For Jacob my servant's sake, and Israel mine elect, I have even called thee by thy name: I have surnamed thee, though thou hast not known me.
Ver. 4. For Jacob my servant's sake.] That the enemies of my people being subdued, they may have some breathing while, and liberty to live quietly in their own country. For which purpose also, it was the will of God that this prophecy of Isaiah should be made known to Cyrus, for the good of the Jews, that he might favour them; and so it was, as appeareth by Ezra 1:2, and by Josephus, Antiq., lib. xi. cap. 1.
I have even called thee by thy name.] Thy name of honour; a for Cyrus signifieth the "sun," saith Plutarch; "Lord," say others, in the Persian; as in Hebrew it seemeth to signify an heir, or possessor. Some derive our word sir from it. Cyrus was at first called Achzadat and Spaco, being the son of Cambyses, a noble Persian, and Mandane, the daughter of Astyages, king of Medes. The name of Cyrus he took when he entered upon the kingdom; and that from Cyrus, a river of Persia, as some hold. b
I have surnamed thee.] Or, I have entitled thee, scil., My shepherd, mine anointed, &c.
Though thou hast not known me,] scil., Savingly. For albeit he knew the true God in part, and acknowledged him to be great above other gods; yet he forsook not his idols, saith Jerome, and therefore perished miserably by the hands of the Scythians. Nevertheless, others c are of the opinion, that he was instructed by Daniel, and brought to a true belief, as was also Darius.
a H. Stephan.
b De Cyro fluvio scribit Strabo, lib. xv.
c Scultet.