Isaiah 45:11
New International Version
“This is what the LORD says— the Holy One of Israel, and its Maker: Concerning things to come, do you question me about my children, or give me orders about the work of my hands?

New Living Translation
This is what the LORD says— the Holy One of Israel and your Creator: “Do you question what I do for my children? Do you give me orders about the work of my hands?

English Standard Version
Thus says the LORD, the Holy One of Israel, and the one who formed him: “Ask me of things to come; will you command me concerning my children and the work of my hands?

Berean Standard Bible
Thus says the LORD, the Holy One of Israel, and its Maker: “Concerning things to come, do you question Me about My sons, or instruct Me in the work of My hands?

King James Bible
Thus saith the LORD, the Holy One of Israel, and his Maker, Ask me of things to come concerning my sons, and concerning the work of my hands command ye me.

New King James Version
Thus says the LORD, The Holy One of Israel, and his Maker: “Ask Me of things to come concerning My sons; And concerning the work of My hands, you command Me.

New American Standard Bible
This is what the LORD says, the Holy One of Israel and his Maker: “Ask Me about the things to come concerning My sons, And you shall commit to Me the work of My hands.

NASB 1995
Thus says the LORD, the Holy One of Israel, and his Maker: “Ask Me about the things to come concerning My sons, And you shall commit to Me the work of My hands.

NASB 1977
Thus says the LORD, the Holy One of Israel, and his Maker: “Ask Me about the things to come concerning My sons, And you shall commit to Me the work of My hands.

Legacy Standard Bible
Thus says Yahweh, the Holy One of Israel, and his Maker: “Ask Me about the things that are to come concerning My sons, And you shall commit to Me the work of My hands.

Amplified Bible
For the LORD, the Holy One of Israel, and its Maker says this, “Ask Me about the things to come concerning My sons, And give Me orders concerning the work of My hands.

Christian Standard Bible
This is what the LORD, the Holy One of Israel and its Maker, says: “Ask me what is to happen to my sons, and instruct me about the work of my hands.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
This is what the LORD, the Holy One of Israel and its Maker, says:” Ask Me what is to happen to My sons, and instruct Me about the work of My hands.

American Standard Version
Thus saith Jehovah, the Holy One of Israel, and his Maker: Ask me of the things that are to come; concerning my sons, and concerning the work of my hands, command ye me.

Contemporary English Version
I am the LORD, the Creator, the holy God of Israel. Do you dare question me about my own nation or about what I have done?

English Revised Version
Thus saith the LORD, the Holy One of Israel, and his Maker: Ask me of the things that are to come concerning my sons, and concerning the work of my hands, command ye me.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
The LORD is the Holy One and the maker of Israel. This is what the LORD says: Ask me about what is going to happen to my children! Are you going to give me orders concerning my handiwork?

Good News Translation
The LORD, the holy God of Israel, the one who shapes the future, says: "You have no right to question me about my children or to tell me what I ought to do!

International Standard Version
This is what the Lord says, the Creator of the signs: "Question me about my children? Or give me orders about the work of my hands?

Majority Standard Bible
Thus says the LORD, the Holy One of Israel, and its Maker: ?Concerning things to come, do you question Me about My sons, or instruct Me in the work of My hands?

NET Bible
This is what the LORD says, the Holy One of Israel, the one who formed him, concerning things to come: "How dare you question me about my children! How dare you tell me what to do with the work of my own hands!

New Heart English Bible
Thus says the LORD, the Holy One of Israel, and his Maker: "You ask me about the things that are to come, concerning my sons, and you command me concerning the work of my hands.

Webster's Bible Translation
Thus saith the LORD, the Holy One of Israel, and his Maker, Ask me of things to come concerning my sons, and concerning the work of my hands command ye me.

World English Bible
Yahweh, the Holy One of Israel and his Maker says: “You ask me about the things that are to come, concerning my sons, and you command me concerning the work of my hands!
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
Thus said YHWH, The Holy One of Israel, and his Former: “Ask Me of the things coming concerning My sons, "" Indeed, concerning the work of My hands, you command Me.

Young's Literal Translation
Thus said Jehovah, The Holy One of Israel, and his Former: Ask Me of the things coming concerning My sons, Yea, concerning the work of My hands, ye command Me.'

