Quoted more in the New Testament than any other Old Testament prophet, Isaiah has long been considered the “prince of prophets” and is one of the most significant and influential voices in all of Scripture. Although his ministry and message were largely focused on God’s judgment of Judah’s sin, corruption, and idolatry, the later chapters of Isaiah contain some of the most hopeful promises of mercy and restoration, centered on the coming of the Messiah, Jesus Christ, and the eternal salvation He would offer through His death and resurrection. For this reason, many have dubbed Isaiah the “evangelical prophet” and his book the “fifth gospel.”
Who Was Isaiah the Prophet?
Isaiah, the son of Amoz, is introduced in the Old Testament in the book of Isaiah, one of the five major prophets of the Bible. It is worth noting, however, that Isaiah and the other major prophets, which include Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Daniel, and Lamentations, are distinguished from the twelve minor prophets of the Old Testament, not because of the significance of their message or size of their ministry, but rather, the length of their respective books.
As a point of comparison, the book of Isaiah contains 66 chapters, whereas a book like Joel, one of the minor prophets, only has three.
Like all biblical prophets, however, Isaiah was called to deliver a divine message and a series of instructions to God’s people. Never did he act in his own authority or offer his own opinions, insights, or ideas. Isaiah spoke as directed by the Lord and communicated only what was revealed to him by the Holy Spirit. In doing so, Isaiah served as an authoritative spokesman and mouthpiece for God to the nation.
Born in the 8th century B.C., Isaiah’s ministry began during the reign of King Uzziah of Judah (790 – 739 B.C.) and continued through the reigns of Jotham (739 - 731), Ahaz (731 - 715), and Hezekiah (715 – 686), lasting over forty years. As a contemporary of the prophets Micah and Hosea, Isaiah prophesied during the final years of the northern kingdom of Israel but ministered almost exclusively to the southern kingdom of Judah, spending most of his time in and around Jerusalem.
Given the fact that Isaiah had regular access to the king and maintained close contact with the royal court (see Isaiah 7:3), many scholars have speculated that Isaiah came from noble birth and a family of high rank, perhaps even one with familial ties to the royal family of Judah.
2 Chronicles 32:32 records that Isaiah later penned a biography of King Hezekiah, giving further credence to the belief that Isaiah was a political insider even prior to his prophetic calling.
When called to prophesy during the reign of King Uzziah, Isaiah received his assignment with gladness and readiness. However, from the very beginning, God warned Isaiah that his ministry would be one of coming judgment (Isaiah 6:9-13). Furthermore, despite the truth of his message and credibility of his prophecy (see Isaiah 37:6-7, 36-38; 44:28; 45:1; 38:5; 2 Kings 20:7), Isaiah’s warnings would go largely unheeded (Isaish 6:10). Accordingly, the people Isaiah was called to minister to would “listen but not perceive; look but not understand.” (Isaiah 6:9) In this way, Isaiah foreshadowed those in Israel who would later reject Jesus as their Messiah, who came to bring light to those with “eyes to see but could not see and ears to hear but could not hear” (see Matthew 13:13-17).
Nevertheless, the prophet remained faithful to his calling and committed to his message to the very end. And in delivering this message, Isaiah proved to be a competent and skilled communicator. In fact, Isaiah’s writing contains some of the most effective imagery and beautiful poetry in all of Scripture. The early church father Jerome even likened Isaiah to Demosthenes, the legendary Greek orator. Some of the most famous and widely quoted verses in the Bible come from the book of Isaiah.
On another note, the Bible tells us that Isaiah was also married to a woman described as a “prophetess” (Isaiah 8:3). Together, they had two sons named Shear-Jashub, meaning “A Remnant Shall Return” (Isaiah 7:3), and Maher-Shalal-Hash-Baz, meaning “Speed the Spoil, Hasten the Body” (Isaiah 8:3). In many ways, the uniqueness of these themes speaks to the larger themes of Isaiah’s prophetic ministry as the promise of God’s judgment would be followed by an eventual outpouring of compassion and restoration.
