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Contemporary English Version

Isaiah 46:11

and brought someone from a distant land to do what I wanted. He attacked from the east, like a hawk swooping down. Now I will keep my promise and do what I planned.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Birds;   Cyrus;   Persia;   The Topic Concordance - Hearing;   Resurrection;   Righteousness;   Salvation;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Birds;   Counsels and Purposes of God, the;   Unity of God;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Birds;   Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Call;   God;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Providence of God;   Purpose;   Easton Bible Dictionary - Eagle;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Isaiah;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Election;   Micah, Book of;   Predestination;   Ravin;   Righteousness;   Servant of the Lord;   Smith Bible Dictionary - Eagle;   East;   Isa'iah, Book of;   Ne'bo;   Wilson's Dictionary of Bible Types - Bird;   Watson's Biblical & Theological Dictionary - Eagle;   East;  

Encyclopedias:

- International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Birds;   Fowl;   Raven;   Unchangeable;   The Jewish Encyclopedia - Birds;   Prey, Birds of;  

Devotionals:

- Every Day Light - Devotion for March 21;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
I call a bird of prey from the east,a man for my purpose from a far country.Yes, I have spoken; so I will also bring it about.I have planned it; I will also do it.
Hebrew Names Version
calling a ravenous bird from the east, the man of my counsel from a far country; yes, I have spoken, I will also bring it to pass; I have purposed, I will also do it.
King James Version
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.
English Standard Version
calling a bird of prey from the east, the man of my counsel from a far country. I have spoken, and I will bring it to pass; I have purposed, and I will do it.
New American Standard Bible
Calling a bird of prey from the east, The man of My purpose from a distant country. Truly I have spoken; truly I will bring it to pass. I have planned it, I will certainly do it.
New Century Version
I am calling a man from the east to carry out my plan; he will come like a hawk from a country far away. I will make what I have said come true; I will do what I have planned.
Amplified Bible
Calling a bird of prey from the east, From a far country, the man (Cyrus) of My purpose. Truly I have spoken; truly I will bring it to pass. I have planned it, be assured I will do it.
World English Bible
calling a ravenous bird from the east, the man of my counsel from a far country; yes, I have spoken, I will also bring it to pass; I have purposed, I will also do it.
Geneva Bible (1587)
I call a birde from the East, and the man of my counsell from farre: as I haue spoken, so will I bring it to passe: I haue purposed it, and I will doe it.
Legacy Standard Bible
Calling a bird of prey from the east,The man of My counsel from a far country.Truly I have spoken; truly I will bring it to pass.I have formed it, surely I will do it.
Berean Standard Bible
I summon a bird of prey from the east, a man for My purpose from a far-off land. Truly I have spoken, truly I will bring it to pass. I have planned it, I will surely do it.
Complete Jewish Bible
I call a bird of prey from the east, the man I intended, from a distant country. I have spoken and will bring it about; I have made a plan, and I will fulfill it.
Darby Translation
calling a bird of prey from the east, the man of my counsel from a far country. Yea, I have spoken, I will also bring it to pass; I have purposed it, I will also do it.
Easy-to-Read Version
I am calling a man from the east to do what I want. He will come like an eagle from a faraway country. He will do all that I have planned. Everything I said will happen just as I said it would.
George Lamsa Translation
Calling a ruler swift as a bird from the east, the man who executes my counsel from a far land; yea, I have spoken it, I will also bring it to pass; I have purposed it, I will also do it.
Good News Translation
I am calling a man to come from the east; he will swoop down like a hawk and accomplish what I have planned. I have spoken, and it will be done.
Lexham English Bible
who calls a bird of prey from the east, the man of his plan from a country from afar. Indeed I have spoken; indeed I will bring it to being. I have formed it; indeed I will do it.
Literal Translation
calling a bird of prey from the east, the man of My counsel from a far off land. Yes, I have spoken; yes, I will cause it to come; I have formed; yes, I will do it.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
I call a byrde out of the east, and all that I take in honde, out of farre countrees. As soone as I commaunde, I bringe it hither: as soone as I thinke to deuyse a thinge, I do it.
American Standard Version
calling a ravenous bird from the east, the man of my counsel from a far country; yea, I have spoken, I will also bring it to pass; I have purposed, I will also do it.
Bible in Basic English
Sending for a bird of strong flight from the east, the man of my purpose from a far country; I have said it, and I will give effect to it; the thing designed by me will certainly be done.
JPS Old Testament (1917)
Calling a bird of prey from the east, the man of My counsel from a far country; yea, I have spoken, I will also bring it to pass, I have purposed, I will also do it.
King James Version (1611)
Calling a rauenous bird from the East, the man that executeth my counsell from a farre countrey; yea I haue spoken it, I will also bring it to passe, I haue purposed it, I will also doe it.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
I call a byrde out of the east, and the man by whom my counsayle shalbe fulfilled out of straunge countreys, as I haue spoken, so wyll I bryng to passe, assoone as I thinke to deuise a thing, I do it.
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
calling a bird from the east, and from a land afar off, for the things which I have planned: I have spoken, and brought him; I have created and made him; I have brought him, and prospered his way.
English Revised Version
calling a ravenous bird from the east, the man of my counsel from a far country; yea, I have spoken, I will also bring it to pass; I have purposed, I will also do it.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
And Y clepe a brid fro the eest, and the man of my wille fro a ferr lond; and Y spak, and Y schal brynge that thing; Y haue maad of nouyt, and Y schal make that thing.
Update Bible Version
calling a ravenous bird from the east, the man of my counsel from a far country; yes, I have spoken, I will also bring it to pass; I have purposed, I will also do it.
Webster's Bible Translation
Calling a ravenous bird from the east, the man that executeth my counsel from a far country: yes, I have spoken [it], I will also bring it to pass; I have purposed [it], I will also perform it.
New English Translation
who summons an eagle from the east, from a distant land, one who carries out my plan. Yes, I have decreed, yes, I will bring it to pass; I have formulated a plan, yes, I will carry it out.
New King James Version
Calling a bird of prey from the east, The man who executes My counsel, from a far country. Indeed I have spoken it; I will also bring it to pass. I have purposed it; I will also do it.
New Living Translation
I will call a swift bird of prey from the east— a leader from a distant land to come and do my bidding. I have said what I would do, and I will do it.
New Life Bible
I call a strong and hungry bird from the east, the man from a far country who will do what I have planned. I have spoken, and I will make it happen. I have planned it, and I will do it.
New Revised Standard
calling a bird of prey from the east, the man for my purpose from a far country. I have spoken, and I will bring it to pass; I have planned, and I will do it.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Calling, From the East, a Bird of Prey, From a far country, the Man I intended, - Yea I have spoken I will also bring it to pass, I have planned, I will also do it.
Douay-Rheims Bible
Who call a bird from the east, and from a far country the man of my own will, and I have spoken, and will bring it to pass: I have created, and I will do it.
Revised Standard Version
calling a bird of prey from the east, the man of my counsel from a far country. I have spoken, and I will bring it to pass; I have purposed, and I will do it.
Young's Literal Translation
Calling from the east a ravenous bird, From a far land the man of My counsel, Yea, I have spoken, yea, I bring it in, I have formed [it], yea, I do it.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
Calling a bird of prey from the east, The man of My purpose from a far country. Truly I have spoken; truly I will bring it to pass. I have planned it, surely I will do it.

