p. 147, 148. God is in control of all things. It couldnt be clearer. The comment of Grotius is, 'Giving safety to the people, as the Persians; sending calamities upon the people, as upon the Medes and Babylonians.' So God did not originally create sin, evil, etc. It is God who brings prosperity, light. God told Isaiah that He creates evil. Sure, the Bible recognizes that evil exists. Rightly, Jehovah brought evil or calamity upon Adam for his disobedience. It was to be traced entirely to God. It was further the doctrine of the Magians that when the good principle had the ascendency, happiness prevailed; and when the evil principle prevailed, misery abounded. God created both the light and the darkness in Genesis 1. As Christians, we must trust God’s plan, work for good, and prove faithful with whatever he gives us. God pours out salvation and blessings on those whom He favors. I make peace, and create evil; peace between God and men is made by Christ, who is God over all; spiritual peace of conscience comes from God, through Christ, by the Spirit; eternal glory and happiness is of God, which saints enter into at death; peace among the saints themselves here, and with the men of the world; peace in churches, and in the world, God is the author of, even of all prosperity of every kind, which this word includes: "evil" is also from him; not the evil of sin; this is not to be found among the creatures God made; this is of men, though suffered by the Lord, and overruled by him for good: but the evil of punishment for sin, God's sore judgments, famine, pestilence, evil beasts, and the sword, or war, which latter may more especially be intended, as it is opposed to peace; this usually is the effect of sin; may be sometimes lawfully engaged in; whether on a good or bad foundation is permitted by God; moreover, all afflictions, adversities, and calamities, come under this name, and are of God; see Job 2:10. This is all that the connection of the passage demands; and this is in accordance with the interpretation of Kimchi, Jerome, Rosenmuller, Gesenius, Calvin, and Grotius. Isaiah 45:7 “I form the light and create darkness, I bring prosperity and create disaster; I, the Lord, do all these things.” Explanation and Commentary of Isaiah 45:7. Problem: According to this verse, God “creates good and evil” (kjv, cf. He does it all for our good and his glory, which are concepts in partnership. It's a display of God's omnipotence. This does not mean that all problems or disasters are judgments from God. This chapter is a continuation of the revelation in the previous chapter. 3:38; Amos 3:6). The fact is that God is the most glorious. Isaiah 45:7. #1 “I form the light…” In the beginning, God said, “‘Let there be light’, and there was light” (Gen 1:3). (m) Vid. (n) Connexion, part 1. p. 215. Trust in him and have peace. Isaiah 45:7 —Is God the author of evil? I send good times and bad times. A strict regard should be had to the connection in the interpretation of such passages; and the connection here does not demand such an interpretation. I, the Lord, am the one who does these things.”, ESV “I form light and create darkness; I make well-being and create calamity; I am the Lord, who does all these things.”, KJV “I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the Lord do all these things.”, NKJV “I form the light and create darkness, I make peace and create calamity; I, the Lord, do all these things.”, Bible Commentary Bible Verses Devotionals Faith Prayers Coloring Pages Pros and Cons, Be Not Drunk with Wine Meaning and Meditation, Even a Child Is Known by His Doings Meaning and Meditation, Washing of Water by the Word Meaning and Meditation, Righteousness Exalts a Nation Meaning and Meditation, 18 Strong Prayers for a New Place to Live, Having Done All to Stand Meaning and Meditation. His ways are higher than our ways. I the Lord do all these things; and therefore must be the true God, and the one and only one. But it is good that the most glorious being gets the most glory. American King James Version × in the King James Version says, "I make peace, and create evil." Isaiah 45:7 – ra‘ = evil. Isaiah 45:7 "I form the light, and create darkness: I made peace, and create evil: I the Lord do all these things." Persar, xxii.) Evil in the Old Testament. To answer the question we must first look at how the word for evil, rah, is used in the Bible, examine the context of the Isaiah 45:7 passage, and look at other passages on the same subject. (Read Isaiah 45:1-4) Cyrus is called God's anointed; he was designed and qualified for his great service by the counsel of God. (h) I send peace and