Isaiah 45:1
“Thus saith the LORD to his anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I have holden, 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;”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →God speaks of Cyrus, a Persian king, as His anointed instrument to accomplish His purposes.
Context
Isaiah speaks in the reign of Hezekiah (late 8th century BC). Judah is threatened by Assyria. Babylon has not yet conquered Jerusalem, yet Isaiah prophesies both the captivity and the name of the king who will release the captives.
What Does Isaiah 45:1 Mean?
Isaiah names Cyrus explicitly, more than a century before his birth. The Persian king did indeed conquer Babylon and release the Jewish captives, yet at the time of this prophecy, Cyrus was unknown, and Israel was not yet taken captive. God holds the great man's right hand, steadying his victories. The 'two leaved gates' of Babylon, legendary in their strength, will fall open before him. This is not a casual prediction but a sovereign statement: the gates shall not shut.
Here we glimpse the sweep of God's purposes across empires. He raises up rulers not because they know Him, but because His will encompasses all nations and all time. When we encounter powerful persons or institutions in our own age, we may remember that God's hand is upon the course of history, guiding it toward redemption. No barrier, however formidable, resists Him.
In the Original Language
anointed (mashiach, משיח) means 'one anointed with oil,' a term for kings chosen by God; here applied to Cyrus, a foreign ruler, to show God's sovereignty over all rulers.
Application
We live amid forces that seem beyond our control. To trust God means acknowledging that He holds the future and moves the hearts of leaders according to His purposes. Our role is fidelity to His word, not anxiety over the machinery of earthly power.