Isa 41:2 | NET2full | STEP | Who stirs up this one from the east ? Who officially commissions him for service ? He hands nations over to him and enables him to subdue kings . He makes them like dust with his sword , like windblown straw with his bow .

‏ Isaiah 41:2

2 Who stirs up this one from the east? ^{▼▼sn The expression this one from the east refers to the Persian conqueror Cyrus, as later texts indicate (see 44:28-45:6; 46:11; 48:14-16).}
Who ^{▼▼tn The interrogative particle is understood by ellipsis.} officially commissions him for service? ^{▼▼tn Heb “[in] righteousness called him to his foot.”}
He hands nations over to him ^{▼▼tn Heb “he [the Lord] places before him [Cyrus] nations.”}
and enables him to subdue ^{▼▼tn The verb יַרְדְּ (yard) is an otherwise unattested Hiphil form from רָדָה (radah, “rule”). But the Hiphil makes no sense with “kings” as object; one must understand an ellipsis and supply “him” (Cyrus) as the object. The Qumran scroll 1QIsaa has יוֹרִיד (yorid), which appears to be a Hiphil form from יָרַד (yarad, “go down”). Others suggest reading יָרֹד (yarod), a Qal form from רָדַד (radad, “beat down”).} kings.
He makes them like dust with his sword,
like windblown straw with his bow. ^{▼▼sn The point is that they are powerless before Cyrus’ military power and scatter before him.}