Isaiah 45 — Hebrew and Greek compared
Each card keeps the independently rendered source readings above their shared comparison and reception notes. The badge records the source’s governing classification; disparate readings are marked in red. Each reading retains its original reference.
Chapter 45
Cyrus commissioned and salvation proclaimed
Verse 45:1 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
45:1 Thus says YHWH to His anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I grasped to subdue nations before him: “I will loosen kings' belts, to open doors before him so that gates will not be shut.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
45:1 Thus says the Lord God to My anointed Cyrus, whose right hand I grasped so that nations would heed him: “I will shatter kings' strength, open doors before him, and cities will not be shut.
Classification & Notes
Different. Text: Hebrew His anointed becomes Greek My anointed, a first-person shift retained. Greek nations heeding replaces subjugation, royal strength replaces loosened waists, and cities replaces gates. Both name Cyrus as anointed.
Verse 45:2 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
45:2 I will go before you and straighten crooked paths. I will break bronze doors and cut down iron bars.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
45:2 I will go before you and level mountains. I will shatter bronze doors and break iron bars.
Classification & Notes
Different. Text: Hebrew crooked paths follows Rashi, who also reports walls as an alternative [RASHI45]. Greek explicitly levels mountains. The advance and demolition of bronze doors and iron bars agree.
Verse 45:3 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
45:3 I will give you treasures of darkness and hidden stores in secret places, so that you may know that I am YHWH, who calls you by name, Israel's God.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
45:3 I will give you dark treasures and open hidden, unseen stores to you, so that you may know that I am the Lord God who calls your name, Israel's God.
Classification & Notes
Similar. Text: Greek adds opening the unseen stores, where Hebrew gives both kinds of concealed wealth. Both make recognition of Israel's personally calling God the purpose.
Verse 45:4 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
45:4 For the sake of My servant Jacob and Israel My chosen one, I called you by your name and gave you a title, though you did not know Me.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
45:4 For the sake of My servant Jacob and Israel My chosen one, I will call you by your name and welcome you; yet you did not know Me.
Classification & Notes
Different. Text: Hebrew past calling and conferring a title becomes Greek future calling and welcoming. The beneficiary Israel and Cyrus's lack of prior knowledge agree.
Verse 45:5 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
45:5 I am YHWH, and there is no other; apart from Me there is no God. I equip you, though you did not know Me,
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
45:5 For I am the Lord God, and there is no god besides Me, and you did not know Me,
Classification & Notes
Different. Text: Greek lacks the separate assurance of equipping or girding Cyrus. Exclusive divinity and the addressee's prior ignorance agree.
Verse 45:6 Same
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
45:6 so that people may know from the sun's rising and from its setting that there is none apart from Me. I am YHWH, and there is no other.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
45:6 so that those from the sun's rising and those from its setting may know that there is none besides Me. I am the Lord God, and there is no other.
Classification & Notes
Same. Text: The worldwide recognition and repeated claim of divine uniqueness agree.
Verse 45:7 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
45:7 I form light and create darkness; I make peace and create evil. I am YHWH, who does all these things.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
45:7 I fashioned light and made darkness; I make peace and create evils. I am the Lord God, who does all these things.
Classification & Notes
Similar. Text: The paired claims of light/darkness and peace/evil agree; Greek pluralizes evils and uses completed actions for the first pair. Evil here can denote calamity rather than moral wrongdoing; Rashi applies the darkness and evil to Babylon's punishment [RASHI45].
Verse 45:8 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
45:8 Drip down, heavens above, and let clouds pour righteousness. Let earth open, let salvation bear fruit, and let it make righteousness spring up together. I, YHWH, created it.”
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
45:8 Let heaven above rejoice, and let clouds sprinkle righteousness. Let earth bring forth mercy and bring forth righteousness together. I am the Lord who created you.”
Classification & Notes
Different. Text: Hebrew heavens dripping becomes Greek rejoicing; salvation becomes mercy, and the final object changes from it to you. Both depict righteousness coming from above and growing on earth.
Verse 45:9 Divergent
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
45:9 Woe to one contending with his Former, a potsherd among earth's potsherds! Does clay say to its potter, ‘What are you making?’ or your work say, ‘He has no place’?
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
45:9 What better thing did I fashion like a potter's clay? Will the plower plow the earth all day? Will the clay say to the potter, ‘What are you doing, since you neither work nor have hands?’
