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Selected Verse: Isaiah 46:11 - Strong Concordance
| Verse |
Translation |
Text |
| Isa 46:11 |
Strong Concordance |
Calling [07121] a ravenous bird [05861] from the east [04217], the man [0376] that executeth my counsel [06098] from a far [04801] country [0776]: yea, I have spoken [01696] it, I will also bring [0935] it to pass; I have purposed [03335] it, I will also do [06213] it. |
| |
King James |
Calling a ravenous bird from the east, the man that executeth my counsel from a far country: yea, I have spoken it, I will also bring it to pass; I have purposed it, I will also do it. |
Summary Of Commentaries Associated With The Selected Verse
| A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882] |
ravenous bird--Cyrus so called on account of the rapidity of his marches from the distant regions of Persia to pounce on his prey (see on Isa 41:2; Isa 41:25; Jer 49:22; Eze 17:3). The standard of Cyrus, too, was a golden eagle on a spear (see the heathen historian, XENOPHON, 7, where almost the same word is used, aetos, as here, ayit).
executeth my counsel-- (Isa 44:28; Isa 45:13). Babylon represents, mystically, the apostate faction: the destruction of its idols symbolizes the future general extirpation of all idolatry and unbelief.
purposed . . . also do it-- (Isa 43:13). |
| Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834] |
Calling a ravenous bird from the east - There can be no doubt that Cyrus is intended here (see the notes at Isa 41:2, Isa 41:25). The east here means Persia. The word rendered 'ravenous bird' (עיט ‛ayiṭ) is rendered 'fowl' in Job 28:7; 'bird' or 'birds' in Jer 12:9; 'fowls' in Gen 15:11; Isa 18:6; and 'ravenous birds' in Eze 39:4. It does not occur elsewhere in the Bible. It is used here as an emblem of a warlike king, and the emblem may either denote the rapidity of his movements - moving with the flight of an eagle; or it may denote the devastation which he would spread - an emblem in either sense especially applicable to Cyrus. It is not uncommon in the Bible to compare a warlike prince to an eagle Jer 49:22; Eze 17:3; and the idea here is, probably, that Cyrus would come with great power and velocity upon nations, like the king of birds, and would pounce suddenly and unexpectedly upon his prey. Perhaps also there may be here allusion to the standard or banner of Cyrus. Xenophon (Cyrop. vii.) says that it was a golden eagle affixed to a long spear; and it is well remarked by Lowth, that Xenophon has used the very word which the prophet uses here, as near as could be, expressing it in Greek letters. The word of the prophet is עיט ‛ayiṭ; the Greek word used by Xenophon is ἀετὸς aetos. The Chaldee has, however, given a different rendering to this passage: 'I, who say that I will gather my captivity from the east, and will lead publicly like a swift bird from a distant land the sons of Abraham, my friend.'
The man that executeth my counsel - Margin, as Hebrew, 'Of my counsel.' It may either mean the man whom he had designated by his counsel; or it may mean the man who should execute his purpose.
Yea, I have spoken - He spake it by the prophets; and the idea is, that all that he had spoken should be certainly accomplished. |
| Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley [1754-65] |
| A bird - Cyrus, called a bird for his swiftness, and ravenous for his fierceness, and victoriousness over his enemies. |
| Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826 |
Calling a ravenous bird from the east "Calling from the east the eagle" - A very proper emblem for Cyrus, as in other respects, so particularly because the ensign of Cyrus was a golden eagle, ΑΕΤΟΣ χρυσους, the very word עיט ayit, which the prophet uses here, expressed as near as may be in Greek letters. Xenoph. Cyrop. lib. 7 sub. init. Kimchi says his father understood this, not of Cyrus, but of the Messiah.
From a far country "From a land far distant" - Two MSS. add the conjunction ו vau, ומארץ umeerets; and so the Septuagint, Syriac, and Vulgate. |
13 Yea, before the day [03117] was I am he; and there is none that can deliver [05337] out of my hand [03027]: I will work [06466], and who shall let [07725] it?
