Isaiah – Chapter 45

Old Testament26 Verses

Chapter Summary

Chapter 45 of Isaiah begins: "Thus saith the Lord to my anointed Cyrus, whose right hand I have taken hold of, to subdue nations before his face, and to turn the backs…" The chapter centers on Jacob and Cyrus. Across its 26 verses, two threads run through the text: justice and care for the poor and God's protection and deliverance. Taken as a whole, the chapter forms one movement in the account, preparing what follows and completing what came before.

1Thus saith the Lord to my anointed Cyrus, whose right hand I have taken hold of, to subdue nations before his face, and to turn the backs of kings, and to open the doors before him, and the gates shall not be shut.

2I will go before thee, and will humble the great ones of the earth: I will break in pieces the gates of brass, and will burst the bars of iron.

3And I will give thee hidden treasures, and the concealed riches of secret places: that thou mayest know that I am the Lord who call thee by thy name, the God of Israel.

4For the sake of my servant Jacob, and Israel my elect, I have even called thee by thy name: I have made a likeness of thee, and thou hast not known me.

5I am the Lord, and there is none else: there is no God besides me: I girded thee, and thou hast not known me:

6That they may know who are from the rising of the sun, and they who are from the west, that there is none besides me. I am the Lord, and there is none else:

7I form the light, and create darkness, I make peace, and create evil: I the Lord that do all these things.

8Drop down dew, ye heavens, from above, and let the clouds rain the just: let the earth be opened, and bud forth a saviour: and let justice spring up together: I the Lord have created him.

9Woe to him that gainsayeth his maker, a sherd of the earthen pots: shall the clay say to him that fashioneth it: What art thou making, and thy work is without hands?

10Woe to him that saith to his father: Why begettest thou? and to the woman: Why dost thou bring forth?

11Thus saith the Lord the Holy One of Israel, his maker: Ask me of things to come, concerning my children, and concerning the work of my hands give ye charge to me.

12I made the earth: and I created man upon it: my hand stretched forth the heavens, and I have commanded all their host.

13I have raised him up to justice, and I will direct all his ways: he shall build my city, and let go my captives, not for ransom, nor for presents, saith the Lord the God of hosts.

14Thus saith the Lord: The labour of Egypt, and the merchandise of Ethiopia, and of Sabaim, men of stature shall come over to thee, and shall be thine: they shall walk after thee, they shall go bound with manacles: and they shall worship thee, and shall make supplication to thee: only in thee is God, and there is no God besides thee.

15Verily thou art a hidden God, the God of Israel the saviour.

16They are all confounded and ashamed: the forgers of errors are gone together into confusion.

17Israel is saved in the Lord with an eternal salvation: you shall not be confounded, and you shall not be ashamed for ever and ever.

18For thus saith the Lord that created the heavens, God himself that formed the earth, and made it, the very maker thereof: he did not create it in vain: he formed it to be inhabited. I am the Lord, and there is no other.

19I have not spoken in secret, in a dark place of the earth: I have not said to the seed of Jacob: Seek me in vain. I am the Lord that speak justice, that declare right things.

20Assemble yourselves, and come, and draw near together, ye that are saved of the Gentiles: they have no knowledge that set up the wood of their graven work, and pray to a god that cannot save.

21Tell ye, and come, and consult together: who hath declared this from the beginning, who hath foretold this from that time? Have not I the Lord, and there is no God else besides me? A just God and a saviour, there is none besides me.

22Be converted to me, and you shall be saved, all ye ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is no other.

23I have sworn by myself, the word of justice shall go out of my mouth, and shall not return:

24For every knee shall be bowed to me, and every tongue shall swear.

25Therefore shall he say: In the Lord are my justices and empire: they shall come to him, and all that resist him shall be confounded.

26In the Lord shall all the seed of Israel be justified and praised.

Important Verses in Isaiah 45

Thus saith the Lord to my anointed Cyrus, whose right hand I have taken hold of, to subdue nations before his face, and to turn the backs of kings, and to open the doors before him, and the gates shall not be shut.

Isaiah 45:1

I am the Lord, and there is none else: there is no God besides me: I girded thee, and thou hast not known me:

Isaiah 45:5

Thus saith the Lord the Holy One of Israel, his maker: Ask me of things to come, concerning my children, and concerning the work of my hands give ye charge to me.