Classification & Notes
Divergent. Text: Greek lacks the woe and contention among potsherds, adds a plowing question, and has the clay accuse its potter of inactivity and handlessness. Hebrew no place follows Rashi's idiomatic reading; no hands is the literal alternative [RASHI45]. The opening Greek comparison remains syntactically difficult.
Verse 45:10 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
45:10 Woe to one saying to a father, ‘What are you fathering?’ and to a woman, ‘What are you bringing forth in labor?’
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
45:10 The one saying to the father, ‘What will you father?’ and to the mother, ‘What will you bring forth in labor?’
Classification & Notes
Similar. Text: The paired challenges to parenthood agree. Greek has mother rather than woman and lacks a fresh woe, continuing the preceding rebuke as a participial phrase.
Verse 45:11 Divergent
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
45:11 Thus says YHWH, Israel's Holy One and its Former: “Ask Me about the coming signs; would you command Me concerning My sons and the work of My hands?
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
45:11 For thus says the Lord God, Israel's Holy One, who made what is coming: “Ask Me about My sons and My daughters, and command Me concerning the works of My hands.
Classification & Notes
Divergent. Text: Hebrew asking about coming signs and the rhetorical challenge about commanding God follow Rashi [RASHI45]. Greek instead makes God the maker of coming events, explicitly adds daughters, and presents asking and commanding as imperatives. These different constructions are retained.
Verse 45:12 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
45:12 I made the earth and created humanity upon it. I—My hands stretched out the heavens, and I commanded all their host.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
45:12 I made earth and humanity upon it. With My hand I established heaven; I commanded all the stars.
Classification & Notes
Similar. Text: Both assert creation and celestial authority. Greek one hand establishing replaces plural hands stretching, and stars specifies the heavenly host.
Verse 45:13 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
45:13 I roused him in righteousness, and I will straighten all his ways. He will rebuild My city and release My exiles, without payment or bribe,” says YHWH of hosts.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
45:13 I raised him as king with righteousness, and all his ways are straight. He will rebuild My city and bring back My people's captivity, without ransom or gifts,” said the Lord Sabaoth.
Classification & Notes
Different. Text: Greek explicitly calls the man king and states his paths are already straight. Hebrew releasing exiles becomes returning the people's captivity; payment and bribe become ransom and gifts. Both deny a price for the restoration.
Verse 45:14 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
45:14 Thus says YHWH: “Egypt's toil and Cush's merchandise, and the Sabeans, men of stature, will cross over to you and become yours. They will follow you, cross over in chains, bow to you, and plead with you: ‘Surely God is in you, and there is no other; there is no other God.’”
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
45:14 Thus says the Lord Sabaoth: “Egypt toiled, and the Ethiopians' trade; and the Seboin, tall men, will cross over to you and become your slaves. They will follow behind you, bound with handcuffs, bow to you, and pray in you, because God is in you. They will say, ‘There is no God besides You;
Classification & Notes
Different. Text: Greek recasts Egypt's labor as a verb, adds slavery and handcuffs, and changes pleading with the recipient to praying in the recipient. Its final confession addresses You where Hebrew says God is in you and no other God exists. Seboin preserves the Greek people's name; the recipient shift remains explicit.
Verse 45:15 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
45:15 Truly You are a God who hides Himself, Israel's God, the Savior.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
45:15 for You are God, and we did not know it, Israel's God, the Savior.’”
Classification & Notes
Different. Text: Hebrew God's self-concealment becomes Greek the speakers' former ignorance. The identity as Israel's saving God agrees.
Verse 45:16 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
45:16 They are ashamed and humiliated, all together; the image-makers go away in humiliation.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
45:16 All who oppose Him will be ashamed and abashed and go away in shame. “Be renewed toward Me, islands.”
Classification & Notes
Different. Text: Greek opponents replaces Hebrew image-makers and adds an entire summons to the islands' renewal. Both describe collective shame.
Verse 45:17 Same
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
45:17 Israel is saved by YHWH with everlasting salvation. You will not be ashamed or humiliated for ages without end.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
45:17 Israel is saved by the Lord with everlasting salvation. They will not be ashamed or ever be abashed for eternity.
Classification & Notes
Same. Text: Everlasting salvation and freedom from shame agree. Hebrew addresses you while Greek continues speaking of them.