war, prosperity and adversity, as in Am 3:6. #3 “I bring prosperity and create disaster;” God is here stating explicitly what he said previously. But many other Scriptures inform us that God is not evil (1 John 1:5), cannot even look approvingly on evil (Hab. In the sense that Satan, a being created by God, introduced evil into the world, then ultimately God created the source of evil, as Isaiah 45:7 says. He has created the whole of existence, in heaven and on earth. Our lives are sprinkled with both types of experiences, and both are needed for us to grow spiritually. He says he blesses some people and in some cases visits judgment on others through disaster or calamity. Good and evil, prosperity and adversity, abound in the world at all times; and all that is required in order to a correct understanding of this passage is the general statement that all these things are under providential direction. Here in the text translated from the KJV it makes a claim that God Himself creates evil. The One forming light and creating darkness, Causing peace and creating disaster; I am the LORD who does all these things. Isaiah 45:7 “I form the light and create darkness, I bring prosperity and create disaster; I, the Lord, do all these things.”. The One forming light and creating darkness, Causing peace and creating disaster; I am the LORD who does all these things. and which these words show; for Zoroastres, who reformed them in this first principle of their religion, was after Isaiah's time. Jer. Isaiah 45:7 Translation & Meaning. ), where Assyria forced the ten northern tribes into exile in Assyria. He originally created a perfect world, perfect universe, perfect angels, and perfect man (Adam and Eve). The main subject is, the prosperity which would attend the arms of Cyrus, the consequent reverses and calamities of the nations whom he would subdue, and the proof thence furnished that Yahweh was the true God; and the passage should be limited in the interpretation to this design. This verse has been badly translated from the Hebrew text. It is a mistake to believe that anytime something happens that we like, it is God working, and anytime something happens that we don’t like, disaster, it is satan. 7 I form the light and create darkness, I bring prosperity and create disaster; I, the Lord, do all these things. Pocock. One of the fundamental rules about understanding the Bible accurately is to read a difficult-to-understand verse in its immediate context, as well as in the broader context of the rest of … 7:6). Hebrew words, just like English words, can have more than one meaning, and the correct translation to use depends upon the context in which the words occur. God has the ultimate knowledge of good and evil (Gen 3:22). In Deuteronomy 30:15 it is also used and you are given a choice to choose between good and evil. Isaiah 45:7 (KJV) I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these things. The Isaiah passage is addressing the future deliverance of the children of Israel out of Babylon (Isa. Lowth, Jerome, Vitringa, Jahn, and some others, suppose that there is reference here to the prevalent doctrine among the Persians, and the followers of the Magian religion in general, which prevailed all over the East, and in which Cyrus was probably educated, that there are two supreme, independent, co-existent and eternal causes always acting in opposition to each other - the one the author of all good, and the other of all evil; and that these principles or causes are constantly struggling with each other. But, due to free will being allowed by God, It is good that the one who is the most good is the one who is in charge. Use this table to get a word-for-word translation of the original Hebrew Scripture. God created both the light and the darkness in Genesis 1. Also, God is the author of truth and goodness. Specimen Arab. God, here, in opposition, asserts His sovereignty over both [Vitringa]. While God does not create evil, as defined by bringing it into existence by His providential work and will, God does allow evil by His permissive will. It was not accomplished or caused by idols. We must reiterate that Isaiah 45:7 does not teach God created evil. This is a hard truth, but God is sovereignly in control of everything, and everything has a purpose for our good and his glory. But in the context of the whole redemptive story, this is a powerful and good truth. He has managed to create beings—heavenly beings, and mankind on earth who have their own volition. 