I am the LORD, and there is none else, there is no God besides me: I {g} girded thee, though thou hast not known me:

(g) I have given you strength, power and authority.

Wesley's Notes

45:5 I girded - I made thee strong and active, and disposed thee for these great and warlike enterprizes.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

5. (Isa 42:8; 43:3, 11; 44:8; 46:9).

girded thee-whereas "I will loose (the girdle off) the loins of kings" (Isa 45:1), strengthening thee, but enfeebling them before thee.

though . not known me-(Isa 45:4). God knows His elect before they are made to know Him (Ga 4:9; Joh 15:16).

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

45:5-10 There is no God beside Jehovah. There is nothing done without him. He makes peace, put here for all good; and creates evil, not the evil of sin, but the evil of punishment. He is the Author of all that is true, holy, good, or happy; and evil, error, and misery, came into the world by his permission, through the wilful apostacy of his creatures, but are restrained and overruled to his righteous purpose. This doctrine is applied, for the comfort of those that earnestly longed, yet quietly waited, for the redemption of Israel. The redemption of sinners by the Son of God, and the pouring out the Spirit, to give success to the gospel, are chiefly here intended. We must not expect salvation without righteousness; together the Lord hath created them. Let not oppressors oppose God's designs for his people. Let not the poor oppressed murmur, as if God dealt unkindly with them. Men are but earthen pots; they are broken potsherds, and are very much made so by mutual contentions. To contend with Him is as senseless as for clay to find fault with the potter. Let us turn God's promises into prayers, beseeching him that salvation may abound among us, and let us rest assured that the Judge of all the earth will do right.