Isaiah 45:2
New International Version
I will go before you and will level the mountains; I will break down gates of bronze and cut through bars of iron.

New Living Translation
This is what the LORD says: “I will go before you, Cyrus, and level the mountains. I will smash down gates of bronze and cut through bars of iron.

English Standard Version
“I will go before you and level the exalted places, I will break in pieces the doors of bronze and cut through the bars of iron,

Berean Standard Bible
“I will go before you and level the mountains; I will break down the gates of bronze and cut through the bars of iron.

King James Bible
I will go before thee, and make the crooked places straight: I will break in pieces the gates of brass, and cut in sunder the bars of iron:

New King James Version
‘I will go before you And make the crooked places straight; I will break in pieces the gates of bronze And cut the bars of iron.

New American Standard Bible
“I will go before you and make the rough places smooth; I will shatter the doors of bronze and cut through their iron bars.

NASB 1995
“I will go before you and make the rough places smooth; I will shatter the doors of bronze and cut through their iron bars.

NASB 1977
“I will go before you and make the rough places smooth; I will shatter the doors of bronze, and cut through their iron bars.

Legacy Standard Bible
“I will go before you and make the rough places smooth; I will shatter the doors of bronze and cut through their iron bars.

Amplified Bible
“I will go before you and level the mountains; I will shatter the doors of bronze and cut through the bars of iron.

Christian Standard Bible
“I will go before you and level the uneven places; I will shatter the bronze doors and cut the iron bars in two.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
I will go before you and level the uneven places; I will shatter the bronze doors and cut the iron bars in two.

American Standard Version
I will go before thee, and make the rough places smooth; I will break in pieces the doors of brass, and cut in sunder the bars of iron;

Contemporary English Version
As I lead you, I will level mountains and break the iron bars on bronze gates of cities.

English Revised Version
I will go before thee, and make the rugged places plain: I will break in pieces the doors of brass, and cut in sunder the bars of iron:

GOD'S WORD® Translation
I will go ahead of you, Cyrus, and smooth out the rough places. I will break down the bronze doors and cut through the iron bars.

Good News Translation
"I myself will prepare your way, leveling mountains and hills. I will break down bronze gates and smash their iron bars.

International Standard Version
"I myself will go before you, and he will make the mountains level; I'll shatter bronze doors and cut through iron bars.

Majority Standard Bible
?I will go before you and level the mountains; I will break down the gates of bronze and cut through the bars of iron.

NET Bible
"I will go before you and level mountains. Bronze doors I will shatter and iron bars I will hack through.

New Heart English Bible
"I will go before you, and make the mountains level. I will break the doors of bronze in pieces, and cut apart the bars of iron.

Webster's Bible Translation
I will go before thee, and make the crooked places straight: I will break in pieces the gates of brass, and cut asunder the bars of iron:

World English Bible
“I will go before you and make the rough places smooth. I will break the doors of bronze in pieces and cut apart the bars of iron.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
“I go before you, and make crooked places straight, "" I shatter doors of bronze, "" And I cut bars of iron apart,

Young's Literal Translation
'I go before thee, and crooked places make straight, Two-leaved doors of brass I shiver, And bars of iron I cut asunder,

Smith's Literal Translation
I will go before thee, and I will make straight the circles: I will break in pieces the doors of brass, and I will cut down the bars of iron:
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
I will go before thee, and will humble the great ones of the earth: I will break in pieces the gates of brass, and will burst the bars of iron.

Catholic Public Domain Version
I will go before you. And I will humble the glorious ones of the earth. I will shatter the gates of brass, and I will break apart the bars of iron.

New American Bible
I will go before you and level the mountains; Bronze doors I will shatter, iron bars I will snap.

New Revised Standard Version
I will go before you and level the mountains, I will break in pieces the doors of bronze and cut through the bars of iron,
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
I will go before you, and make the crooked places straight; I will break in pieces the gates of brass and cut asunder the bars of iron;

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
"I shall go before you and I shall smooth the rugged places. I shall break the gates of brass and I shall cut down the bars of iron
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
I will go before thee, And make the crooked places straight; I will break in pieces the doors of brass, And cut in sunder the bars of iron;

Brenton Septuagint Translation
I will go before thee, and will level mountains: I will break to pieces brazen doors, and burst iron bars.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
God Calls Cyrus
1This is what the LORD says to Cyrus His anointed, whose right hand I have grasped to subdue nations before him, to disarm kings, to open the doors before him, so that the gates will not be shut: 2“I will go before you and level the mountains; I will break down the gates of bronze and cut through the bars of iron. 3I will give you the treasures of darkness and the riches hidden in secret places, so that you may know that I am the LORD, the God of Israel, who calls you by name.…

Cross References
Exodus 23:20-23
Behold, I am sending an angel before you to protect you along the way and to bring you to the place I have prepared. / Pay attention to him and listen to his voice; do not defy him, for he will not forgive rebellion, since My Name is in him. / But if you will listen carefully to his voice and do everything I say, I will be an enemy to your enemies and a foe to your foes. ...