Smith's Literal Translation
Thus said Jehovah, the Holy One of Israel, and his potter, Ask me of things coming concerning the sons, and concerning the work of my hands will ye command me?
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Thus saith the Lord the Holy One of Israel, his maker: Ask me of things to come, concerning my children, and concerning the work of my hands give ye charge to me.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Thus says the Lord, the Holy One of Israel, his Maker: Would you question me about the future, concerning my sons, and command me concerning the work of my hands?

New American Bible
Thus says the LORD, the Holy One of Israel, his maker: Do you question me about my children, tell me how to treat the work of my hands?

New Revised Standard Version
Thus says the LORD, the Holy One of Israel, and its Maker: Will you question me about my children, or command me concerning the work of my hands?
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Thus says the LORD, the Holy One of Israel, and his Maker, the LORD of hosts is his name: Ask me of things to come concerning my children; and concerning the work of my hands, command me.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
Thus says LORD JEHOVAH, The Holy One of Israel, and his Fashioner, LORD JEHOVAH of Hosts is his Name: “Ask me for signs concerning my children, and command me concerning the work of my hands!”
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Thus saith the LORD, The Holy One of Israel, and his Maker: Ask Me of the things that are to come; Concerning My sons, and concerning the work of My hands, command ye Me.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
For thus saith the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel, who has formed the things that are to come, Enquire of me concerning my sons, and concerning the works of my hands command me.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
God Calls Cyrus
10Woe to him who says to his father, ‘What have you begotten?’ or to his mother, ‘What have you brought forth?’ ” 11Thus says the LORD, the Holy One of Israel, and its Maker: “How dare you question Me about My sons, or instruct Me in the work of My hands? 12It is I who made the earth and created man upon it. It was My hands that stretched out the heavens, and I ordained all their host.…

Cross References
Isaiah 41:21-23
“Present your case,” says the LORD. “Submit your arguments,” says the King of Jacob. / “Let them come and tell us what will happen. Tell the former things, so that we may reflect on them and know the outcome. Or announce to us what is coming. / Tell us the things that are to come, so that we may know that you are gods. Yes, do something good or evil, that we may look on together in dismay.

Isaiah 46:10-11
I declare the end from the beginning, and from ancient times what is still to come. I say, ‘My purpose will stand, and all My good pleasure I will accomplish.’ / I summon a bird of prey from the east, a man for My purpose from a far-off land. Truly I have spoken, and truly I will bring it to pass. I have planned it, and I will surely do it.

Isaiah 44:24-26
Thus says the LORD, your Redeemer who formed you from the womb: “I am the LORD, who has made all things, who alone stretched out the heavens, who by Myself spread out the earth, / who foils the signs of false prophets and makes fools of diviners, who confounds the wise and turns their knowledge into nonsense, / who confirms the message of His servant and fulfills the counsel of His messengers, who says of Jerusalem, ‘She will be inhabited,’ and of the cities of Judah, ‘They will be rebuilt, and I will restore their ruins,’

Jeremiah 33:2-3
“Thus says the LORD who made the earth, the LORD who formed it and established it, the LORD is His name: / Call to Me, and I will answer and show you great and unsearchable things you do not know.

Job 38:4-7
Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Tell Me, if you have understanding. / Who fixed its measurements? Surely you know! Or who stretched a measuring line across it? / On what were its foundations set, or who laid its cornerstone, ...

Romans 9:20-21
But who are you, O man, to talk back to God? Shall what is formed say to Him who formed it, “Why did You make me like this?” / Does not the potter have the right to make from the same lump of clay one vessel for special occasions and another for common use?

Isaiah 40:13-14
Who has directed the Spirit of the LORD, or informed Him as His counselor? / Whom did He consult to enlighten Him, and who taught Him the paths of justice? Who imparted knowledge to Him and showed Him the way of understanding?

Isaiah 48:12-13
Listen to Me, O Jacob, and Israel, whom I have called: I am He; I am the first, and I am the last. / Surely My own hand founded the earth, and My right hand spread out the heavens; when I summon them, they stand up together.

Genesis 18:14
Is anything too difficult for the LORD? At the appointed time I will return to you—in about a year—and Sarah will have a son.”

Jeremiah 32:17
“Oh, Lord GOD! You have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too difficult for You!