Contextual Overview

5 Can anyone compare with me? Is anyone my equal? 6 Some people hire a goldsmith and give silver and gold to be formed into an idol for them to worship. 7 They carry the idol on their shoulders, then put it on a stand, but it cannot move. They call out to the idol when they are in trouble, but it doesn't answer, and it cannot help. 8 Now keep this in mind, you sinful people. And don't ever forget it. 9 I alone am God! There are no other gods; no one is like me. Think about what happened many years ago. 10 From the very beginning, I told what would happen long before it took place. I kept my word 11 and brought someone from a distant land to do what I wanted. He attacked from the east, like a hawk swooping down. Now I will keep my promise and do what I planned. 12 You people are stubborn and far from being safe, so listen to me. 13 I will soon come to save you. I am not far away and will waste no time; I take pride in Israel and will save Jerusalem.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

Calling: Isaiah 13:2-4, Isaiah 21:7-9, Isaiah 41:2, Isaiah 41:25, Isaiah 45:1-6, Jeremiah 50:29, Jeremiah 51:20-29

a ravenous bird: Or, "an eagle," a very proper emblem for Cyrus, says Bp. Lowth, as in other respects, so particularly because the ensign of Cyrus was a golden eagle,  קסץףןץע, the very word ayit which the prophet uses here, expressed as near as may be in Greek letters. Ezekiel 39:4

the man: Isaiah 44:28, Isaiah 45:13, Isaiah 48:14, Isaiah 48:15, Ezra 1:2, Psalms 76:10, Acts 4:28

that executeth my counsel: Heb. of my counsel, Psalms 119:24, *marg.

