This verse is the climax of the section. It explicitly names Cyrus the Persian emperor for the first time in Isaiah. God appointed him as his agent to bring his people back from exile and to rebuild Jerusalem and the Temple (see the comments on 41.2, 25). The Babylonians destroyed Jerusalem and the Temple when they captured Jerusalem in 587 B.C. Now God promises to have them rebuilt through Cyrus. The people in exile longed for this to happen (see Psa 137).
Who says of Cyrus may also be rendered “who says to Cyrus” (so Good News Translation, Revised English Bible, New Jerusalem Bible), but this is less likely since Cyrus is referred to in the third person in the following quote. Cyrus was king of Persia, but through his victories over the empires of his day (Media, Lydia and Babylonia), he became the emperor of the largest empire ever known up to that time. His policy toward conquered people was one of tolerance and understanding. Some historians regard his reign as a turning point in ancient history.
He is my shepherd: God calls Cyrus his shepherd. God gave this title to anyone responsible for leading his people, especially the king (see, for example, 2 Sam 5.2; Ezek 34; Zech 13.7). By calling Cyrus my shepherd, God is claiming that Cyrus will be a leader like an Israelite king. Good News Translation renders this clause nonfiguratively by saying “You are the one who will rule for me.” Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch keeps the metaphor of the shepherd with “I make you the shepherd of my people,” and so does Bible en français courant with “This is the shepherd whom I have appointed.”
And he shall fulfil all my purpose means Cyrus will do everything God wants him to do (compare 48.14). The Hebrew verb rendered fulfil is the same one translated “performs” in verse 26, so it is a keyword in this section. Good News Translation omits the adjective all, but translators should keep it. It stresses that Cyrus will do everything that God desires for his people to return from exile. The Hebrew word rendered purpose sometimes means “pleasure,” so New International Version renders all my purpose as “all that I please.” New Jerusalem Bible has “my entire will.”
Saying of Jerusalem, ‘She shall be built’: It is not clear who is speaking here and in the next line. It could be Yahweh who orders the rebuilding of Jerusalem and the Temple (so New Revised Standard Version; see the second example below), or it could be Cyrus (so Good News Translation and most other versions; see the first and third examples below). Translators may choose either view. For saying of Jerusalem, New Jerusalem Bible has “by saying to Jerusalem” (similarly Good News Translation), but this is less likely since Jerusalem is referred to in the third person in the following quote. She shall be rebuilt repeats the promise concerning Jerusalem and the other cities of Judah in verse 26 (see the comments there).
And of the temple, ‘Your foundation shall be laid’: This line is parallel to the previous one, so the verb saying is implied here. Your foundation shall be laid is better rendered “Her foundations will be laid,” which means the foundations of the Temple will be laid again (see the comments on 28.16). The rebuilding of the whole Temple is in view here (so Contemporary English Version).
There are three embedded quotes within the LORD’s speech in this verse. For languages that prefer indirect speech for them, see the last example below. Translators should indicate that the LORD’s speech concludes at the end of this verse.
For the translation of this verse consider the following examples:
• I say concerning Cyrus, ‘He is my shepherd
who will fully accomplish my will.’
He will say that Jerusalem should be rebuilt,
and that the foundations of the Temple should be laid again.
• I say of Cyrus, ‘He is my shepherd
who will complete all my plans.’
I say of Jerusalem, ‘It will be rebuilt,’
and of the Temple, ‘It will be restored.’”
• I say that Cyrus is my shepherd,
and that he will carry out all my purposes.
He will call on you to rebuild Jerusalem,
and to restore the Temple.”
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 .