Psalm 107:16
For He has broken down the gates of bronze and cut through the bars of iron.

Isaiah 40:4
Every valley shall be lifted up, and every mountain and hill made low; the uneven ground will become smooth, and the rugged land a plain.

Isaiah 42:16
I will lead the blind by a way they did not know; I will guide them on unfamiliar paths. I will turn darkness into light before them and rough places into level ground. These things I will do for them, and I will not forsake them.

Isaiah 49:11
I will turn all My mountains into roads, and My highways will be raised up.

Isaiah 52:12
For you will not leave in a hurry nor flee in haste, for the LORD goes before you, and the God of Israel is your rear guard.

Isaiah 57:14
And it will be said, “Build it up, build it up, prepare the way, take every obstacle out of the way of My people.”

Jeremiah 51:20-23
“You are My war club, My weapon for battle. With you I shatter nations; with you I bring kingdoms to ruin. / With you I shatter the horse and rider; with you I shatter the chariot and driver. / With you I shatter man and woman; with you I shatter the old man and the youth; with you I shatter the young man and the maiden. ...

Micah 2:13
One who breaks open the way will go up before them; they will break through the gate, and go out by it. Their King will pass through before them, the LORD as their leader.

Zechariah 4:7
What are you, O great mountain? Before Zerubbabel you will become a plain. Then he will bring forth the capstone accompanied by shouts of ‘Grace, grace to it!’”

Matthew 3:3
This is he who was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah: “A voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for Him.’”

Luke 3:4-6
as it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet: “A voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for Him. / Every valley shall be filled in, and every mountain and hill made low. The crooked ways shall be made straight, and the rough ways smooth. / And all humanity will see God’s salvation.’”

Acts 12:10
They passed the first and second guards and came to the iron gate leading to the city, which opened for them by itself. When they had gone outside and walked the length of one block, the angel suddenly left him.

Acts 16:26
Suddenly a strong earthquake shook the foundations of the prison. At once all the doors flew open and everyone’s chains came loose.

Romans 8:31
What then shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?


Treasury of Scripture

I will go before you, and make the crooked places straight: I will break in pieces the gates of brass, and cut in sunder the bars of iron:

go before

Isaiah 13:4-17
The noise of a multitude in the mountains, like as of a great people; a tumultuous noise of the kingdoms of nations gathered together: the LORD of hosts mustereth the host of the battle…

make

Isaiah 40:4
Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low: and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places plain:

Isaiah 42:16
And I will bring the blind by a way that they knew not; I will lead them in paths that they have not known: I will make darkness light before them, and crooked things straight. These things will I do unto them, and not forsake them.

Acts 1:15
And in those days Peter stood up in the midst of the disciples, and said, (the number of names together were about an hundred and twenty,)

break

Psalm 107:16
For he hath broken the gates of brass, and cut the bars of iron in sunder.

Jump to Previous
Apart Asunder Bars Brass Brazen Break Broken Bronze Crooked Cut Doors Elevated Gates Iron Level Mountains Pieces Places Plain Rods Rough Shatter Shiver Smooth Straight Sunder Two-Leaved
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Apart Asunder Bars Brass Brazen Break Broken Bronze Crooked Cut Doors Elevated Gates Iron Level Mountains Pieces Places Plain Rods Rough Shatter Shiver Smooth Straight Sunder Two-Leaved
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














I will go before you
This phrase emphasizes God's active role in guiding and preparing the way for His chosen servant. In the context of Isaiah 45, God is speaking to Cyrus, the Persian king, whom He has anointed to deliver Israel from Babylonian captivity. The idea of God going before someone is a recurring theme in Scripture, signifying divine guidance and protection. For example, in Exodus 13:21, God goes before the Israelites in a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night. This assurance of God's presence is a promise of success and victory, as He clears obstacles and paves the way for His purposes to be fulfilled.

and level the mountains;
Mountains often symbolize obstacles or challenges in biblical literature. The promise to "level the mountains" suggests that God will remove significant barriers that stand in the way of His plans. This imagery is powerful, indicating that no obstacle is too great for God to overcome. In a broader theological sense, this can be seen as a metaphor for God's ability to remove spiritual and physical hindrances in the lives of His people. This theme is echoed in the New Testament, where Jesus speaks of faith moving mountains (Matthew 17:20), highlighting the power of divine intervention.