Verse 45:18 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
45:18 For thus says YHWH, Creator of the heavens—He is God—who formed the earth and made it, who established it: He did not create it as emptiness; He formed it to be inhabited. “I am YHWH, and there is no other.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
45:18 Thus says the Lord who made heaven—He is the God who displayed the earth and made it, who marked it out; He did not make it for emptiness, but to be inhabited—“I am, and there is no other.
Classification & Notes
Similar. Text: Creation for habitation agrees. Greek displaying and marking out replaces forming and establishing; its final I am lacks the repeated Hebrew divine name.
Verse 45:19 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
45:19 I did not speak in secret, in a place of dark land. I did not say to Jacob's offspring, ‘Seek Me in emptiness.’ I am YHWH, speaking righteousness and declaring upright things.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
45:19 I have not spoken in secret or in a dark place of the earth. I did not say to Jacob's offspring, ‘Seek a futile thing.’ I am, I am the Lord, speaking righteousness and announcing truth.
Classification & Notes
Different. Text: Greek has no Me after seek and can construe futile as its object; seeking in vain is another possible attachment. It repeats I am and has truth rather than upright things. Both deny concealed or futile revelation.
Verse 45:20 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
45:20 Gather and come; draw near together, you survivors of the nations. They know nothing, those carrying their wooden image and praying to a god who cannot save.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
45:20 Gather and come; take counsel together, you who are saved from the nations. Those carrying wood as their carved image did not know, praying as though to gods who do not save.
Classification & Notes
Different. Text: Hebrew drawing near becomes Greek consultation; survivors becomes those saved. Greek pluralizes the ineffective gods and qualifies the prayer as though addressed to gods.
Verse 45:21 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
45:21 Declare and present your case; indeed, let them take counsel together. Who made this heard long ago, declared it from of old? Was it not I, YHWH? There is no other God apart from Me, a righteous God and Savior; there is none besides Me.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
45:21 If they will announce it, let them draw near so that they may know together who made these things heard from the beginning. Then it was announced to you: I am God, and there is no other besides Me; there is none righteous and saving apart from Me.
Classification & Notes
Different. Text: Greek replaces the imperative case presentation and consultation with a conditional approach for shared knowledge. Hebrew rhetorical identification of the ancient announcer becomes Greek a report of what was announced to you. Exclusive righteousness and saving power agree.
Verse 45:22 Same
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
45:22 Turn to Me and be saved, all the earth's ends, for I am God, and there is no other.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
45:22 Turn back to Me, and you will be saved, you from the earth's extremity. I am God, and there is no other.
Classification & Notes
Same. Text: The worldwide invitation to turn for salvation and its ground in divine uniqueness agree.
Verse 45:23 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
45:23 By Myself I swore; from My mouth went out a righteous word that will not return: To Me every knee will bend, and every tongue will swear,
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
45:23 By Myself I swear: Surely righteousness will go out from My mouth; My words will not return, because every knee will bend to Me and every tongue will confess to God,
Classification & Notes
Different. Text: Hebrew tongues swear; Greek tongues confess to God. Greek future righteousness and plural words replace the Hebrew issued righteous word. Romans fourteen eleven cites the kneeling and confession for accountability before God; Philippians two ten–eleven uses the language for confessing Jesus Christ as Lord [NA28ROM14] [NA28PHP2].
Verse 45:24 Divergent
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
45:24 ‘Only to me did He promise righteousness and strength in YHWH.’ To Him people will come, and all who rage against Him will be ashamed.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
45:24 saying, ‘Righteousness and glory will come to Him,’ and all who set themselves apart will be ashamed.
Classification & Notes
Divergent. Text: Hebrew the reordered promise to me follows Rashi; only in YHWH, one says, are righteousness and strength is an alternative construal [RASHI45]. Greek instead makes righteousness and glory approach Him and identifies the ashamed as those separating themselves, not those angered against Him.
Verse 45:25 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
45:25 In YHWH all Israel's offspring will be justified and boast.”
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
45:25 From the Lord all the offspring of Israel's sons will be justified, and in God they will be glorified.”
Classification & Notes
Similar. Text: Justification of Israel's offspring agrees. Greek specifies sons, distinguishes from the Lord and in God, and has passive glorification rather than their boasting.