Did God Create Evil?

A querist asks, “Using the King James Version, Isaiah 45:7 KJV says that God creates evil. Some people teach that God created evil. I know this cannot possibly be true, for God hates evil (Proverbs 6:16-19). Can you please comment on this text where I can understand it?”

In Isaiah 45:7 KJV, the King James Version states: “I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these things.

It is unfortunate that the King James translators used the word, “evil” (Strong's 7451 - see definition #2) in the above text. Both the English Standard and New King James Version better translates the Hebrew as “calamity.

The very idea that God created evil is a false teaching as James points out in (James 1:13; cf. Habakkuk 1:12-13). With this thought in mind, let us look at the context surrounding Isaiah 45:7.

In Isaiah 45:1; cf. Isaiah 41:2; Isaiah 41:25; Isaiah 46:11, God is going to use Cyrus, king of the Persian empire (2 Chronicles 36:22-23; Daniel 6:28; Daniel 10:1; Daniel 10:13), to subdue the Babylonians (Isaiah 47:1-15). He would eventually be charged by God to rebuild the temple in Jerusalem (2 Chronicles 36:22-23; Ezra 1:1-4).

Given the above background, the text in Isaiah 45:7 is simply stating that God is sovereign over both "light" and "darkness." Light, representing Cyrus’ assured victory (Isaiah 45:1-4) and darkness representing “calamity” to Babylon (Isaiah 47:1-5).

The term “peace” in Isaiah 45:7 KJV, refers to the peace that Israel will enjoy after their captivity ends (Isaiah 45:17; Isaiah 26:1-5). The term “evil” in Isaiah 45:7 KJV, refers to a "calamity" (Isaiah 45:7 ESV) or woe brought upon various heathen nations by God including Babylon (cf. (Isaiah 31:1-2; Isaiah 47:1-5).

Mike Riley, Gospel Snippets

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