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.
For the sake of Jacob my servant and Israel my chosen people, I have called you by name and given you a title of honor, even though you don't know me.
God is saying He chose and honored someone for the benefit of His people Israel, even though that person didn't know God personally.
📚 Historical Context
In the book of Isaiah, written during a period when the people of Israel were in exile under Babylonian rule, God foretells the rise of Cyrus, the Persian king, as an instrument of deliverance for His chosen nation. This verse highlights God's sovereignty by addressing Cyrus by name centuries before his birth, promising to use him to free the Israelites and restore their land, even though Cyrus did not worship the God of Israel. Historically, this prophecy was fulfilled around 539 BC when Cyrus conquered Babylon and issued a decree allowing the Jews to return home.
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