I, even I, have spoken; yes, I have called him. I have brought him, and he will succeed in his mission.
Parallel translations
- WEB I, even I, have spoken; yes, I have called him. I have brought him, and he shall make his way prosperous.
- KJV I, even I, have spoken; yea, I have called him: I have brought him, and he shall make his way prosperous.
- NKJV I, even I, have spoken; Yes, I have called him, I have brought him, and his way will prosper.
- NASB “I, yes I, have spoken; indeed I have called him, I have brought him, and He will make his ways successful.
- NLT “I have said it: I am calling Cyrus! I will send him on this errand and will help him succeed.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
God himself called and commissioned Cyrus and will make his mission succeed. The deliverer's success comes from God's hand.
Overview
Yahweh emphasizes with 'I, even I' that he called Cyrus, brought him, and will prosper his way. The Persian king's victories are God's doing, not his own genius. This reinforces that God works his redemptive purposes through chosen instruments, ultimately through the Servant who accomplishes salvation.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 4
- Josh 1:8This Book of the Law must not depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. For then you will prosper and succeed in all you do.
- Isa 45:1–2This 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:
- Ps 45:4In your splendor ride forth in victory on behalf of truth and humility and justice; may your right hand show your awesome deeds.
- Ezek 1:2On the fifth day of the month—it was the fifth year of the exile of King Jehoiachin—
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
Isaiah sees him most clearly: the virgin's son Immanuel, the child on David's throne, the shoot from Jesse, the light to the nations, and above all the Suffering Servant pierced for our transgressions (ch. 53).
How Isaiah 48:15 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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