I stirred up one from the north, and he has come, from the rising of the sun, and he shall call upon my name; he shall trample on rulers as on mortar, as the potter treads clay.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The surprising thing here is that God says Cyrus, the one He's "stirring up" from the north and east, will "call upon my name." This isn't just about Cyrus being a tool of God; it implies he will acknowledge and proclaim the Lord as the source of his power, something echoed in his later decree allowing the Jewish exiles to return home.
I stirred up one from the north, and he has come, from the rising of the sun, and he shall call upon my name; he shall trample on rulers as on mortar, as the potter treads clay.
English Standard Version (ESV)
God declares that He has orchestrated events from distant lands, bringing forth a powerful ruler from the north and east. This figure, who will acknowledge God's name, will decisively defeat rulers and nations with overwhelming force, treating them as insignificant as clay under a potter's foot. This prediction serves as undeniable proof of God's sovereignty and foreknowledge, contrasting His power with the impotence of idols and challenging the nations to demonstrate their own divine claims.
Ever feel like the world's leaders are just playing games with power? This verse reveals a different kind of ruler – one chosen and empowered by God Himself.
Isaiah 41:25 presents a king unlike any other. God declares, 'I stirred up one from the north, and he has come; from the rising of the sun shall he call upon my name.'
Divine Intervention
God isn't just observing world events; He's actively involved. The phrase 'I stirred up' points to a divine initiative. God awakens, impels, and directs this individual's actions and destiny. This isn't a ruler who stumbles into power by accident; he's raised up for a specific purpose.
A King Who Acknowledges God
The verse continues, 'from the rising of the sun shall he call upon my name.' This means the king will acknowledge Yahweh, the God of Israel, as the true source of his power and success. While his origins might be described poetically as 'from the north' and 'from the rising of the sun' (referring to his Medo-Persian background), his ultimate allegiance and public declaration will be to God. This is a crucial detail, as it shows God using even secular rulers to advance His purposes and ultimately reveal Himself to the world.
The leaders of this world often seem untouchable, wielding immense power. But this verse offers a starkly different perspective on their ultimate fate.
The latter half of Isaiah 41:25 delivers a powerful declaration about the king's authority: 'he shall trample on rulers as on mortar, as the potter treads clay.'
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Utter Defeat for Opposition
The imagery is intense and leaves no room for doubt. 'Trample on rulers' signifies complete subjugation and destruction. The 'rulers' (often translated as princes or satraps) represent the established powers and opposition that stand against God's plan.
God's Ultimate Control
This isn't about mere military victory; it's about God demonstrating His ultimate sovereignty over all earthly powers through His chosen instrument. No earthly authority, no matter how strong, can ultimately stand against the one God has appointed and empowered.
Understand the original words
ur · Hebrew Verb
To arouse, awaken, or incite; frequently used of God's sovereign action in history to move individuals, nations, or spirits to carry out His divine purposes, whether for judgment or deliverance.
This verse is deeply rooted in the context of the Babylonian exile. God is speaking through Isaiah, promising a deliverer, Cyrus, who is presented as a divinely appointed force from the north and east, destined to crush earthly powers and acknowledge God's sovereignty. This message offered hope and a clear sign of God's control over history to the exiled people, who were awaiting liberation.
c. 740-700 BC
Isaiah's Ministry
Isaiah prophesies during a time of Assyrian dominance and threats to Judah, emphasizing Jerusalem's inviolability.
605 BC
Nebuchadnezzar's Rise to Power
Nebuchadnezzar, after defeating Egypt at Carchemish, begins his campaigns in Syria and Judah, marking the start of Babylonian influence.
598 BC
First Deportation to Babylon
Nebuchadnezzar deports a significant portion of Judah's elite, including priests like Ezekiel, to Babylon.
589 BC
Siege of Jerusalem
The Babylonians lay siege to Jerusalem, leading to widespread famine and the eventual destruction of the city.
587 BC
Fall and Destruction of Jerusalem
Jerusalem is captured, its temple and walls are destroyed, and a second, larger wave of exiles is deported to Babylon.
c. 550 BC
Rise of Cyrus the Great
Cyrus, a Persian prince, consolidates his power, conquering the Medes and establishing his dominance in Western Asia.
c. 540 BC— this verse
Isaiah 41:25 Written
This verse is written, referring to Cyrus as God's chosen instrument, 'stirred up' and destined to conquer rulers and proclaim God's name.
This passage directly names Cyrus and describes him as God's "anointed" to "subdue nations" and "open doors" before him, paralleling the idea of God stirring up a powerful individual to achieve His purposes.
Jeremiah 51:20-24This passage describes God using a powerful instrument (Babylon against its enemies) to break and destroy nations, similar to how Isaiah 41:25 describes Cyrus's overwhelming might against rulers.
Daniel 2:21This verse speaks of God setting up kings and removing them, reflecting the theme in Isaiah 41:25 where God actively raises up and directs a powerful figure to achieve His divine will.
Ezra 1:1-2This passage shows Cyrus fulfilling Isaiah's prophecy by calling upon the name of the Lord and being commissioned by Him to rebuild the temple, directly illustrating the 'calling upon my name' aspect of Isaiah 41:25.
barnesIsaiah 41:25: "I have raised up one from the north, and he shall come: from the rising of the sun shall he call upon my name: and he shall come upon princes as upon morter, and as the potter treadeth clay."
I have raised up one - In the previous verses God had shown that the idols had no power of predicting future events. He stakes, so to speak, the question of his divinity on that point, and the whole controversy between him and them is to be decided by the inquiry whether they had the power o…
cambridgeIsaiah 41:25: "I have raised up one from the north, and he shall come: from the rising of the sun shall he call upon my name: and he shall come upon princes as upon morter, and as the potter treadeth clay."
25 . raised up ] Strictly: stirred up (as in Isaiah 41:2 ) i.e. “impelled into activity” (Driver). from the north … from the rising of the sun (cf. Isaiah 41:2 )] Scarcely: “from Media (in the north)” and “from Elam (in the east).” The terms are poetic; the north is the region of mystery, an…
The surprising thing here is that God says Cyrus, the one He's "stirring up" from the north and east, will "call upon my name." This isn't just about Cyrus being a tool of God; it implies he will acknowledge and proclaim the Lord as the source of his power, something echoed in his later decree allowing the Jewish exiles to return home.
God declares that He has orchestrated events from distant lands, bringing forth a powerful ruler from the north and east. This figure, who will acknowledge God's name, will decisively defeat rulers and nations with overwhelming force, treating them as insignificant as clay under a potter's foot. This prediction serves as undeniable proof of God's sovereignty and foreknowledge, contrasting His power with the impotence of idols and challenging the nations to demonstrate their own divine claims.
God declares that He has orchestrated events from distant lands, bringing forth a powerful ruler from the north and east. This figure, who will acknowledge God's name, will decisively defeat rulers and nations with overwhelming force, treating them as insignificant as clay under a potter's foot. This prediction serves as undeniable proof of God's sovereignty and foreknowledge, contrasting His power with the impotence of idols and challenging the nations to demonstrate their own divine claims.
"I stirred up one from the north, and he has come, from the rising of the sun, and he shall call upon my name; he shall trample on rulers as on mortar, as the potter treads clay." — The surprising thing here is that God says Cyrus, the one He's "stirring up" from the north and east, will "call upon my name." This isn't just about Cyrus being a tool of God; it implies he will ack…
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Last reviewed October 2026