In this verse Yahweh says he has prompted Cyrus to free the Israelites from exile and to rebuild the city of Jerusalem.
I have aroused him in righteousness: The pronoun I is emphatic in Hebrew, as in the previous verse. The Hebrew verb rendered aroused is the same one translated “stirred up” in 41.2 and 25 (see the comments there). The pronoun him refers to Cyrus, which New Revised Standard Version, Good News Translation, Contemporary English Version, New International Version, and Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch make explicit for clarity. Other languages may find this helpful. For the phrase in righteousness, see the comments on 42.6. As in 42.6, it is not clear whether this phrase refers to the righteousness of Cyrus or God. If it is God, then it means God calls him because of his own sense of justice. If it is Cyrus, then the whole clause means God has called him to bring a just victory. Good News Translation hints at both meanings by saying “to fulfill my purpose and put things right,” but this rendering is too long. New International Version expresses the first sense by saying “in my righteousness.” We prefer the second sense, which may be expressed here by saying “for a just victory.”
And I will make straight all his ways is a figurative expression that means God will make it easy for Cyrus to bring justice. For the Hebrew verb rendered make straight, see the comments on Isa 45.2 (where it is rendered “level”) and 40.3. Good News Translation keeps the imagery here, saying “I will straighten out every road that he travels,” while Bible en français courant renders it nonfiguratively with “I will make everything that he undertakes easy to achieve.”
He shall build my city refers again to the promise made in 44.26 and 28. God will prompt Cyrus to rebuild the city of Jerusalem. Build may be rendered “rebuild,” as in Good News Translation and many other versions. Good News Translation, Bible en français courant, and Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch state explicitly that my city is “Jerusalem.”
And set my exiles free: God will also prompt Cyrus to bring his people back from exile in Babylonia. For the word “exile” it may be useful to reread the notes at 5.13.
Not for price or reward: Cyrus will not receive personal gain to rebuild Jerusalem and free God’s people. The Hebrew word rendered price refers to payment that is given for work accomplished. God will not pay Cyrus for what he prompts him to do. The Hebrew word for reward is better rendered “bribe,” as in 1.23. God will also not bribe Cyrus. Good News Translation expresses both ideas here, saying “No one has hired him or bribed him to do this.” Since price and reward are parallel, they may be combined; for example, Bible en français courant has “And that without demanding a penny…!” and Contemporary English Version says “without being paid a thing.”
Says the LORD of hosts: This is a standard way to conclude divine speeches; see the comments on 3.15, where the expression is a little different. See also 1.9 for the LORD of hosts.
For the translation of this verse consider the following examples:
• I have prompted him to bring just victory,
and I will make his ways straight.
He will rebuild my city and set my exiles free.
He will do this freely without payment.”
This is what the LORD of hosts says.
• I have raised up Cyrus for justice,
and I will his path easy.
He will rebuild my city and set my exiled ones free.
He will do this without being paid or bribed.”
The Almighty LORD has said this.
Quoted with permission from Ogden, Graham S. and Sterk, Jan. A Handbook on Isaiah. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2011. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .