Limitless Word
I, even I, have spoken; Yes, I have called him, I have brought him, and his way will prosper.
Isaiah 48:15 · New King James Version
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.
  • BSB I, even I, have spoken; yes, I have called him. I have brought him, and he will succeed in his mission.
  • 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 shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it; for then you shall make your way prosperous, and then you shall have good success.
  • Isa 45:1–2Yahweh says to his anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I have held, to subdue nations before him, and strip kings of their armor; to open the doors before him, and the gates shall not be shut:
  • Ps 45:4In your majesty ride on victoriously on behalf of truth, humility, and righteousness. Let your right hand display awesome deeds.
  • Ezek 1:2In the fifth of the month, which was the fifth year of king Jehoiachin’s captivity,

Themes, concepts, people & topics

Topics (2)

Resources, by level

Commentaries & study tools

  • VideoBibleProject — Isaiah videosBibleProject · Lay · Free · evangelical

    Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.

  • VideoWatch teaching on Isaiah 48:15YouTube · Lay · Free

    Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.

  • CommentaryEnduring Word — verse-by-verseDavid Guzik · Lay · Free · evangelical

    Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.

  • CommentaryClassic commentaries for this verseBibleHub (20+ works) · Pastoral · Free

    Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.

  • CommentaryMatthew Henry on IsaiahMatthew Henry · Pastoral · Free · evangelical

    The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).

  • ReferenceInterlinear, lexicon & Strong'sBlue Letter Bible · Seminary · Free

    Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.

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

Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.