Isaiah
maleDivided MonarchyMeaning: “The LORD is salvation”
The major prophet of Judah whose book soars from warnings of judgment to the clearest Old Testament prophecies of the Messiah and the suffering Servant.
Biography
Isaiah son of Amoz is often called "the evangelical prophet" because his book contains the most vivid Old Testament foreshadowings of the gospel. He ministered in Jerusalem for roughly half a century, "in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah" (Isaiah 1:1).
The call of the prophet
"In the year that king Uzziah died" Isaiah saw the LORD "high and lifted up," the seraphim crying "Holy, holy, holy" (Isaiah 6:1–3). Overwhelmed by his own uncleanness, he was cleansed by a live coal from the altar and answered God's call, "Here am I; send me" (Isaiah 6:8). This vision shapes the whole book's vision of God's holiness.
Counselor to kings
Isaiah advised King Ahaz to trust God rather than foreign alliances, giving the sign of Immanuel: "a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son" (Isaiah 7:14). Later he strengthened King Hezekiah during the Assyrian siege of Jerusalem, and God delivered the city (Isaiah 37). He also foretold Hezekiah's recovery and the later Babylonian exile (Isaiah 38–39).
Comfort and the Servant
The second half of Isaiah turns to comfort: "Comfort ye, comfort ye my people" (Isaiah 40:1). Its summit is the Servant Songs, above all Isaiah 53 — "he was wounded for our transgressions… and with his stripes we are healed" — a portrait of the crucified and risen Christ so precise that the New Testament quotes it repeatedly (Acts 8:32–35).
Legacy
Isaiah is the most-quoted prophet in the New Testament. His symbolic family — his wife "the prophetess" and his sons with sign-names — embodied his message that judgment and salvation both belong to God. Jewish tradition holds that he was martyred under King Manasseh.
Life Timeline
Sees the LORD in the temple and is commissioned
Gives King Ahaz the sign of Immanuel
Encourages Hezekiah during the Assyrian siege; Jerusalem is spared
On the Bible timeline
Isaiah belongs to the The Divided Monarchy era (c. 930 – 586 BC).
- c. 930 BCThe Kingdom Divides
- 722 BCThe Fall of Samaria
- 586 BCThe Fall of Jerusalem
Family Tree
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Themes & lessons from Isaiah
Biblical themes that run through the passages where Isaiah appears.
People they appear with
Scripture Appearances
32 verses in 3 books2 Kings13 verses
2 Kings 19:2
And he sent Eliakim, which was over the household, and Shebna the scribe, and the elders of the priests, covered with sackcloth, to Isaiah the prophet the son of Amoz.
2 Kings 19:5
So the servants of king Hezekiah came to Isaiah.
2 Kings 19:6
And Isaiah said unto them, Thus shall ye say to your master, Thus saith the LORD, Be not afraid of the words which thou hast heard, with which the servants of the king of Assyria have blasphemed me.
2 Kings 19:20
Then Isaiah the son of Amoz sent to Hezekiah, saying, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, That which thou hast prayed to me against Sennacherib king of Assyria I have heard.
2 Kings 20:1
In those days was Hezekiah sick unto death. And the prophet Isaiah the son of Amoz came to him, and said unto him, Thus saith the LORD, Set thine house in order; for thou shalt die, and not live. Set: Heb. Give charge concerning thine house
2 Kings 20:4
And it came to pass, afore Isaiah was gone out into the middle court, that the word of the LORD came to him, saying, court: or, city
2 Kings 20:7
And Isaiah said, Take a lump of figs. And they took and laid it on the boil, and he recovered.
2 Kings 20:8
And Hezekiah said unto Isaiah, What shall be the sign that the LORD will heal me, and that I shall go up into the house of the LORD the third day?
2 Kings 20:9
And Isaiah said, This sign shalt thou have of the LORD, that the LORD will do the thing that he hath spoken: shall the shadow go forward ten degrees, or go back ten degrees?
2 Kings 20:11
And Isaiah the prophet cried unto the LORD: and he brought the shadow ten degrees backward, by which it had gone down in the dial of Ahaz. dial: Heb. degrees
2 Kings 20:14
Then came Isaiah the prophet unto king Hezekiah, and said unto him, What said these men? and from whence came they unto thee? And Hezekiah said, They are come from a far country, even from Babylon.