13 I have raised him up [05782] in righteousness [06664], and I will direct [03474] all his ways [01870]: he shall build [01129] my city [05892], and he shall let go [07971] my captives [01546], not for price [04242] nor reward [07810], saith [0559] the LORD [03068] of hosts [06635].
28 That saith [0559] of Cyrus [03566], He is my shepherd [07462], and shall perform [07999] all my pleasure [02656]: even saying [0559] to Jerusalem [03389], Thou shalt be built [01129]; and to the temple [01964], Thy foundation shall be laid [03245].
3 And say [0559], Thus saith [0559] the Lord [0136] GOD [03069]; A great [01419] eagle [05404] with great [01419] wings [03671], longwinged [083] [0750], full [04392] of feathers [05133], which had divers colours [07553], came [0935] unto Lebanon [03844], and took [03947] the highest branch [06788] of the cedar [0730]:
22 Behold, he shall come up [05927] and fly [01675] as the eagle [05404], and spread [06566] his wings [03671] over Bozrah [01224]: and at that day [03117] shall the heart [03820] of the mighty men [01368] of Edom [0123] be as the heart [03820] of a woman [0802] in her pangs [06887].
25 I have raised up [05782] one from the north [06828], and he shall come [0857]: from the rising [04217] of the sun [08121] shall he call [07121] upon my name [08034]: and he shall come [0935] upon princes [05461] as upon morter [02563], and as the potter [03335] treadeth [07429] clay [02916].
2 Who raised up [05782] the righteous [06664] man from the east [04217], called [07121] him to his foot [07272], gave [05414] the nations [01471] before [06440] him, and made him rule [07287] over kings [04428]? he gave [05414] them as the dust [06083] to his sword [02719], and as driven [05086] stubble [07179] to his bow [07198].
3 And say [0559], Thus saith [0559] the Lord [0136] GOD [03069]; A great [01419] eagle [05404] with great [01419] wings [03671], longwinged [083] [0750], full [04392] of feathers [05133], which had divers colours [07553], came [0935] unto Lebanon [03844], and took [03947] the highest branch [06788] of the cedar [0730]:
22 Behold, he shall come up [05927] and fly [01675] as the eagle [05404], and spread [06566] his wings [03671] over Bozrah [01224]: and at that day [03117] shall the heart [03820] of the mighty men [01368] of Edom [0123] be as the heart [03820] of a woman [0802] in her pangs [06887].
4 Thou shalt fall [05307] upon the mountains [02022] of Israel [03478], thou, and all thy bands [0102], and the people [05971] that is with thee: I will give [05414] thee unto the ravenous [05861] birds [06833] of every sort [03671], and to the beasts [02416] of the field [07704] to be devoured [0402].
6 They shall be left [05800] together [03162] unto the fowls [05861] of the mountains [02022], and to the beasts [0929] of the earth [0776]: and the fowls [05861] shall summer [06972] upon them, and all the beasts [0929] of the earth [0776] shall winter [02778] upon them.
11 And when the fowls [05861] came down [03381] upon the carcases [06297], Abram [087] drove them away [05380].
9 Mine heritage [05159] is unto me as a speckled [06641] bird [05861], the birds [05861] round about [05439] are against her; come [03212] ye, assemble [0622] all the beasts [02416] of the field [07704], come [0857] to devour [0402].
7 There is a path [05410] which no fowl [05861] knoweth [03045], and which the vulture's [0344] eye [05869] hath not seen [07805]:
25 I have raised up [05782] one from the north [06828], and he shall come [0857]: from the rising [04217] of the sun [08121] shall he call [07121] upon my name [08034]: and he shall come [0935] upon princes [05461] as upon morter [02563], and as the potter [03335] treadeth [07429] clay [02916].
2 Who raised up [05782] the righteous [06664] man from the east [04217], called [07121] him to his foot [07272], gave [05414] the nations [01471] before [06440] him, and made him rule [07287] over kings [04428]? he gave [05414] them as the dust [06083] to his sword [02719], and as driven [05086] stubble [07179] to his bow [07198].