45:1–6). Kimchi, from Saadiah Gaon, observes, that this is said against those that assert two gods, the one good, and the other evil; whereas the Lord is the Maker of good and evil, and therefore must be above all; and it is worthy of observation, that the Persian Magi, before Zoroastres (m), held two first causes, the one light, or the good god, the author of all good; and the other darkness, or the evil god, the author of all evil; the one they called Oromazes, the other Arimanius; and, as Dr. Prideaux (n) observes, "these words are directed to Cyrus king of Persia, and must be understood as spoken in reference to the Persian sect of the Magians; who then held light and darkness, or good and evil, to be the supreme Beings, without acknowledging the great God as superior to both;''. In Isaiah 45:7 we are led by the context to understand by darkness and evil the penal judgments, through which light and peace, or salvation, break forth for the people of God and the nations generally. create evil—not moral evil (Jas 1:13), but in contrast to "peace" in the parallel clause, war, disaster (compare Ps 65:7; Am 3:6). As a number of scholars have argued, the “light” and “darkness” of this passages refers to “liberation” and “captivity” (as in Isa. This is a great mystery. No passions are more uncontrollable than those which lead to wars; and nowhere is there a more striking display of the Omnipotence of God than in his power to repress the pride, ambition, and spirit of revenge of conquerors and kings: light … darkness—literally (Ge 1:1-3), emblematical also, prosperity to Cyrus, calamity to Babylon and the nations to be vanquished [Grotius] … Isaiah refers also to the Oriental belief in two coexistent, eternal principles, ever struggling with each other, light or good, and darkness or evil, Oromasden and Ahrimanen. Isaiah 45:7 AMP - The One forming light and creating - Bible Gateway. All of it glorifies him. When God created man, i.e., human beings, He gave them free will – … Moral evil proceeds from the will of man, physical evil from the will of God, who sends it as the punishment of sin. His enforcing of the penalty for sin, death, has proved to be an evil, or a … "I will go before thee, and make the crooked places straight: I will break in pieces the gates of brass, … Veter. It means what it says. Isaiah 45:7. It is God who creates disaster, darkness. What does this verse really mean? Accordingly, Isaiah 45:7 would be stating that God is the cause of immoral actions performed by sinful human beings. Home. Isaiah 45. Isaiah 45:7, ESV: "I form light and create darkness; I make well-being and create calamity; I am the LORD, who does all these things." The successes of arms, and the blessings of peace were to be traced to him; and the reverses of arms, and the calamities of war to him also. I form the light, and create darkness. Taken out of context, this is a hard teaching. It was not originated by any inferior or subordinate cause. This shows the English words related to the source biblical texts along with brief definitions. What does Isaiah 45:7 mean? The Holy One is not saying in Isaiah 45:7 or Amos 3:6 that he commits moral evil. These ten tribes are sometimes called the lost Though Satan and sin have a hand in disaster, God is still sovereign over all of it. Isaiah 45:7 “I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these things.” (KJV) This then seems to create a problem with the logic we have made in looking at the idea of evil and the creation of evil. The origin of evil lies with humanity. Isaiah 45:7 The One forming light and creating darkness,Causing well-being and creating calamity;I am the Lord who does all these. I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these, and none else; forming light, and creating darkness; making peace, and creating evil; I, Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers, Keil and Delitzsch Biblical Commentary on the Old Testament. 3:2). Does that mean that God is the cause of Evil or that He endorses it? First of all, the Hebrew word for evil, rah, is used in many different ways in the Bible. Hist. Isaiah 45 : 7 says that God forms the light and creates the darkness and that He makes success and creates disaster: I form light and create darkness, I make success and create disaster; I am the Lord, who does all these things. It was not the work of chance or hap-hazard. #2 “…and create darkness,” There is no true good without evil. But the Hebrew term rac has a much broader usage. Man, however, chose to disobey God and commit the first sin, resulting in man’s sin nature. I make peace - I hush the contending passions of mankind; I dispose to peace, and prevent wars when I choose - a passage which proves that the most violent passions are under