According to Jewish tradition, Isaiah died after a lengthy ministry at the hands of the wicked King Manasseh by being sawn in half. The author of Hebrews seemingly supports this tradition in his description of the suffering endured by the heroes of the faith throughout history (Hebrews 11:36-38). In any case, like the prophets of old, Isaiah was regarded in Scripture as a man “of whom the world was not worthy” (Hebrews 11:38).
What Was Isaiah’s Mission and Message?
As mentioned, Isaiah’s ministry was dedicated to the southern kingdom of Judah and its people during the reigns of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah. Like all true prophets, his mission was divine in nature, and his message was the direct revelation of God.
For historical context, the nation of Israel had divided into two kingdoms, north and south, in 931 B.C. during the reign of Rehoboam, Solomon’s son. In the generations that followed, Israel’s northern kings abandoned God and led the nation into idolatry and apostasy. Only a handful of Judah’s southern kings were regarded as righteous in the eyes of God, and the southern kingdom often fell into periods of moral depravity and idol worship.
At the time Isaiah received his prophetic calling, the northern kingdom of Israel was already in a state of moral and political decline. In fact, in 722 B.C., roughly eighteen years after Isaiah began his ministry, the Assyrian Empire had risen to power and conquered the northern kingdom, leaving Judah, the southern kingdom, wary of similar invasion.
Seeking to forge new political and military alliances where they could, the faithless kings of Judah looked to foreign nations above God for deliverance and security. This greatly displeased God, who sent Isaiah to warn Judah’s faithless kings against trusting pagan kings and making foreign alliances instead of trusting Him.
Furthermore, despite Judah’s occasional seasons of prosperity, the nation continued to experience a rapid decline in its moral and spiritual purity. As a result, God turned to the prophet Isaiah to condemn the empty ritualism of his day (see Isaiah 1:10-15) and address the idolatry that had become rampant amongst the people (see Isaiah 40:18-20).
From the beginning of Isaiah’s ministry, God expressed His ultimate disappointment with His people, referring to them as a “sinful nation weighed down with iniquity.” He continued, “they have abandoned the Lord, they have despised the Holy One of Israel, they have turned away from Him.” (Isaiah 1:4)
Of Judah, God would further assess, “sons I have reared and brought up, but they have revolted against Me. An ox knows its owner, and a donkey its master’s manger, but Israel does not know, my people do not understand.” (Isaiah 1:2-3)
As a result, Isaiah was instructed to warn the people of Judah of their eventual destruction if they did not turn from their sin. Their downfall would not come at the hands of Assyrians, as the people feared, but at the hands of a new emergent power, Babylon, which would be the instrument of God’s judgment in the years to come. If the people did not repent of their idolatry, depravity, and corruption, Jerusalem would eventually be overthrown (Isaiah 6:11) and the people would be deported and taken into captivity in Babylon (Isaiah 6:12; 39:6-7). This would eventually happen with the fall of Jerusalem in 586 B.C. at the hands of King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon.
What are the Major Themes in the Book of Isaiah?
In many ways, the basic theme of Isaiah is found in the meaning of Isaiah’s name – “salvation is of the Lord.” Generally speaking, chapters 1–39 of Isaiah expose man’s need for salvation, while chapters 40–66 reveal God’s provision of salvation.
For the nation of Judah, judgment would come in the form of destruction, captivity, and exile. However, in His love and mercy, God would eventually lead a remnant of His people back to Jerusalem to rebuild their city and their nation. And yet, the restoration of Israel was only a temporary earthly blessing compared to the eternal riches of salvation promised in Isaiah’s prophetic visions of the Messiah, the rightful king of Israel, who would redeem His people and sit on His throne forever.
Structurally, the book of Isaiah outlines this theme in greater detail.
- Chapters 1-5 introduce readers to God’s indictment of the nation of Judah, His call to repentance, and Isaiah’s visions of coming judgment.