2 Kings 20:16
And Isaiah said unto Hezekiah, Hear the word of the LORD.
2 Kings 20:19
Then said Hezekiah unto Isaiah, Good is the word of the LORD which thou hast spoken. And he said, Is it not good, if peace and truth be in my days? Is it: or, Shall there not be peace and truth, etc
2 Chronicles3 verses
2 Chronicles 26:22
Now the rest of the acts of Uzziah, first and last, did Isaiah the prophet, the son of Amoz, write.
2 Chronicles 32:20
And for this cause Hezekiah the king, and the prophet Isaiah the son of Amoz, prayed and cried to heaven.
2 Chronicles 32:32
Now the rest of the acts of Hezekiah, and his goodness, behold, they are written in the vision of Isaiah the prophet, the son of Amoz, and in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel. goodness: Heb. kindnesses
Isaiah16 verses
Isaiah 1:1
The vision of Isaiah the son of Amoz, which he saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah.
Isaiah 2:1
The word that Isaiah the son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem.
Isaiah 7:3
Then said the LORD unto Isaiah, Go forth now to meet Ahaz, thou, and Shearjashub thy son, at the end of the conduit of the upper pool in the highway of the fuller's field; Shearjashub: that is, The remnant shall return highway: or, causeway
Isaiah 13:1
The burden of Babylon, which Isaiah the son of Amoz did see.
Isaiah 20:2
At the same time spake the LORD by Isaiah the son of Amoz, saying, Go and loose the sackcloth from off thy loins, and put off thy shoe from thy foot. And he did so, walking naked and barefoot. by: Heb. by the hand of
Isaiah 20:3
And the LORD said, Like as my servant Isaiah hath walked naked and barefoot three years for a sign and wonder upon Egypt and upon Ethiopia;
Isaiah 37:2
And he sent Eliakim, who was over the household, and Shebna the scribe, and the elders of the priests covered with sackcloth, unto Isaiah the prophet the son of Amoz.
Isaiah 37:5
So the servants of king Hezekiah came to Isaiah.
Isaiah 37:6
And Isaiah said unto them, Thus shall ye say unto your master, Thus saith the LORD, Be not afraid of the words that thou hast heard, wherewith the servants of the king of Assyria have blasphemed me.
Isaiah 37:21
Then Isaiah the son of Amoz sent unto Hezekiah, saying, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, Whereas thou hast prayed to me against Sennacherib king of Assyria:
Isaiah 38:1
In those days was Hezekiah sick unto death. And Isaiah the prophet the son of Amoz came unto him, and said unto him, Thus saith the LORD, Set thine house in order: for thou shalt die, and not live. Set: Heb. Give charge concerning thy house
Isaiah 38:4
Then came the word of the LORD to Isaiah, saying,
Isaiah 38:21
For Isaiah had said, Let them take a lump of figs, and lay it for a plaister upon the boil, and he shall recover.
Isaiah 39:3
Then came Isaiah the prophet unto king Hezekiah, and said unto him, What said these men? and from whence came they unto thee? And Hezekiah said, They are come from a far country unto me, even from Babylon.
Isaiah 39:5
Then said Isaiah to Hezekiah, Hear the word of the LORD of hosts:
Isaiah 39:8
Then said Hezekiah to Isaiah, Good is the word of the LORD which thou hast spoken. He said moreover, For there shall be peace and truth in my days.
Frequently asked about Isaiah
Who was Isaiah in the Bible?
The major prophet of Judah whose book soars from warnings of judgment to the clearest Old Testament prophecies of the Messiah and the suffering Servant.
What does the name Isaiah mean?
The name Isaiah means “The LORD is salvation”.
What did Isaiah do in the Bible?
Isaiah served as prophet, of the tribe of Judah.
Who were Isaiah's children?
Isaiah's children include Shear-Jashub, Maher-Shalal-Hash-Baz.
Who were Isaiah's parents?
Isaiah was the child of Amoz.
Where does Isaiah appear in the Bible?
Isaiah is mentioned 32 times across 3 books: 2 Kings, 2 Chronicles, Isaiah.
What can we learn from Isaiah?
The story of Isaiah touches on themes of jerusalem, assyria, isaiah, prophets — explore each to study the lessons drawn from Isaiah's life.
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