Thus said the LORD to his anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I have held, to subdue nations before him; and I will loose the loins of kings, to open before him the two leaved gates; and the gates shall not be shut;
to his
Isaiah 13:3 I have commanded my sanctified ones, I have also called my mighty ones for mine anger, even them that rejoice in my highness.
Isaiah 44:28 That saith of Cyrus, He is my shepherd, and shall perform all my pleasure: even saying to Jerusalem, Thou shalt be built; and to the temple, Thy foundation shall be laid.
1 Kings 19:15 And the LORD said unto him, Go, return on thy way to the wilderness of Damascus: and when thou comest, anoint Hazael to be king over Syria:
whose
Isaiah 41:13 For I the LORD thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee.
Isaiah 42:6 I the LORD have called thee in righteousness, and will hold thine hand, and will keep thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles;
Psalm 73:23 Nevertheless I am continually with thee: thou hast holden me by my right hand.
holden.
Ezekiel 30:21-24 Son of man, I have broken the arm of Pharaoh king of Egypt; and, lo, it shall not be bound up to be healed, to put a roller to bind it, to make it strong to hold the sword…
to subdue
Isaiah 41:2,25 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…
Ezra 1:1 Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled, the LORD stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and put it also in writing, saying,
Jeremiah 50:3,35 For out of the north there cometh up a nation against her, which shall make her land desolate, and none shall dwell therein: they shall remove, they shall depart, both man and beast…
to open.
Nahum 2:6 The gates of the rivers shall be opened, and the palace shall be dissolved.
whose right hand I have grasped
The imagery of God grasping Cyrus's right hand signifies divine empowerment and guidance. In ancient Near Eastern culture, the right hand symbolizes strength and authority. This phrase indicates that Cyrus's success is not due to his own power but is orchestrated by God. It reflects the biblical theme of God directing the hearts of kings (Proverbs 21:1).
to subdue nations before him
Cyrus's conquests, including the defeat of the Babylonian Empire, were part of God's plan to discipline and restore His people. Historically, Cyrus's military campaigns expanded the Persian Empire significantly. This subduing of nations is a fulfillment of God's promise to use Cyrus as an instrument of His will, demonstrating God's control over world events.
to disarm kings
The disarming of kings refers to the ease with which Cyrus conquered other rulers, often without significant resistance. This can be seen in the historical account of the fall of Babylon, where Cyrus's forces entered the city with minimal conflict. It underscores the theme of divine intervention, where God prepares the way for His chosen instruments.
to open the doors before him
This phrase suggests the removal of obstacles and the granting of access, both literally and metaphorically. Historically, the gates of Babylon were left open, allowing Cyrus's forces to enter the city. Spiritually, it signifies God's ability to open doors of opportunity and blessing for His purposes, a theme echoed in Revelation 3:8.
so that the gates will not be shut
The assurance that the gates will not be shut emphasizes the certainty and permanence of God's plan. In the context of Cyrus's conquests, it reflects the unstoppable nature of his divinely appointed mission. This imagery also points to the ultimate victory and open access provided through Christ, who opens the way to salvation and eternal life.
• The verse opens with God Himself speaking, underscoring His absolute authority.
• Scripture consistently presents the LORD as the One who initiates history and directs rulers (Isaiah 40:21–23; Daniel 2:21).
• By beginning with a direct divine declaration, the passage assures us that what follows is not speculation but settled fact (Numbers 23:19; Psalm 33:9).
• Remarkably, God calls a Gentile king “His anointed,” the same term used for Israel’s kings and priests (1 Samuel 16:13; Psalm 2:2).
• Isaiah first names Cyrus in 44:28, roughly 150 years before the Persian ruler was born, demonstrating God’s foreknowledge (Isaiah 41:4).
• Though Cyrus did not know the LORD personally (Isaiah 45:4–5), God set him apart to accomplish a redemptive purpose—freeing the exiles and enabling the temple’s rebuilding (Ezra 1:1–4; 2 Chronicles 36:22–23).
• The right hand symbolizes power and favor (Exodus 15:6; Psalm 118:16).
• God’s “grasp” shows intimate guidance; Cyrus’ victories depend entirely on divine empowerment, not mere military brilliance (Proverbs 21:1).
• Believers today draw confidence from the same God who holds our right hand (Isaiah 41:13; John 10:28).
• Historically, Cyrus swiftly subdued Lydia, Babylon, and other kingdoms, fulfilling this prophecy (Isaiah 41:2–3).
• Scripture highlights God’s sovereignty over international affairs: “The Most High rules the kingdom of men” (Daniel 4:17).