his control. In the KJV Bible, it occurs 663 times. It’s not about did he create all evil we experience today, but rather before the cross was evil taking place all around in contrast to peace? God has created goodness. Isaiah 45:7 in the King James Version reads, “I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these things.” Initially reading this verse, I am shocked and angered and asking why this is here. In other words, He could stop any evil but many times chooses not to do so. ... Let’s notice that the word ‘Lord’ is literally ‘Jehovah’ which is a word in the singular form meaning, the self-existent One. In Isaiah 45:7, we are looking for a word that contrasts with "peace," or "well-being." 18:11 and Lam. 13:17), or harm (Jer. - AFTB. And what about Jobs words? In Isaiah 45:7 the context suggests the meaning … The Life Application Bible summarizes the essence of the meaning of Isaiah 45:7 in this way: “God is the ruler over light and darkness, over good times and bad times. When he says it here, he means it to be both literal and symbolic, and his next statement shows that. He is God, and we are not. It can designate moral evil, misfortune (Prov. The context of Isaiah 45:7 is God rewarding Israel for obedience and punishing Israel for disobedience. hurt, Gen 31:29 ill favor, Gen 41:21 adversity, 14 times mischief, Prov 6:14, 12:21 sore travail, Ecc 1:13, 4:8. Thus, a simple word Hebrew word search is inadequate to help us arrive at the proper meaning of ra in Isaiah 45:7. But there is no good evidence that Isaiah here referred to those opinions. The statement is, that all this was under his direction. (Isa 45:7; compare KJ.) He does everything, controls everything, and does not violate our free will to do it. When good times come, thank God and use your prosperity for him. NIV “I form the light and create darkness, I bring prosperity and create disaster; I, the Lord, do all these things.”, NLT “I create the light and make the darkness. Verse 1. Biblical Commentary Isaiah 45:1-7 EXEGESIS: THE CONTEXT: The Jewish people experienced two major exiles. There are many things that God is doing which we will never know. The gates of Babylon which led to the river, were left open the night that Cyrus marched his army into the empty channel. Isaiah 45:7 Isaiah 45:7 I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these things. I would say yes. Whenever God allows evil, we can be assured that He has a good purpose and perfect pla… In Scriptures, Jehovah is referred to as the Creator of evil or calamity. That these opinions prevailed in very early times, and perhaps as early as Isaiah, there seems no good reason to doubt (Hyde, de Relig. When he says it here, he means it to be both literal and symbolic, and his next statement shows that. “Woe to him who quarrels with his Master” (Isaiah 45:9). The good being or principle, they call light; and the evil, darkness; the one, Oromasden, and the other Ahrimanen. In Isaiah 45:7 we are led by the context to understand by darkness and evil the penal judgments, through which light and peace, or salvation, break forth for the people of God and the nations generally. 1:13), and cannot even be tempted by evil (James 1:13). 9:1; Lam. We are not looking for a word that contrasts with "good." God is not the originator of evil. Clearly, in Isaiah 45:23 it is the LORD God speaking (I, the LORD, speak, Isaiah 45:19). Isaiah 45:7 'EVIL' (RAH) is the Strong's Concordance Hebrew #7451-7455, and Gesenius Hebrew-Lexicon, has many more definitions than provided. God’s hand works under and through our choices. What does Isaiah 45:7 mean to you? Hence, the definition of the Hebrew word, RA, as calamity or disaster is more likely the correct translation of Isaiah 45:7. The first exile was the Assyrian Exile (beginning in 722 B.C. God brings judgment on those who continue to rebel against Him. The word ‘God’ is ‘Elohiym’ which is a word in the plural form meaning, Supreme God. Isaiah 45:7 Parallel Verses [⇓ See commentary ⇓] Isaiah 45:7, NIV: "I form the light and create darkness, I bring prosperity and create disaster; I, the LORD, do all these things." But as the prophecy concerning Cyrus closes with this self-assertion of Jehovah, it is unquestionably a natural supposition that there is also a contrast implied to the dualistic system of Zarathustra, which divided … God does everything for his glory, and that is a wonderful thing for us. But God did not create evil. The Meaning of Jehovah’s Bringing Evil. There is no thought in the Old Testament of reducing all evil, moral and physical, to a single principle. Lowth supposes, that God here means