Isaiah

About Isaiah

Isaiah is the longest of the prophetic books, and it speaks both hard warning and deep comfort. It confronts Judah's sin and predicts judgment by foreign empires, then looks past the ruins to promise rescue, a suffering servant who bears the people's sins, and a renewed world. In the Bible's big story, Isaiah is the bridge between Israel's failure and God's promise of a Savior, which is why the New Testament quotes it so often.

Written by

The book is tied to Isaiah son of Amoz, a prophet in Jerusalem; many scholars believe later chapters were shaped by his followers after his time, while others hold that Isaiah wrote it all.

When

Isaiah preached from about 740 to 680 BC, and scholars genuinely differ on whether chapters 40-66 come from that era or from the exile and afterward in the 500s BC.

Themes

• God's holiness
• Judgment and hope
• The suffering servant
• Comfort for God's people
• A renewed creation

Key verses

• Isaiah 9:6For 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 53:5-6But 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. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.
• Isaiah 40:31But 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.