Isaiah 45:11

For thus saith the Lord that created the heavens, God himself that formed the earth, and made it, the very maker thereof: he did not create it in vain: he formed it to be inhabited. I am the Lord, and there is no other.

Isaiah 45:18

Historical Context

As a Old Testament book, Isaiah was written with judah in crisis, the exiles in Babylon, and all who await the Messiah in view. Chapter 45 of 66 moves toward the climax of the book as earlier promises and conflicts converge. It is a prophetic oracle addressed to Israel in a moment of covenant crisis or renewal with 26 verses in the Douay-Rheims translation. Historical attention falls on Jacob and Cyrus, the principal figures named in this chapter. The passage starts with these words: "Thus saith the Lord to my anointed Cyrus, whose right hand I have taken hold of, to subdue nations before his face, and…" The final verse reads: "In the Lord shall all the seed of Israel be justified and praised. " In terms of historical background, Isaiah prophesied in Jerusalem during the Assyrian crisis, calling kings to trust God rather than alliances. Catholic tradition dates the book to the period described in its introduction: Isaiah's ministry about 740-700 BC; the book's later chapters address the exile and return (6th century BC).

Who Wrote It

The prophet Isaiah of Jerusalem; chapters 40-66 continue his message through inspired disciples

When It Was Written

Isaiah's ministry about 740-700 BC; the book's later chapters address the exile and return (6th century BC)

Catholic Commentary

The prophet addresses Israel with a message rooted in covenant fidelity and the hope of restoration. A pivotal line is verse 1: "Thus saith the Lord to my anointed Cyrus, whose right hand I have taken hold of, to subdue nations before his face, and to turn the backs of kings, and to open…" The passage repeatedly touches on justice and care for the poor.

The Church teaches that every passage of Scripture must be read in light of Christ and the Magisterium (CIC 302). Here, Isaiah's prophecies are fulfilled in Christ, especially the Suffering Servant (CIC 601). The spiritual sense invites believers to recognize justice and care for the poor as part of God's pedagogy of salvation.

Applied to the life of faith, the passage supports the Church's conviction that God's salvation reaches to the ends of the earth. Whether read privately or heard in the liturgy, Isaiah 45 calls for a response of faith, repentance, and charity.

Main Teachings

  • God defends the poor and the oppressed, and calls His people to act with justice.
  • The Lord is a refuge and deliverer for all who call upon Him in trouble.
  • God invites His people to approach Him confidently in prayer, trusting that He hears and answers.

People in This Chapter

Jacob2 mentionsCyrus1 mention

Reflection for Today

Catholic exegesis approaches Isaiah Chapter 45 with reverence, seeking both the literal sense and the spiritual meaning ordered to Christ.

Catholic theology recognizes that judgment, comfort, and messianic hope is not an abstract idea but a reality encountered in prayer, sacraments, and charity. This chapter contributes to that vision by stressing forgiveness and reconciliation.

Consider praying with this chapter again at day's end, offering God gratitude for one insight received. The Church encourages daily contact with Scripture (CIC 1032) so that Christ's mind may be formed in us.

💡Catholic Reflection • Church Teachings

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Isaiah Chapter 45 about?

Isaiah 45 contains 26 verses. It opens with "Thus saith the Lord to my anointed Cyrus, whose right hand I have taken hold of, to subdue nations before his face, and…" and closes with "In the Lord shall all the seed of Israel be justified and praised. ". The book as a whole is prophetic oracles and poetry.

What is a key verse in Isaiah 45?

One of the most significant verses is verse 1: "Thus saith the Lord to my anointed Cyrus, whose right hand I have taken hold of, to subdue nations before his face, and to turn the backs of kings, and to open the doors before…" It is often cited in Catholic teaching and preaching.

Who appears in Isaiah Chapter 45?

This chapter mentions Jacob, Cyrus.

Who wrote Isaiah and when?

The prophet Isaiah of Jerusalem; chapters 40-66 continue his message through inspired disciples. Isaiah's ministry about 740-700 BC; the book's later chapters address the exile and return (6th century BC).

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