Isaiah 45:1

“Thus says YHWH to his anointed, to Cyrus, whom I have taken hold of by his right hand, to subdue before him nations, and the loins of kings I will loosen, to open before him doors, and gates will not be shut:”

Isaiah 45:1 · direct translation from the Hebrew
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With the Hebrew beneath

1

Isaiah 45:1, word by word

saysאָמַרamar

say

To say with the mouth to someone what one thinks or wants, or to answer him.

Where else “amar” appears
YHWHיְהוָהyehva

YHWH

The personal name of the God of Israel, written in Hebrew with four letters, Y-H-W-H, without vowels. Out of reverence Jews stopped pronouncing it and read "Adonai" (Lord), so many Bibles put "the LORD" or "Jehovah". This translation keeps the four letters. The name is related to the verb "to be" (Exodus 3:14-15). He is not a god other than Elohim: "YHWH Elohim" is the same Creator God, called by his name.

Where else “yehva” appears
to his anointedמְשִׁיחmeshich

anointed

Anointed: someone on whom oil has been poured to set him apart for a task from God (priest, king). In Hebrew it is "mashiach", from which "Messiah" comes; in Greek, "Christ".

Where else “meshich” appears
to Cyrusכוֹרֶשׁchoresh

Cyrus

Cyrus: king of Persia who conquered Babylon and allowed the exiles of Judah to return to their land and rebuild the house of God.

Where else “choresh” appears
I have taken hold ofהֶחֱזַקְתִּיhechezakti

seize

To take hold of something or someone and not let go.

Where else “hechezakti” appears
by his right handימִינymin

right hand

The hand on the side of strength and honor.

Where else “ymin” appears
to subdueרַדrad

subdue

Bring others under one's rule.

Where else “rad” appears
before himפָנָיfanay

before

Literally "to the face of": in sight of someone, or on account of something.

Where else “fanay” appears
nationsגּוֹיִםgoyim

Gentiles

The peoples other than Israel.

Where else “goyim” appears
and the loinsמָתְנֵיmatne

waist, loins

Waist, loins.

Where else “matne” appears
of kingsמְלָכִיםmelachim

king

A king who rules a people.

Where else “melachim” appears
I will loosenאֲפַתֵּחַafateach

set free

To free a prisoner, or remove a load.

Where else “afateach” appears
doorsדְּלָתַיִםdelatayim

door

The wooden or metal leaf that opens and shuts the entrance of a house or city.

Where else “delatayim” appears
and gatesשְׁעָרִיםshearim

gate

The entrance of a city or house, with doors that close.

Where else “shearim” appears
be shutיִסָּגֵרוּyisageru

shut

To bolt a door, or leave someone shut in with no way out.

Where else “yisageru” appears

Translation note

“Anointed” (in Hebrew, mashiach) is said here of Cyrus, king of Persia, chosen by YHWH for a task.

The context

1 · This verse (above)

2“I will go before you and make straight the twisted places; doors of bronze I will break, and bars of iron I will cut through;

Read all of Isaiah 45

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