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.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The phrase "man of my counsel" isn't just about someone who follows orders; it highlights how God uses individuals, even those who don't know Him, as instruments to execute His sovereign purposes. This verse emphasizes God's active involvement, not just predicting the future but orchestrating it through specific people, regardless of their personal relationship with Him.
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.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This passage comes right after God contrasts his eternal power and faithfulness with the impotence of idols, whom the Babylonians carried around as burdens. God then assures his people that he has carried them from birth and will continue to do so, emphasizing his unique power and the certainty of his plans. This verse introduces a specific executor of God's will—a powerful conqueror from the east—and reiterates God's absolute control and determination to fulfill His purposes.
Who is this 'ravenous bird,' and why does God use such an image to describe someone acting on His behalf?
The prophet Isaiah uses vivid imagery here. The 'ravenous bird from the east' is widely understood by scholars to refer to Cyrus the Great, the Persian king who would conquer Babylon and allow the Israelites to return to their homeland.
In a world of shifting plans and broken promises, what does it mean that God has 'spoken' and 'purposed' His will?
The latter part of the verse rings with absolute divine certainty: 'I have spoken, and I will bring it to pass; I have purposed, and I will do it.' This isn't a statement of hope or intention; it's a declaration of unshakeable reality.
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Understand the original words
yatsar · Hebrew Verb
In a biblical context, this refers to divine determination or the carrying out of God’s sovereign will. It signifies that God is not merely suggesting a plan, but actively executing the purposes of His will in history.
This verse's powerful declaration of God's sovereignty and purpose is deeply rooted in the rise of Cyrus the Great. God is depicted as orchestrating history, even using a foreign pagan king like Cyrus (symbolized as a 'ravenous bird' for his swiftness and might) to achieve His divine plan of restoring His people.
c. 650-625 BC
Cyrus the Great Born
Cyrus II, later known as Cyrus the Great, is believed to have been born during this period, setting the stage for his future rise to power.
c. 559 BC
Cyrus Becomes King of Persia
Cyrus ascended to the throne of Anshan, a region in Persia, marking the beginning of his significant political and military career.
550 BC
Cyrus Overthrows the Median Empire
Cyrus led the Persians to defeat the Medes, a major power in the region, consolidating his control over a vast territory and establishing the Achaemenid Empire.
547-546 BC
Cyrus Conquers Lydia
The Lydian kingdom, a wealthy and influential state in Asia Minor, fell to Cyrus, further expanding the reach of the Persian Empire.
539 BC— this verse
Cyrus Captures Babylon
In a pivotal moment, Cyrus conquered the Neo-Babylonian Empire, a significant event that had profound implications for the region and the Jewish people.
538 BC
Edict of Cyrus and Jewish Return
Following the capture of Babylon, Cyrus issued an edict allowing the exiled Jews to return to their homeland and rebuild the Temple in Jerusalem.
This passage speaks to God's ultimate sovereignty in changing times and seasons, and in setting up and removing kings, which directly relates to Isaiah's assertion of God's absolute control over future events and the rise of rulers like Cyrus.
Jeremiah 25:9This verse, like Isaiah 46:11, foretells God summoning a foreign king (Nebuchadnezzar in this case) from the north to execute judgment upon the land, highlighting the consistent theme of God using nations and rulers as instruments of His purpose.
Isaiah 45:1This verse directly names Cyrus as God's 'anointed' and speaks of God empowering him to subdue nations, providing a specific example of the principle described in Isaiah 46:11, where God orchestrates the rise and actions of individuals for His plans.
Romans 9:11-20Paul uses the analogy of the potter and the clay to explain God's sovereign right to choose and use individuals for His purposes, regardless of their inherent qualities, mirroring Isaiah's depiction of God using Cyrus as His instrument.
Acts 17:24-28Paul's sermon on Mars Hill emphasizes that God is the Creator of all things and the one who determines the times and places for nations and people, reinforcing the idea that God controls history and uses whomever He pleases to accomplish His will, as seen with Cyrus.
barnesIsaiah 46:11: "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."
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 Gen…
pooleIsaiah 46:11: "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."
Calling a ravenous bird; Cyrus, called a bird for his swiftness and great expedition, and ravenous for his fierceness and victoriousness over his enemies. From the east; from Persia, as Isaiah 41:2 . That executeth my counsel, concerning the deliverance of my people, and the destruction of their c…
The phrase "man of my counsel" isn't just about someone who follows orders; it highlights how God uses individuals, even those who don't know Him, as instruments to execute His sovereign purposes. This verse emphasizes God's active involvement, not just predicting the future but orchestrating it through specific people, regardless of their personal relationship with Him.
This passage comes right after God contrasts his eternal power and faithfulness with the impotence of idols, whom the Babylonians carried around as burdens. God then assures his people that he has carried them from birth and will continue to do so, emphasizing his unique power and the certainty of his plans. This verse introduces a specific executor of God's will—a powerful conqueror from the east—and reiterates God's absolute control and determination to fulfill His purposes.
This passage comes right after God contrasts his eternal power and faithfulness with the impotence of idols, whom the Babylonians carried around as burdens. God then assures his people that he has carried them from birth and will continue to do so, emphasizing his unique power and the certainty of his plans. This verse introduces a specific executor of God's will—a powerful conqueror from the east—and reiterates God's absolute control and determination to fulfill His purposes.
"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." — The phrase "man of my counsel" isn't just about someone who follows orders; it highlights how God uses individuals, even those who don't know Him, as instruments to execute His sovereign purposes. Th…
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Last reviewed October 2026