Albert Barnes Commentary Isaiah 46:11

"calling a ravenous bird from the east, the man of my counsel from a far country; yea, I have spoken, I will also bring it to pass; I have purposed, I will also do it." — Isaiah 46:11 (ASV)

Calling a ravenous bird from the east - There can be no doubt that Cyrus is intended here (see the notes at Isaiah 41:2, Isaiah 41:25). The east here means Persia.

The word rendered ‘ravenous bird’ (עיט ‛ayiṭ) is also rendered ‘fowl’ in Job 28:7; ‘bird’ or ‘birds’ in Jeremiah 12:9; ‘fowls’ in Genesis 15:11 and Isaiah 18:6; and ‘ravenous birds’ in Ezekiel 39:4. It does not occur elsewhere in the Bible.

It is used here as an emblem of a warlike king. The emblem may either denote the rapidity of his movements—moving with the flight of an eagle; or it may denote the devastation he would spread—an emblem in either sense especially applicable to Cyrus.

It is not uncommon in the Bible to compare a warlike prince to an eagle (Jeremiah 49:22; Ezekiel 17:3). The idea here is probably that Cyrus would come with great power and velocity upon nations, like the king of birds, and would pounce suddenly and unexpectedly upon his prey.

Perhaps there may also be an allusion here to the standard or banner of Cyrus. Xenophon (Cyrop. vii.) says that it was a golden eagle affixed to a long spear. It is well remarked by Lowth that Xenophon used the very word which the prophet uses here, as closely as possible, when expressing it in Greek letters.

The prophet's word is עיט ‛ayiṭ; the Greek word used by Xenophon is ἀετὸς aetos. The Chaldee, however, has given a different rendering to this passage: ‘I, who say that I will gather my captivity from the east, and will lead publicly like a swift bird from a distant land the sons of Abraham, my friend.’

The man that executes my counsel - Margin, as Hebrew, ‘Of my counsel.’ This may mean either the man whom he had designated by his counsel, or the man who would execute his purpose.

Yea, I have spoken - He spoke it by the prophets. The idea is that all that he has spoken will certainly be accomplished.