I will give you the treasures of darkness is a figurative expression that means God will give Cyrus hidden wealth. For treasures see 2.7. Darkness is not a figure for evil here, but for secrecy. The treasures of darkness refers to riches that people hide in a safe place. New Jerusalem Bible and Bible en français courant say “the secret treasures.”

And the hoards in secret places is parallel and synonymous with the previous line. The Hebrew noun rendered hoards refers to valuable items. It is the same term used for the money that Joseph returned to his brothers’ sacks when they came to buy food in Egypt (see Gen 43.23, where it is translated “treasure”). Secret places is literally “hiding places.” So the hoards in secret places also refers to riches that people hide in a safe place. Bible en français courant says “the riches that are hidden well.” Since the first two lines are synonymous, Good News Translation combines them, saying “I will give you treasures from dark, secret places.”

That you may know that it is I, the LORD, the God of Israel, who call you by your name: This is why Yahweh assists Cyrus to defeat other nations and to accumulate wealth (verses 2-3b). He wants him to know exactly who has called him to his task. It is Yahweh, Israel’s God. Call you by your name means that Yahweh personally called Cyrus to serve him, not that he simply used his name to call him (compare 43.1). Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch makes the meaning of this expression explicit by saying “has called you by name and has put you in his service,” which may be a helpful model for other languages.

For the translation of this verse consider the following examples:

• I will give you treasures that are hidden away,
and valuables that are held in secret places.
Thus you will know that I, Yahweh, God of Israel,
am the one who has called you personally.

• I will give you treasures that people hide,
and precious things that they keep secretly.
Through all this you will know that I, Yahweh, Israel’s God,
have called you personally [to serve me].

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 .