I have spoken: Isaiah 14:24-27, Isaiah 38:15, Numbers 23:19, Job 23:13, Jeremiah 50:45, Acts 5:39, Ephesians 1:11, Ephesians 3:11

Reciprocal: Genesis 41:32 - it is because Numbers 23:27 - peradventure 1 Kings 12:15 - that he might 2 Kings 19:25 - Hast thou not 2 Kings 24:3 - Surely Proverbs 21:30 - General Ecclesiastes 5:8 - matter Ecclesiastes 7:13 - who Isaiah 7:7 - General Isaiah 10:12 - when the Lord Isaiah 14:6 - and none Isaiah 14:27 - the Lord Isaiah 19:17 - because Isaiah 22:25 - for the Isaiah 23:9 - Lord Isaiah 37:26 - how I Isaiah 40:8 - the word Isaiah 46:10 - My counsel Isaiah 54:16 - I have Jeremiah 4:28 - because Jeremiah 25:28 - Ye Jeremiah 29:11 - I know Jeremiah 30:10 - I Jeremiah 30:24 - fierce Jeremiah 32:19 - Great Jeremiah 44:28 - shall know Jeremiah 47:7 - the Lord Jeremiah 49:20 - the counsel Jeremiah 50:25 - this Jeremiah 50:44 - who is a Jeremiah 51:11 - the Lord hath Jeremiah 51:29 - every Ezekiel 9:11 - I have Daniel 4:24 - the decree Daniel 4:35 - and he Amos 6:11 - the Lord Habakkuk 2:7 - they Zechariah 6:1 - and the Matthew 24:25 - General Acts 2:23 - being Acts 20:27 - all Acts 25:12 - unto Caesar shalt Romans 9:11 - that the Romans 9:19 - Why doth Ephesians 1:9 - purposed Revelation 17:17 - until

Cross-References

Genesis 29:34
When Leah's third son was born, she said, "Now my husband will hold me close." So this son was named Levi.
Genesis 46:1
Jacob packed up everything he owned and left for Egypt. On the way he stopped near the town of Beersheba and offered sacrifices to the God his father Isaac had worshiped.
Genesis 46:3
God said, "I am God, the same God your father worshiped. Don't be afraid to go to Egypt. I will give you so many descendants that one day they will become a nation.
Genesis 46:5
Jacob and his family set out from Beersheba and headed for Egypt. His sons put him in the wagon that the king had sent for him, and they put their small children and their wives in the other wagons. Jacob's whole family went to Egypt, including his sons, his grandsons, his daughters, and his granddaughters. They took along their animals and everything else they owned.
Genesis 46:8
When Jacob went to Egypt, his children who were born in northern Syria also went along with their families. Jacob and his wife Leah had a total of thirty-three children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, but two of their grandchildren had died in Canaan. Their oldest son Reuben took his sons Hanoch, Pallu, Hezron, and Carmi. Their son Simeon took his sons Jemuel, Jamin, Ohad, Jachin, Zohar, and Shaul, whose mother was a Canaanite. Their son Levi took his sons Gershon, Kohath, and Merari. Their son Judah took his sons Shelah, Perez, and Zerah. Judah's sons Er and Onan had died in Canaan. Judah's son Perez took his sons Hezron and Hamul. Their son Issachar took his sons Tola, Puvah, Jashub, and Shimron. Their son Zebulun took his sons Sered, Elon, and Jahleel. Their daughter Dinah also went.
Genesis 46:19
Jacob and Rachel had fourteen children and grandchildren. Their son Joseph was already in Egypt, where he had married Asenath, daughter of Potiphera, the priest of Heliopolis. Joseph and Asenath had two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim. Jacob and Rachel's son Benjamin took his sons Bela, Becher, Ashbel, Gera, Naaman, Ehi, Rosh, Muppim, Huppim, and Ard.
Genesis 46:26
Sixty-six members of Jacob's family went to Egypt with him, not counting his daughters-in-law.
Exodus 6:16
Levi lived to be one hundred thirty-seven; his sons were Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.
1 Chronicles 2:1
Jacob was the father of twelve sons: Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Zebulun, Dan, Joseph, Benjamin, Naphtali, Gad, and Asher.
1 Chronicles 2:11
Nahshon's descendants included Salma, Boaz,