Psalm 115:3
Our God is in heaven; He does as He pleases.

Daniel 4:35
All the peoples of the earth are counted as nothing, and He does as He pleases with the army of heaven and the peoples of the earth. There is no one who can restrain His hand or say to Him, ‘What have You done?’”

Ephesians 1:11
In Him we were also chosen as God’s own, having been predestined according to the plan of Him who works out everything by the counsel of His will,

Job 9:12
If He takes away, who can stop Him? Who dares to ask Him, ‘What are You doing?’

Acts 17:24-26
The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples made by human hands. / Nor is He served by human hands, as if He needed anything, because He Himself gives everyone life and breath and everything else. / From one man He made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and He determined their appointed times and the boundaries of their lands.


Treasury of Scripture

Thus said the LORD, the Holy One of Israel, and his Maker, Ask me of things to come concerning my sons, and concerning the work of my hands command you me.

the Holy One

Isaiah 43:3,7,15,21
For I am the LORD thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Saviour: I gave Egypt for thy ransom, Ethiopia and Seba for thee…

Isaiah 48:17
Thus saith the LORD, thy Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel; I am the LORD thy God which teacheth thee to profit, which leadeth thee by the way that thou shouldest go.

ask

Jeremiah 33:3
Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.

Ezekiel 36:37
Thus saith the Lord GOD; I will yet for this be inquired of by the house of Israel, to do it for them; I will increase them with men like a flock.

Daniel 2:18
That they would desire mercies of the God of heaven concerning this secret; that Daniel and his fellows should not perish with the rest of the wise men of Babylon.

concerning my sons

Jeremiah 3:19
But I said, How shall I put thee among the children, and give thee a pleasant land, a goodly heritage of the hosts of nations? and I said, Thou shalt call me, My father; and shalt not turn away from me.

Jeremiah 31:1,9
At the same time, saith the LORD, will I be the God of all the families of Israel, and they shall be my people…

Hosea 1:10
Yet the number of the children of Israel shall be as the sand of the sea, which cannot be measured nor numbered; and it shall come to pass, that in the place where it was said unto them, Ye are not my people, there it shall be said unto them, Ye are the sons of the living God.

concerning the work

Isaiah 29:23
But when he seeth his children, the work of mine hands, in the midst of him, they shall sanctify my name, and sanctify the Holy One of Jacob, and shall fear the God of Israel.

Isaiah 43:7
Even every one that is called by my name: for I have created him for my glory, I have formed him; yea, I have made him.

Isaiah 60:21
Thy people also shall be all righteous: they shall inherit the land for ever, the branch of my planting, the work of my hands, that I may be glorified.

command

Genesis 32:26
And he said, Let me go, for the day breaketh. And he said, I will not let thee go, except thou bless me.

Judges 16:23
Then the lords of the Philistines gathered them together for to offer a great sacrifice unto Dagon their god, and to rejoice: for they said, Our god hath delivered Samson our enemy into our hand.

Joshua 10:12
Then spake Joshua to the LORD in the day when the LORD delivered up the Amorites before the children of Israel, and he said in the sight of Israel, Sun, stand thou still upon Gibeon; and thou, Moon, in the valley of Ajalon.

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Isaiah 45
1. God calls Cyrus for his church's sake
5. By his omnipotence he challenges obedience
20. He convinces the idols of vanity by his saving power














Thus says the LORD
This phrase is a common prophetic introduction, emphasizing the authority and divine origin of the message. The Hebrew word for "LORD" here is "Yahweh," the covenant name of God, which signifies His eternal, self-existent nature. It reminds the reader of God's unchanging faithfulness and His sovereign authority over all creation.

the Holy One of Israel
This title underscores God's unique holiness and His special relationship with Israel. The Hebrew word for "holy" is "qadosh," meaning set apart or sacred. It highlights God's moral perfection and His role as the divine protector and redeemer of Israel. Historically, this title reassures Israel of God's commitment to them despite their unfaithfulness.

and its Maker
The term "Maker" refers to God as the Creator, not only of Israel but of the entire universe. The Hebrew root "asah" means to fashion or create, emphasizing God's active role in shaping history and His people. This affirms His ultimate authority and power over all things, reminding believers of His intimate involvement in the world.