- Chapter 6 explores Isaiah’s personal, prophetic calling. Here, the prophet is given a vision of the Lord, in all His glory, seated on His throne. “Holy, Holy, Holy, is the Lord of hosts, the whole earth is full of His glory,” proclaim those who sit in His presence and at the foot of God’s throne (Isaiah 6:3). And having beheld the majesty of the true king of Israel for himself, Isaiah humbly laments, “woe is me, for I am ruined! Because I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips; For my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts.” (Isaiah 6:5). Nevertheless, when God asks, “whom shall I send, and who will go for Us?”, it is Isaiah who boldly replies, “here am I. Send me!” (Isaiah 6:8)
- Chapters 7-12 provide a case study of Judah’s problem, with Isaiah addressing the fear and the faithless actions of Judah’s King Ahaz.
- Chapters 13-27 chronicle Isaiah’s prophecies against the nations.
- Chapters 28-35 outline Isaiah’s chastisement of Judah, which highlights the nation’s blindness and foolishness.
- Chapters 36-39 provide a historical transition from the threat of Assyria to the eventual emergence of Babylon, which would serve as the instrument of God’s judgment. Here, Isaiah highlights Jerusalem’s stunning defeat over the Assyrian king Sennacherib, the Assyrian empire’s eventual fall to Babylon, and God’s gracious deliverance of King Hezekiah (of Judah) from a fatal illness.
- Chapters 40-66 end the book of Isaiah with the forecast of certain exile at the hands of Babylon, followed by God’s comfort and a promise to return a remnant of Judah to Jerusalem and restore Zion as a place of worship for the nations. This is also the passage where we find some of the most important prophetic visions of the coming Messiah and the salvation of Israel and all who put their trust in the Son of God, the “suffering servant” (see Isaiah 53), and the true, eternal king of Israel.
What are the Most Famous Verses in Isaiah?
More than a prophet, Isaiah was also a writer of exceptional literary skill. Some have even referred to him as the Shakespeare of the prophets and his book the Mount Everest of Hebrew prophecy. Pastor John MacArthur notes that Isaiah’s “writing style has no rival in its versatility of expression, brilliance of imagery, and richness of vocabulary” (755). In fact, some of the most quoted and widely memorized verses in the Bible come from the writings of Isaiah.
Here are some of the most famous verses from the book of Isaiah:
Isaiah 1:18 – “Your sins are as scarlet, they will be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they will be like wool.’”
Isaiah 7:14 – “Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, a virgin will be with child and bear a son, and she will call His name Immanuel.”
Isaiah 9:6 – “For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; and the government will rest on His shoulders; and His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.”
Isaiah 14:12-21 – “How you have fallen from heaven, O star of the morning, son of the dawn! You have been cut down to the earth, You who have weakened the nations!”
Isaiah 25:8-9 – He will swallow up death for all time, and the Lord God will wipe tears away from all faces, and He will remove the reproach of His people from all the earth;
for the Lord has spoken. And it will be said in that day, ‘Behold, this is our God for whom we have waited that He might save us. This is the Lord for whom we have waited;
Let us rejoice and be glad in His salvation.’”
Isaiah 26:3 – “The steadfast of mind You will keep in perfect peace, because he trusts in You.”
Isaiah 33:14 – “Sinners in Zion are terrified; trembling has seized the godless. ‘Who among us can live with the consuming fire? Who among us can live with continual burning?”
Isaiah 40:8 – “The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God stands forever.”
Isaiah 40:31 – “Yet those who wait for the Lord will gain new strength; they will mount up with wings like eagles, they will run and not get tired, they will walk and not become weary.”
Isaiah 43:1-2 – “But now, thus says the Lord, your Creator, O Jacob, and He who formed you, O Israel, ‘Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name; you are Mine! When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they will not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched, nor will the flame burn you.’”
Isaiah 53:3 – “He was despised and forsaken of men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; and like one from whom men hide their face He was despised, and we did not esteem Him.”
Isaiah 53:5 – “But He was pierced through for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the chastening for our well-being fell upon Him, and by His scourging we are healed.”
Isaiah 55:8-9 – “’For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways,’ declares the Lord. ‘For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts.
Isaiah 55:11 – “So will My word be which goes forth from My mouth; it will not return to Me empty, without accomplishing what I desire, and without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it.”
Isaiah 64:6 – “For all of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a filthy garment; and all of us wither like a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away.”
