Isa 41:2 | NETfull | 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? ^{▼▼ 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 ^{▼▼ The interrogative particle is understood by ellipsis.} officially commissions him for service? ^{▼▼ Heb “[in] righteousness called him to his foot.”}
He hands nations over to him, ^{▼▼ Heb “he [the Lord] places before him [Cyrus] nations.”}
and enables him to subdue ^{▼▼ The verb יַרְדְּ (yard^e) 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 1QIsa^a has יוֹרִד (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. ^{▼▼ The point is that they are powerless before Cyrus’ military power and scatter before him.}