Old Testament · Major Prophets · Book 23 of 66

Isaiah

The great prophet of salvation: judgment on sin, comfort for God’s people, and the coming servant and king.

66 Chapters

Isaiah 1–66

Author

Isaiah son of Amoz

Written

c. 740 – 680 B.C.

Written For

Judah and Jerusalem

Overview

Isaiah Summary

Isaiah is the first and longest of the Major Prophets. It records the messages of Isaiah son of Amoz, who served as a prophet in Jerusalem during a time of threat from Assyria. The book begins with a vision of Judah and Jerusalem (1:1) and shows God as “the Holy One of Israel,” a title found throughout the book. Isaiah’s own call comes when he sees the Lord high and exalted in the temple, with the angels calling “Holy, holy, holy” (chapter 6).

The first part (chapters 1–39) is mostly about judgment, as God confronts the sins of Judah and the nations and calls for trust in Him rather than in political alliances. It also looks ahead to a remnant and to a coming king: a child who will be called “Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace” (9:6) and a shoot from the stump of Jesse (11:1). The second part (chapters 40–66) opens with “Comfort, comfort my people” (40:1) and speaks of God’s power over the idols, the servant of the Lord (including 52:13–53:12), the offer of salvation to all peoples, and a future of new heavens and a new earth (65:17; 66:22).

The New Testament often quotes Isaiah, and many Christians read the servant and king passages as pointing to Jesus. The book itself ends with the Lord’s final judgment and the hope of His people gathered from all nations (66:15–24).

About the Name

Title

The Hebrew title is Yesha‘yahu (or Yeshayahu), which is usually understood to mean “the Lord is salvation.” That meaning fits the theme of the book, which uses words for salvation and deliverance more than any other prophetic book.

Isaiah is placed first among the Latter Prophets in the Hebrew Bible and first among the prophetic books in English Bibles.

Who Wrote It

Author Details

The book names its author as Isaiah son of Amoz (1:1; 2:1), who prophesied in Jerusalem during the reigns of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz and Hezekiah (1:1). He was married to a prophetess (8:3), and his sons’ names, Shear-Jashub (“a remnant will return”) and Maher-Shalal-Hash-Baz, were messages in themselves (7:3; 8:3). He also advised King Hezekiah during the Assyrian crisis (chapters 36–39).

Many scholars think chapters 40–66 were written by another prophet or prophets, closer to or during the Babylonian exile, and others hold that Isaiah wrote the whole book. This page follows the traditional view of one author.

When It Was Written

Date of Writing

Isaiah’s call came “in the year that King Uzziah died” (6:1), about 740 B.C., and his ministry continued through the reign of Hezekiah, so the book is traditionally dated to about 740–680 B.C. This covers the Assyrian threat, including the siege of Jerusalem in 701 B.C. (chapters 36–37).

Scholars who see a later author for chapters 40–66 place those chapters in the 6th century B.C., near the end of the exile. The book was written in and for Jerusalem and Judah.