• For Israel, Cyrus’ conquests meant the collapse of their captors and the opening of a path home (Jeremiah 29:10–14).
• “Disarm” (literally “loosen the loins” in ancient idiom) pictures kings losing all defensive power—exactly what happened when Babylon’s king Belshazzar trembled as Cyrus’ army entered (Daniel 5:6, 30–31).
• God dismantles earthly pride (Isaiah 13:11; 1 Peter 5:5), reminding us that no ruler can stand against His plan.
• Cyrus ingeniously diverted the Euphrates, marched under Babylon’s gates, and found the inner doors open, just as God foretold (Isaiah 45:2).
• Revelation 3:7 applies the motif of opened doors to Christ, who holds ultimate authority over access and opportunity.
• Once God decrees an open gate, no force can close it (Job 42:2; Revelation 3:8).
• For Judah, permanently opened gates meant freedom from exile and the sure prospect of worship in Jerusalem again (Isaiah 52:8–10).
• The broader biblical storyline points to a final city whose gates never shut because God’s victory is complete (Revelation 21:25).
Isaiah 45:1 showcases God’s unmatched sovereignty: He names a future Gentile king, anoints him for a specific task, empowers his hand, topples nations, strips rulers, swings open city gates, and ensures nothing can hinder His redemptive purpose. The verse assures believers that the God who orchestrated Cyrus’ rise still directs history with the same authority, faithfulness, and power.
XLV.(1) To his anointed . . .--The name is none other than the Messiah, the Christ, with which we are familiar, here and here only applied to a heathen king. It has to be remembered that the words had not yet received the special application given to it in Daniel 9:26, and had been used of the theocratic kings, of Saul (1Samuel 26:9; 1Samuel 26:11; 1Samuel 26:16), of the house of David (2Samuel 22:51; 2Samuel 23:1), and of the patriarch Abraham (Psalm 105:15). What is meant, therefore, is that Cyrus, the future deliverer, would be as truly a king "by the grace of God" as David had been, not only, like Nebuchadnezzar, "a servant of Jehovah" (Jeremiah 27:6; Jeremiah 43:10), but "fulfilling all his pleasure," whom He grasps by the right hand and guides. . . .
Verses 1-7. - GOD'S WILL CONCERNING HIM ANNOUNCED TO CYRUS. This direct address of God to a heathen king is without a parallel in Scripture. Nebuchadnezzar, Pharaoh, Abimelech, were warned through dreams. Nebuchadnezzar was even promised Divine aid (Ezekiel 30:24, 25). But no heathen monarch had previously been personally addressed by God, much less called "his anointed," and spoken to by his name (ver. 4). Three motives are mentioned for this special favour to him:(1) that he might acknowledge Jehovah to be the true God;
(2) that Israel might be benefited and advantaged by him;
(3) that the attention of the whole world might be attracted, and the unity of God made manifest far and wide (vers. 3-6). Verse 1. - Thus saith the Lord to his anointed. The "anointed of Jehovah" is elsewhere always either an Israelite king, or the expected Deliverer of the nation, "Messiah the Prince" (Daniel 9:25). This Deliverer, however, was to be of the line of David (Isaiah 11:1), and of the city of Bethlehem (Micah 5:2), so that we can scarcely suppose Isaiah to have seen him in Cyrus. But he may have seen in Cyrus a type of the great Deliverer, as he saw in the release of Israel from the power of Babylon a type of their deliverance from sin. Whose right hand I have holden; rather, strengthened (comp. Ezekiel 30:24). To subdue nations before him (see above, Isaiah 41:2, and the comment ad loc.). Among the nations subdued by Cyrus may be mentioned the Medes, the Babylonians, the Lydians, the Caftans, the Caunians, the Lycians, the Bactrians, the Sacae, the Parthians, the Hyrcanians, the Chorasmians, the Sogdians, the Arians of Herat, the Zarangians, the Arachosians, the Satagydians, and the Gandarians. I will loose the loins of kings; i.e. render them weak and incapable of resistance" (comp. Daniel 5:6), net "disarm them" (Cheyne); for the chief royal weapons were the spear and the bow, neither of which was carried at the girdle. To open before him the two-leaved gates. The cities and forts repro-sented on the Assyrian monuments have invariably their gateways closed by two large gates or doors which meet in the centre of the gateway. The bronze plating found at Ballarat gave the dimensions, and showed the strength of such gates ('Transactions of the Society of Bibl. Archseol.,' vol. 7. pp. 83-88).
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