Isaiah
The prince of prophets - judgment, comfort, and the clearest Old Testament portrait of the coming Messiah
Isaiah at a glance
The prince of prophets - judgment, comfort, and the clearest Old Testament portrait of the coming Messiah
Isaiah is the first and greatest of the major prophetic books, the vision of Isaiah the son of Amoz, who prophesied in Jerusalem during the reigns of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah - roughly forty years spanning the Assyrian crisis of the eighth century BC. Called in the year King Uzziah died by a vision of the LORD high and lifted up, Isaiah spoke to kings and nations alike, and his book stands at the head of the prophets as a Bible in miniature: judgment first, then overflowing comfort.
The book sweeps from Judah's sin and the sign of Immanuel, through burdens against the nations and the deliverance of Jerusalem from Sennacherib's Assyrian host, to the great turn at chapter 40: 'Comfort ye, comfort ye my people.' There the prophet foretells Babylon's exile and names Cyrus as the deliverer, unveils the Servant of the LORD - wounded for our transgressions in chapter 53 - and closes with new heavens and a new earth. Famous moments abound: swords into plowshares, the child born called Wonderful, wings as eagles, and 'here am I; send me.'
Isaiah matters because no Old Testament book speaks more fully of Christ - his virgin birth, ministry, suffering, and reign - which is why the New Testament quotes it constantly. Its message endures: the Holy One of Israel judges sin, yet redeems, comforts, and makes all things new.
For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
Isaiah 9:6 King James Version
Explore Isaiah
How Isaiah unfolds
6 sections- 1Judah on Trial and the Prophet's Call (ch. 1-6)The LORD indicts his rebellious vineyard, promises Zion's future glory, and calls Isaiah in the temple vision - 'Holy, holy, holy' - with the answer, 'Here am I; send me.'
- 2Immanuel: The Book of the King (ch. 7-12)Amid the Syro-Ephraimite crisis comes the sign of the virgin's son Immanuel, the child born whose name is Wonderful, Counsellor, and the branch from Jesse's stem, closing with a song of salvation.
- 3Burdens Against the Nations (ch. 13-27)Oracles against Babylon, Moab, Damascus, Egypt, Tyre, and more, rising to the 'little apocalypse' of chapters 24-27, where death is swallowed up in victory.
- 4Woes, Trust, and the Assyrian Crisis (ch. 28-39)Six woes against schemes and false alliances; then history - Sennacherib's invasion, Hezekiah's prayer, the angel smiting the Assyrian camp, and Hezekiah's healing and fateful display to Babylon.
- 5Comfort and the Servant of the LORD (ch. 40-55)'Comfort ye my people': the incomparable God ends the exile through Cyrus, and the Servant songs crest in chapter 53 - the man of sorrows wounded for our transgressions - with free grace offered to all who thirst.
- 6Zion's Glory and the New Creation (ch. 56-66)True worship versus empty ritual, the Spirit-anointed preacher of good tidings (61), and the promise of new heavens and a new earth where all flesh shall worship the LORD.
People to know
6 figures- IsaiahSon of Amoz, prophet in Jerusalem for some forty years; cleansed by a coal from the altar and sent to a deaf-eared nation.
- HezekiahThe godly king of Judah whose prayer brought deliverance from Assyria and fifteen added years of life.
- AhazThe faithless king who refused to ask a sign, occasioning the prophecy of Immanuel.
- SennacheribThe Assyrian king whose army besieged Jerusalem and was struck down - 185,000 in one night - by the angel of the LORD.
- The Servant of the LORDThe central figure of chapters 42-53, the suffering Servant who bears the sin of many - fulfilled in Christ.
- CyrusThe Persian ruler named by prophecy as the LORD's shepherd and anointed, who would free the exiles and rebuild Jerusalem.
Words worth carrying with you
For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
Isaiah 9:6 · KJV
But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.
Isaiah 40:31 · KJV
But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.
Isaiah 53:5 · KJV
Think you know Isaiah?
90 questions from the King James Version, all ages welcome. Keep score, then challenge a friend or your whole group.
Leading a group? Download the free printable Isaiah quiz pack (PDF) - questions, answer key with verses, and a score sheet.
The whole book, on video
The full narrated quiz - timed, illustrated, and made for playing together.
Bible Quiz: Isaiah - The Holy One of Israel | 30 Questions
Bible Quiz: Isaiah - The Suffering Servant | 30 Questions
Hard Isaiah Bible Quiz - Can You Score 30/30?