The book of Isaiah is an exceptional, one-of-a-kind book—both in its presentation and in its message about the Savior Jesus Christ and his Atonement. Moreover, the book of Isaiah is significant because it presents the direct speech of Jehovah (who is Jesus Christ) throughout its pages, totaling more than two hundred quotations from Jehovah. Additionally, Isaiah is an exceptional book because Jesus Christ set forth the command to “search these things [Isaiah’s writings] diligently” (3 Nephi 23:1). Truly, Isaiah is an extraordinary work!

Each chapter in the present book has been prepared and presented to help members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints better understand and appreciate the writings of Isaiah. Although scholars and individuals from different faith traditions may have other interpretations and therefore draw dissimilar messages from the prophet’s writings, this work is designed specifically to help members of the Church see that Isaiah’s writings can be understood to testify of Jesus Christ and his restored gospel. Therefore, many interpretations found in this book focus on Jesus Christ (his mortal ministry, his Second Coming, and his millennial reign) and the Restoration of the gospel.

Just how important is it for us to search and understand Isaiah’s words? Elder Bruce R. McConkie made this important statement: “If our eternal salvation depends upon our ability to understand the writings of Isaiah as fully and truly as Nephi understood them—and who shall say such is not the case!—how shall we fare in that great day when with Nephi we shall stand before the pleasing bar of Him who said: ‘Great are the words of Isaiah’? (3 Nephi 23:1). . . . It just may be that my salvation (and yours also!) does in fact depend upon our ability to understand the writings of Isaiah as fully and truly as Nephi understood them.”[1]

Figure 0.1. The prophet Isaiah. (Painting by Gustave Doré. “The Prophet Isaiah.” Image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons)

What to Know before Reading Isaiah

The following list expounds some important essentials regarding the book of Isaiah:

1. Isaiah’s book is sacred scripture. The book—all 66 chapters—constitutes the word of God, as revealed to Isaiah, the son of Amoz. The Lord’s revelation to the elders of his Church through the Prophet Joseph Smith also applies to Isaiah: “And whatsoever they shall speak when moved upon by the Holy Ghost shall be scripture, shall be the will of the Lord, shall be the mind of the Lord, shall be the word of the Lord, shall be the voice of the Lord, and the power of God unto salvation” (Doctrine and Covenants 68:4).
2. Jesus Christ, who is called Jehovah (Lord) in the Old Testament, is the source of Isaiah’s revelations. President Joseph Fielding Smith was clear on this matter: “All revelation since the fall has come through Jesus Christ, who is Jehovah of the Old Testament. In all of the scriptures, where God is mentioned and where he has appeared, it was Jehovah who talked with Abraham, with Noah, Enoch, Moses and all the prophets.”[2] The expression “all the prophets” includes the prophet Isaiah.
3. The Lord’s revelation to Joseph Smith in Doctrine and Covenants 1 also applies to our reading of Isaiah: “Search these commandments, for they are true and faithful, and the prophecies and promises which are in them shall all be fulfilled. What I the Lord have spoken, I have spoken, and I excuse not myself; and though the heavens and the earth pass away, my word shall not pass away, but shall all be fulfilled, whether by mine own voice or by the voice of my servants, it is the same” (Doctrine and Covenants 1:37–38). In other words, Isaiah’s words (as far as they are translated correctly) “are true and faithful,” will “all be fulfilled,” and “[are] the same” whether by Jehovah’s voice or by the voice of Isaiah.

This present work constitutes an introduction to Isaiah. It also serves as a companion volume to the verse-by-verse commentary, that was published more than twenty years ago, as Donald W. Parry, Jay A. Parry, and Tina Peterson, Understanding Isaiah (Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 1998).

My Background in Biblical Hebrew Studies

Understanding the words of Isaiah does not come easily. Readers may wonder how anyone can understand Isaiah so completely as to be able to help others appreciate and apply his words. The simple answer is that it has taken me many years of study and several more of research and writing. My academic study of the Hebrew Bible began in the 1980s when I enrolled in several courses at Brigham Young University. During this period, I was trained by one of the preeminent Hebrew Bible scholars in the world: Professor Stephen D. Ricks. He, along with other specialists, taught me Biblical Hebrew (the Hebrew of the Old Testament), Qumran Hebrew (the Hebrew of the Dead Sea Scrolls), Mishnaic Hebrew (the Hebrew of the Mishnah), and Modern Hebrew (the language of those who live in Israel today). After completing those studies, I enrolled at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, where I continued my study of Hebrew under several notable professors. Some time later, I was blessed to obtain a full-time position at Brigham Young University, where I have taught courses in Biblical, Qumran, and Mishnaic Hebrew for more than twenty-five years. In addition to teaching, I conduct research on the Hebrew Bible and the Dead Sea Scrolls and publish my findings in scholarly articles and books. These scholarly works are distributed in various venues to a worldwide audience, including in academic and research libraries. I also present my findings at academic conferences, congresses, and symposia in many parts of the world.

My interpretation of some of Isaiah’s symbols or words is informed by my knowledge and understanding of the gospel of Jesus Christ as a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I view Isaiah and interpret his writings through the lens of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Restoration, and modern prophets and apostles. Scholars of other faiths and religious traditions, of course, often assign different interpretations to Isaiah’s symbols or words. That is the very nature of scholarship and biblical interpretation.

All of this training—teaching, researching, and publishing—has positioned me to become very familiar with the ancient Hebrew language in both the Old Testament and the Dead Sea Scrolls. A knowledge of the ancient Hebrew language includes an understanding of advanced lexical and inflected forms, various grammatical components, and complex Hebrew verbal systems. With this knowledge of Hebrew, and with the grace and help of the Lord God, I feel that I am able to help a wider lay audience better relate the words of Isaiah to themselves.

This present work consists of fifteen chapters and one appendix, covering a large range of material. I endeavor to help readers unlock three chief barriers to understanding Isaiah’s words: Isaiah’s poetry, multiple “speakers” in the book of Isaiah, and Isaiah’s symbols. Other chapters also serve to unlock difficult passages in Isaiah; for example, I have also analyzed and categorized more than forty of Isaiah’s figures of speech and literary devices so that readers may better comprehend Isaiah’s writing techniques. Still other chapters discuss important features and characteristics of Isaiah and his book. Most significantly, I have attempted to demonstrate the multiple ways that Isaiah’s book focuses on Jesus Christ, his mission, his atoning sacrifice, and much more.

In the end, it is my sincere desire that, through diligent study of Isaiah’s scripture, readers will increase their faith and understanding of Jehovah, and their testimonies of this important work—and of the gospel of Jesus Christ—will become ever stronger.

Notes

[1] McConkie, “Keys to Understanding Isaiah,” 78.

[2] Smith, Doctrines of Salvation, 1:27; emphasis added.