How Does Isaiah Point to Jesus Christ?
We know that portions of Isaiah’s message and ministry were directed at the people of Judah and warned of coming judgment at the hands of God for the sin, idolatry, and corruption of the nation. However, the true treasure of the book of Isaiah is ultimately found in the prophet’s visions of the coming Messiah and the eternal salvation that would one day come to both Jews and Gentiles through the person of Jesus Christ.
In fact, renowned Bible commentator Matthew Henry writes that, “under the veil of deliverance from Babylon, Isaiah points to a much greater deliverance, which was to be effected by the Messiah; and seldom does he mention the one, without alluding at the same time to the other; nay, he is often so much enraptured with the prospect of the more distant deliverance, as to lose sight of that which was nearer, and to dwell on the Messiah’s person, office, character, and kingdom.”
For this reason, Isaiah has often been called the “evangelical prophet” and his book the “fifth gospel.”
But how do the prophecies of Isaiah point to Jesus Christ, and why are they so important?
At an early point in His ministry, Jesus entered the synagogue in Nazareth, His hometown, and read from a scroll of the book of Isaiah. Here, Jesus quotes directly from Isaiah 61, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, Because He anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor. He has sent Me to proclaim release to the captives, And recovery of sight to the blind, To set free those who are oppressed, To proclaim the favorable year of the Lord.” (see Luke 4:18-19)
Following this reading, Jesus then makes one of the boldest declarations of His ministry: “Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.” (Luke 4:21)
Understandably, this got the attention of everyone in attendance. But what was Jesus really saying?
Though some have tried to argue otherwise, Jesus was unabashedly proclaiming that He was the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy regarding the Messiah. In essence, Jesus had read from a known passage in Isaiah and finished by telling those listening, “what I’ve just read and what you’ve studied your whole life… that’s me.”
The New Testament authors clearly believed this as well, recognizing that the many prophecies of the Messiah found in Isaiah were fulfilled in the life, ministry, and person of Jesus Christ. In fact, throughout the New Testament, the inspired biblical authors make the connection between Isaiah and Jesus on multiple occasions.
For example, Isaiah prophesied that the Messiah would be born a king of the line of David and would sit on the throne of David for eternity (Isaiah 9:7; 2 Samuel 7:12-13; Jeremiah 23:5, 30:9). Jesus’ ancestral connection to David is highlighted in Matthew 1:1, Luke 1:32, and Acts 13:22-23. Isaiah also promised that the Messiah would be a “rod out of the stem of Jesse (David’s father)” (Isaiah 11:1-2). This is again confirmed in Matthew 1:6 and Acts 13:22-23.
Isaiah wrote that, “a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us” (Isaiah 9:6) Following the birth of Jesus, the angels announced to the shepherds of Bethlehem, “for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” (Luke 2:11-12; emphasis added)
Isaiah prophesied that the Messiah would be born of a virgin (Isaiah 7:14). Both Matthew and Luke highlight the virgin birth in describing the conception and birth of Jesus in Matthew 1:18-23 and Luke 1:26-35 respectively.
Regarding the life, character, and office of the Messiah, Isaiah also prophesied many things the New Testament writers connect to Jesus.
For example:
- the Messiah would call those who were not His people (Isaiah 55:4-5; Hosea 2:23; see Romans 9:23-26)
- He would be a “stone of stumbling” to the Jews (Isaiah 8:14; see Romans 9:31-33).
- He would be the “cornerstone” and the stone the builders rejected (Isaiah 28:16; see 1 Peter 2:6; Romans 9:33).
- He would cause the deaf to hear and the blind to see (Isaiah 29:18; Isaiah 49:16; see Matthew 11:5).
- the government would be on His shoulders (Isaiah 9:6; see Matthew 28:18; 1 Corinthians 15:24-25).
- someone (John the Baptist) would prepare the way for His coming (Isaiah 40:3-5; see Matthew 3:3; Mark 1:3; Luke 3:3-5; John 1:23).
- the Spirit of the Lord would rest upon Him (Isaiah 11:2; 42:1; 61:1-2; see Matthew 3:16; Mark 1:10; Luke 3:22, 4:18; John 1:32, 3:34; Acts 10:38).