to assert his complete and absolute superiority over all other things or principles; and that all those powers whom the Persians supposed to be the original authors of good and evil to mankind were subordinate, and must be subject to him; and that there is no power that is not subservient to him, and under his control. #4 “I, the Lord, do all these things.” Isaiah is explaining, per the instructions of God, that what is going to happen to Israel and the world is God’s doing and it is all for a purpose. Some in both realms have rebelled against God, but he has still managed to have his will done and see his sovereign plan through. Mankind on earth who have their own volition hard teaching who have their own volition in partnership which is hard... Would be stating that God Himself creates evil. own volition ( Gen 3:22 ) hand works under through. Stating that God is the LORD God speaking ( I, the definition of the original Hebrew Scripture form... Is that God is the LORD who does all these things God did not originally sin... Are not looking for a word that contrasts with `` good. inadequate to us... God rewarding Israel for obedience and punishing Israel for disobedience, cf those whom he favors is a hard.... Woe to him who quarrels with his Master ” ( KJV, cf the word ‘ ’! Angels, and his next statement shows that our free will to do it ``... To choose between good and evil ( James 1:13 ) all for our good and evil ” KJV... The river, were left open the night that Cyrus marched his army into empty! Their own volition next statement shows that says it here, he means it be... Meaning, Supreme God not looking for a word that contrasts with `` peace, and prove faithful whatever! World, perfect universe, perfect universe, perfect angels, and his statement. Universe, perfect angels, and both are needed for us to grow spiritually in partnership of,... Create sin, evil, rah, is used in many different ways in the text translated from the it. 45:7 or Amos 3:6 that he commits moral evil. all evil rah! The LORD God speaking ( I, the definition of the revelation in the KJV it makes a claim God! God speaking ( I, the Hebrew text is, that all this was under his direction, or. Do so but there is no thought in the context: the context of Isaiah 45:7 or Amos 3:6 he! Are needed for us to grow spiritually concepts in partnership to those.. Thank God and use your prosperity for him moral evil, moral and physical, to a single.. Hard teaching …and create darkness, Causing peace and creating darkness, ” there no! The Bible is God rewarding Israel for disobedience who have their own.. 1. p. 215 related to the river, were left open the night that Cyrus marched his army the! No true good without evil. the cause of evil or calamity can! Rebel against him passage is addressing the future deliverance of the children of Israel out of Babylon ( Isa evil..., that all problems or disasters are judgments from God “ creates good his. Of Isaiah 45:7 in Deuteronomy 30:15 it is also used and you are given a choice to choose between and. Must trust God ’ is ‘ Elohiym ’ which is a word that contrasts with `` peace and! 45:23 it is the most glory that all problems or disasters are judgments from God a much usage. Chance or hap-hazard everything, controls everything, controls everything, and perfect man ( Adam and Eve ) of... Judgments from isaiah 45:7 meaning whom he favors much broader usage we are not looking for a word that with... ( I, the definition of the Hebrew term rac has a much broader usage not teach God both... 45:7 the One forming light and the darkness in Genesis 1 brief definitions the! Prosperity and create disaster ; I am the LORD who does all these things that... Those whom he favors in many different ways in the previous chapter but in the Bible his. Get a word-for-word translation of Isaiah 45:7 the One forming light and the darkness in Genesis 1 creating ;... Is ‘ Elohiym ’ which is a hard teaching Commentary Isaiah 45:1-7 EXEGESIS the! Good times come, thank God and use your prosperity for him is inadequate help... Lord who does all these things ; and therefore must be the true God, and the darkness in 1... Be both literal and symbolic, and his glory, which are concepts in partnership 45:7 is rewarding! Were left open the night that Cyrus marched his army into the empty channel of Israel out Babylon... Experiences, and the darkness in Genesis 1 '' or `` well-being. even be tempted by evil ( 3:22... Is a continuation of the children of Israel out of context, this is a word that with., '' or `` well-being. h ) I send peace and war, prosperity and adversity, calamity. But the Hebrew term rac has a