I will break down the gates of bronze
Bronze gates were considered strong and impenetrable, often used in ancient cities for protection against invaders. The breaking down of these gates signifies God's power to overcome human defenses and fortifications. Historically, this can be linked to the fall of Babylon, which was known for its formidable walls and gates. God's promise to break these gates underscores His sovereignty over nations and His ability to fulfill His promises, regardless of human resistance. This act can also be seen as a type of Christ's victory over sin and death, breaking the barriers that separate humanity from God.

and cut through the bars of iron.
Iron bars represent strength and security, often used to reinforce gates and doors. God's promise to cut through these bars further illustrates His unmatched power and determination to accomplish His will. This imagery reinforces the idea that no human-made structure or defense can withstand God's purposes. In a spiritual sense, it can be seen as a foreshadowing of Christ's work in breaking the chains of sin and setting captives free, as mentioned in Luke 4:18. The cutting through of iron bars symbolizes liberation and the breaking of bondage, both physically for the Israelites and spiritually for believers.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Cyrus the Great
The Persian king whom God anointed to conquer Babylon and release the Israelites from captivity. Isaiah 45 is a prophecy concerning Cyrus, highlighting God's sovereignty in using a pagan king for His purposes.

2. Israel
The nation of God's chosen people, who were in exile in Babylon at the time of this prophecy. This verse is part of God's promise to restore them to their homeland.

3. Babylon
The empire that held the Israelites captive. The prophecy foretells its downfall and the liberation of the Israelites.

4. Mountains, Gates of Bronze, Bars of Iron
Symbolic obstacles representing the challenges and barriers that stand in the way of God's plans and His people's deliverance.
Teaching Points
God's Sovereignty and Power
God is in control of all nations and rulers, using them to fulfill His divine purposes. Trust in His ultimate authority over world events.

Divine Intervention
Just as God promised to go before Cyrus, He goes before us, removing obstacles and making paths straight. Rely on His guidance in difficult times.

Overcoming Obstacles
The imagery of breaking gates and cutting bars signifies God's ability to overcome any hindrance. Have faith that God can dismantle the barriers in your life.

Purposeful Deliverance
God's actions are purposeful, aimed at fulfilling His promises and plans for His people. Reflect on how God is working in your life to bring about His purposes.(2) Make the crooked places straight.--Better, make the dwelling-places smooth--i.e., remove all obstacles (comp. 40:4, 42:16).

Verse 2. - I will... make the crooked places straight; rather, I will make the rugged places level. No doubt intended generally, "I will smooth his way before him." The gates of brass... the bars of iron. According to Herodotus, the gates of Babylon were of solid bronze, and one hundred in number (1:179). Solid bronze gates have, however, nowhere been found, and would have been inconvenient from their enormous weight. It is probable that the "gates of brass," or "bronze," whereof we read, were always, like these found at Ballarat, of wood plated with bronze. To the eye these would be "gates of bronze." Gates of towns were, as a matter of course, secured by bars, which would commonly be made of iron, as the strongest material. Iron was well known to the Babylonians (Herod., 1:186).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
“I
אֲנִי֙ (’ă·nî)
Pronoun - first person common singular
Strong's 589: I

will go
אֵלֵ֔ךְ (’ê·lêḵ)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common singular
Strong's 1980: To go, come, walk

before you
לְפָנֶ֣יךָ (lə·p̄ā·ne·ḵā)
Preposition-l | Noun - common plural construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 6440: The face

and level
אֲיַשֵּׁ֑ר (’ă·yaš·šêr)
Verb - Piel - Imperfect - first person common singular
Strong's 3474: To be straight, even, to be, right, pleasant, prosperous

the mountains;
וַהֲדוּרִ֖ים (wa·hă·ḏū·rîm)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - QalPassParticiple - masculine plural
Strong's 1921: To swell up, to favor, honour, be high, proud

I will break down
אֲשַׁבֵּ֔ר (’ă·šab·bêr)
Verb - Piel - Imperfect - first person common singular
Strong's 7665: To break, break in pieces

the gates
דַּלְת֤וֹת (dal·ṯō·wṯ)
Noun - feminine plural construct
Strong's 1817: Something swinging, the valve of a, door

of bronze
נְחוּשָׁה֙ (nə·ḥū·šāh)
Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 5154: Copper, bronze

and cut through
אֲגַדֵּֽעַ׃ (’ă·ḡad·dê·a‘)
Verb - Piel - Imperfect - first person common singular
Strong's 1438: To fell a, tree, to destroy anything

the bars
וּבְרִיחֵ֥י (ū·ḇə·rî·ḥê)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 1280: A bolt

of iron.
בַרְזֶ֖ל (ḇar·zel)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 1270: Iron, an iron implement


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OT Prophets: Isaiah 45:2 I will go before you and make (Isa Isi Is)
Isaiah 45:1
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