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Calling a ravenous bird from the east,.... Or "a flying fowl", or "swift winged bird" u; for the word used does not so much denote rapaciousness as swiftness; which well agrees with Cyrus, who is here meant, and not Abraham, as Jarchi, nor Nebuchadnezzar, as others; and who was always swift in all his expeditions, and always recommended celerity and dispatch of business to his soldiers and others, as Xenophon w often observes; and very remarkable is that speech of Tigranes to him, in which he tells him x, that he so far exceeded the king of Armenia in swiftness, that he came upon him with a great army, from a far country, before he could get his army together, which was just by him. And very observable are the words of Cyrus himself, who was desirous of being a thorough horseman, that he might seem to be

ανθρωπος πτηνος, "a winged" or "flying man" y So the Targum here renders it, a swift bird. Aben Ezra, who interprets it of Cyrus, says he is so called, as if he flew to do the will of God; and Kimchi observes of Cyrus, that he has this name because he came swiftly, and in haste, as a bird that flies: and it is no unusual thing for a mighty monarch, or a general, marching with his army, to be compared to a flying bird, particularly an eagle, Jeremiah 48:40 and may be the bird intended here, which well suits with Cyrus, who had, as Plutarch z reports, an aquiline nose; hence men that have such noses, among the Persians, are highly esteemed: and Xenophon a says, that the standard of Cyrus was a golden eagle upon the top of a high spear, and which is retained by the kings of Persia. Cyrus is said to be called from the east, because, as Kimchi observes, his country lay to the east of Babylon:

the man that executeth my counsel from afar country; as Persia was from Babylon, Assyria and other provinces lying between; but though he lived in a far country, and knew nothing of the affairs of the people of God in Babylon, or what work he was to do, yet God called him, and brought him to do his will, which he was ignorant of: so God sometimes puts into the hearts of men to fulfil his will, which they are strangers to, Revelation 17:17. It is in the Hebrew text, "the man of my counsel" b; not with whom the Lord consulted, for none are of his counsel in this sense; but whom in his counsels, decrees, and purposes, he appointed to such service, and whom he made use of as an instrument to do his pleasure; see Isaiah 44:8

yea, I have spoken it, I will also bring it to pass: I have purposed, I will also do it; the counsel of the Lord, concerning the deliverance of his people from Babylon, by the hand of Cyrus; this he had purposed in his own breast, had spoken of in prophecy, and would certainly perform. R. Joseph Kimchi interprets this verse of the Messiah, and so does Jerom, of whom, no doubt, Cyrus was a type; and what is here said agrees with him: he may be compared to a flying bird for his swiftness in coming at the appointed time; he came from the east, as the rising sun of righteousness; he was the man of God's counsel in the highest sense, and came, being called, to execute it; the work of redemption was according to the eternal purpose of God, and spoke of by all the holy prophets, and now accomplished; and his righteousness and salvation are made mention of in the following verses.

u עיט "avem, a velocitate", Munster; so Vatablus; ab עוט "in volando celeriter et cum impetu", Forerius; so Ben Melech says, Cyrus is surnamed a fowl, because of his great swiftness and haste to come to Babylon; though he observes that some say, that a ravenous fowl is called עיט; the singular may be put for the plural; so Cocceius renders it, "volucres", birds, and may design the whole army of Cyrus. w Cyropaedia, l. 1. c. 17. and l. 3. c. 6. and l. 6. c. 17. x Cyropaedia, l. 3. c. 2. y Ib. l. 4. c. 17. z In Apothegm. a Cyropaedia, l. 7. c. 1. b איש עצתי "virum mei consilii", Munster, Pagninus, Montanus; so according to the Keri: but the Cetib is איש עצתו, "the man of his counsel".

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Calling a ravenous bird from the east - There can be no doubt that Cyrus is intended here (see the notes at Isaiah 41:2, Isaiah 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 Jeremiah 12:9; ‘fowls’ in Genesis 15:11; Isaiah 18:6; and ‘ravenous birds’ in Ezekiel 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 Jeremiah 49:22; Ezekiel 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.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Isaiah 46:11. 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. vii. 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.


 
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