- He would be a Healer and Savior and perform miracles (Isaiah 35:4-6; see Matthew 9:30, 11:4-6, 12:22, 20:34, 21:14; Mark 7:32-35; John 9:1-7, 11:47).
- He would be a Shepherd who faithfully tends His flock (Isaiah 40:10-11; see John 10:11; Hebrews 13:20; 1 Peter 2:25).
- He would be a light in the darkness (Isaiah 9:1-2; see Matthew 4:14-16; Luke 1:7-9, 2:32; John 1:4-5).
- He would swallow up death forever in victory (Isaiah 25:8; see 1 Corinthians 15:54-57).
Of course, no other prophet wrote more extensively about the suffering God’s chosen servant would endure than Isaiah in the famous 53rd chapter of his book. Many of these details are fulfilled in the descriptions of Jesus’ horrific crucifixion, death, and burial, chronicled in the four gospels.
For example:
- Isaiah prophesied that the “suffering servant” would be beaten and spat upon (Isaiah 50:6; see Matthew 26:67, 27:26-30; Mark 14:65, 15:15-19; Luke 22:63-65; John 19:1).
- He would be despised and rejected by men (Isaiah 53:2-3; see Luke 17:25, 23:18).
- He was accused and afflicted but never open His mouth in protest (Isaiah 53:7; see Matthew 27:12; Luke 23:9).
- He was buried with the rich (Isaiah 53:9; see Matthew 27:57-60).
- He was numbered and crucified with transgressors (Isaiah 53:12; see Matthew 27:38; Mark 15:27-28; Luke 22:37, 23:32-33).
- He would serve as the Passover lamb, without blemish, who was slain for the sins of the world (Isaiah 53:7; see John 1:29-36; 1 Corinthians 5:7-8; 1 Peter 1:18-19; Revelation 5:6-13, 7:14, 21:22-27, 22:1-4).
- He would bear our griefs and carry our sorrows (Isaiah 53:4-5; see Matthew 8:17; Romans 5:6-8).
- He was wounded for our transgressions (Isaiah 53:5; see 1 Corinthians 15:3; 2 Corinthians 5:21; 1 Peter 3:18).
- He was sinless and without guile (Isaiah 53:9; see 1 Peter 2:22).
- He would make intercession for transgressors (Isaiah 53:12; see Luke 23:34).
All of these examples magnify the significance of Isaiah’s prophetic ministry when examined next to the life, ministry, and character of Jesus Christ.
Of course, Isaiah prophesied to the nation of Judah at a specific time in their history, and, as with every book of the Bible, his life and prophetic message must be studied in context. However, even within the reality of coming judgment contained in Isaiah’s warning to a sinful and idolatrous people, the prophet also delivered some of the most encouraging and uplifting reflections of the heart and character of God in all of Scripture.
In the midst of hardship, persecution, and even judgment, God’s promise to His people endures through the ages. We are redeemed, we are called by name, we are His (see Isaiah 43:1-2). Furthermore, in Isaiah, believers of all ages encounter the hope-filled promise of life, eternal salvation, and restoration offered to those who put their faith and trust in Jesus Christ.
May the words of the prophet and the Word of the Lord stand forever. “He will swallow up death for all time, and the Lord God will wipe tears away from all faces, and He will remove the reproach of His people from all the earth; for the Lord has spoken. And it will be said in that day, ‘Behold, this is our God for whom we have waited that He might save us. This is the Lord for whom we have waited; Let us rejoice and be glad in His salvation.’” (Isaiah 25:8-9)
Additional Resources:
Who Was the Prophet Isaiah?
Who Was Isaiah and Why is He Important?
Why is Isaiah the Most Quoted Prophet in the Bible?
Why are Isaiah’s Prophecies About Jesus so Important to Understand?
Who Were the Major and Minor Prophets in the Bible?
Is Isaiah 53 ‘The Suffering Servant’ About Jesus?
What are the Bible Prophecies About Jesus?
What Does it Mean to ‘Soar on Wings Like Eagles’?
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