.”

Here the Bible tells a story about someone else. Ask yourself what it can say to us today. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB: 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, to windblown chaff with his bow.
KJV: Who raised up the righteous man from the east, called him to his foot, gave the nations before him, and made him rule over kings? he gave them as the dust to his sword, and as driven stubble to his bow.
WEB: Who has raised up one from the east? Who called him to his feet in righteousness? He hands over nations to him and makes him rule over kings. He gives them like the dust to his sword, like the driven stubble to his bow.
ASV: Who hath raised up one from the east, whom he calleth in righteousness to his foot? he giveth nations before him, and maketh him rule over kings; he giveth them as the dust to his sword, as the driven stubble to his bow.
DARBY: Who raised up from the east him whom righteousness calleth to its foot? He gave the nations before him, and caused him to have dominion over kings; he gave them as dust to his sword, as driven stubble to his bow.
BLB: Who has roused one from the east? Righteousness calls him at His feet; He gives the nations before his face, and he subdues kings; he makes [them] like dust with his sword, driven away as stubble [by] his bow.

ÅB: Hvem vakte fra Østen ham[^1] som seieren møter hvor han setter sin fot? Han gir folkeslag i hans vold og lar ham herske over konger, gjør deres sverd til støv, deres bue til strå som føres bort av vinden.
OTB: Hvem har vekket opp en fra øst, som Han kaller i rettferdighet til sin tjeneste? Han overgir folkeslag til ham og underlegger seg konger. Han gjør dem som støv med sitt sverd, som vindblåst agner med sin bue.
B1930: Hvem vakte fra Østen ham som seieren møter hvor han setter sin fot? Han gir folkeslag i hans vold og lar ham herske over konger, gjør deres sverd til støv, deres bue til strå som føres bort av vinden. / < Kyros; JES 45, 1.>

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

Isaiah 45:1
This is what the LORD says to Cyrus His anointed, whose right hand I have grasped to subdue nations before him, to disarm kings, to open the doors before him, so that the gates will not be shut:
Read in context
2 Samuel 22:43
I ground them as the dust of the earth; I crushed and trampled them like mud in the streets.
Read in context
Ezra 1:2
“This is what Cyrus king of Persia says: ‘The LORD, the God of heaven, who has given me all the kingdoms of the earth, has appointed me to build a house for Him at Jerusalem in Judah.
Read in context
Isaiah 46:11
I summon a bird of prey from the east, a man for My purpose from a far-off land. Truly I have spoken, and truly I will bring it to pass. I have planned it, and I will surely do it.
Read in context
Isaiah 40:24
No sooner are they planted, no sooner are they sown, no sooner have their stems taken root in the ground, than He blows on them and they wither, and a whirlwind sweeps them away like stubble.
Read in context
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 treads the clay.
Read in context
2 Chronicles 36:23
“This is what Cyrus king of Persia says: ‘The LORD, the God of heaven, who has given me all the kingdoms of the earth, has appointed me to build a house for Him at Jerusalem in Judah. Whoever among you belongs to His people, may the LORD his God be with him, and may he go up.’”
Read in context
Isaiah 45:13
I 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.”
Read in context