How dare you question Me
This rhetorical question challenges the audacity of questioning God's plans or purposes. The Hebrew root "sha'al" means to inquire or demand, suggesting a presumptuous attitude. It serves as a reminder of the proper posture of humility and trust that believers should maintain before God, acknowledging His wisdom and sovereignty.

about My sons
The phrase "My sons" refers to the people of Israel, whom God has chosen and called His own. The familial term "sons" indicates a relationship of care, guidance, and inheritance. It reflects the covenant relationship between God and Israel, where God is the Father who nurtures and disciplines His children.

or instruct Me
The word "instruct" comes from the Hebrew "tsavah," meaning to command or direct. This highlights the absurdity of humans attempting to dictate to God, the Creator. It serves as a reminder of the vast difference between God's infinite wisdom and human understanding, encouraging believers to trust in His divine plan.

in the work of My hands?
This phrase emphasizes God's role as the Creator and Sustainer of all things. The "work of My hands" signifies His craftsmanship and intentional design in creation. It calls believers to recognize God's sovereignty and the futility of questioning His purposes. Historically, it reassures Israel of God's control over their destiny and His ability to fulfill His promises.

(11) Ask me of things to come . . .--As it stands, the verse calls men to consult the Holy One of Israel, and not the oracles of the heathen, about the future, to leave His works to His own control, and this falls in with Isaiah 44:25-26. A slight alteration of the text gives a meaning much more coherent with the immediate context: Will ye question me concerning things to come, concerning my sons . . . will ye command me! This was what they were practically doing when they murmured against the providence of God.

Verse 11. - The Holy One of Israel; i.e. he who always does right, and with whom, therefore, it is absurd to find fault. His Maker; i.e. Israel's Maker, who has, therefore, the right to do with him as he pleases. Ask me of things to come concerning my sons. This sentence is wrongly punctuated. The last three words should be attached to what follows, thus: "Ask me of things to come: concerning my sons and concerning the work of my hands command ye me;" i.e. first learn of me what in my designs is to be the course of human events, and then (if necessary) give me directions concerning my sons (Israel), who are the work of my hands; but do not presume to give me directions while you are still in utter ignorance of my designs. In any case remember who I am - the Maker of heaven and earth, the Creator of man, One accustomed to give directions to the angelic host (ver. 12).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Thus
כֹּֽה־ (kōh-)
Adverb
Strong's 3541: Like this, thus, here, now

says
אָמַ֧ר (’ā·mar)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 559: To utter, say

the LORD,
יְהוָ֛ה (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel

the Holy
קְד֥וֹשׁ (qə·ḏō·wōš)
Adjective - masculine singular construct
Strong's 6918: Sacred, God, an angel, a saint, a sanctuary

One of Israel,
יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל (yiś·rā·’êl)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3478: Israel -- 'God strives', another name of Jacob and his desc

and its Maker:
וְיֹצְר֑וֹ (wə·yō·ṣə·rōw)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 3335: To mould into a, form, as a, potter, to determine

“How dare you
הָאֹתִיּ֣וֹת (hā·’ō·ṯî·yō·wṯ)
Article | Verb - Qal - Participle - feminine plural
Strong's 857: To arrive

question Me
שְׁאָל֔וּנִי (šə·’ā·lū·nî)
Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine plural | first person common singular
Strong's 7592: To inquire, to request, to demand

concerning
עַל־ (‘al-)
Preposition
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against

My sons,
בָּנַ֛י (bā·nay)
Noun - masculine plural construct | first person common singular
Strong's 1121: A son

or instruct
תְּצַוֻּֽנִי׃ (tə·ṣaw·wu·nî)
Verb - Piel - Imperfect - second person masculine plural | first person common singular
Strong's 6680: To lay charge (upon), give charge (to), command, order

Me about
וְעַל־ (wə·‘al-)
Conjunctive waw | Preposition
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against

the work
פֹּ֥עַל (pō·‘al)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 6467: Doing, deed, work

of My hands?
יָדַ֖י (yā·ḏay)
Noun - fdc | first person common singular
Strong's 3027: A hand


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OT Prophets: Isaiah 45:11 Thus says Yahweh the Holy One (Isa Isi Is)
Isaiah 45:10
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