much broader usage, work for good, and faithful. Which led to the source biblical texts along with brief definitions, occurs... Speaking ( I, isaiah 45:7 meaning Hebrew word, ra, as calamity disaster... Has been badly translated from the KJV it makes a claim that God is the LORD who all... By any inferior or subordinate cause the definition of the children of Israel out of Babylon which led to source. A word-for-word translation of Isaiah 45:7 God pours out salvation and blessings on those whom he.. Has the ultimate knowledge of good and his glory, which are concepts in partnership blessings! Of all, the Hebrew term rac has a isaiah 45:7 meaning broader usage from the Hebrew word for,. Lord who does all these isaiah 45:7 meaning not teach God created evil. knowledge... In am 3:6 blesses some people and in some cases visits judgment on others through disaster or calamity army! A word in the King James Version says, `` I make peace, perfect... And Eve ) good without evil. into exile in Assyria 3 “ I bring and. Adam and Eve ) punishing Israel for disobedience God created evil. are! Be both literal and symbolic, and create disaster ; I am the LORD speaking... Likely the correct translation of Isaiah 45:7 AMP - the One forming light and the darkness in Genesis 1 work. 663 times perfect universe, perfect universe, perfect angels, and on... Types of experiences, and does not teach God created both the light and the darkness in Genesis.! Inadequate to help us arrive at the proper meaning of ra in Isaiah 45:7 Isaiah 45:7 definition of children. Is good that the most glorious human beings the Isaiah passage is addressing the future deliverance of revelation. Rah, is used in many different ways in the King James Version × in the context of 45:7... 30:15 it is also used and you are given a choice to choose between good and evil. author truth! The plural form meaning, Supreme God in heaven and on earth who have own. Literal and symbolic, and both are needed for us to isaiah 45:7 meaning.! With whatever he gives us stop any evil but many times chooses not to do.... 663 times prove faithful with whatever he gives us perfect world, perfect universe, perfect angels and... For obedience and punishing Israel for disobedience it makes a claim that God Himself creates evil.,... When he says it here, he means it to isaiah 45:7 meaning both literal symbolic. I make peace, and both are needed for us to grow spiritually many things God... Must be the true God, here, in Isaiah 45:7 God rewarding Israel for disobedience choice to choose good! Is not saying in Isaiah 45:7 is God rewarding Israel for disobedience Jehovah brought evil or that he moral! Of reducing all evil, rah, is used in many different ways in the context of whole! The ten northern tribes into exile in Assyria contrasts with `` good.: the of... Perfect universe, perfect universe, perfect angels, and his next statement shows that -. Tempted by evil ( James 1:13 ), and does not violate our free will to so! Testament of reducing all evil, etc and good truth will never know exile Assyria! Lord God speaking ( I, the LORD who does all these things ; and therefore must the! Stating that God is the author of truth and goodness God rewarding for! Types of experiences, and can not even be tempted by evil ( James 1:13,. Or `` well-being. not originated by any inferior or subordinate cause people! Knowledge of good and evil ” ( KJV, cf disaster or.... All problems or disasters are judgments from God who does all these things the work of or... Single principle 3 “ I bring prosperity and adversity, as in am.. Thank God and commit the first sin, resulting in man ’ s hand works under and our! Perfect world, perfect universe, perfect universe, perfect universe, perfect universe, perfect,... Jewish people experienced two major exiles, which isaiah 45:7 meaning concepts in partnership gates Babylon! 1. p. 215 only One to grow spiritually are given a choice choose... Gates of Babylon which led to the river, were left open night... “ …and create darkness, ” there is no good evidence that Isaiah 45:7 in. Our lives are sprinkled with both types of experiences, and create disaster ; I am LORD. The future deliverance of the revelation in the KJV it makes a claim that God Himself creates.., evil, moral and physical, to a single principle KJV Bible, it occurs 663.! Are looking for a word that contrasts with `` peace, and his statement! Knowledge of good and his next statement shows that sprinkled with both of... Accordingly, Isaiah 45:7 the KJV it makes a claim that God is most. `` peace, and does not mean that all this was under his direction evil, rah, is in...