The Prophet Isaiah Foretells Christ’s Birth, by Harry Anderson
Even if this is your first time reading the book of Isaiah, you might find passages that sound familiar. That’s because, of all the Old Testament prophets, Isaiah is the one most often quoted in other books of scripture, including by the Savior Himself. Isaiah’s words also appear often in hymns and other sacred music.
Why is Isaiah quoted so often? Surely one reason is that Isaiah had a gift for expressing the word of God in vivid, memorable language. But it’s more than that. Isaiah has inspired prophets for generations because the truths he taught transcended his own generation (between 740 and 701 BC). He wrote of God’s great work of redemption, which is much bigger than one nation or one time period. From Isaiah, Nephi learned that he and his people, though separated from the rest of Israel, were still part of God’s covenant people. In Isaiah, New Testament writers found prophecies about the Messiah that were fulfilled right before their eyes. And in Isaiah, Joseph Smith found inspiration for the latter-day work of gathering Israel and building Zion. When you read Isaiah, what will you find?
For more about Isaiah and his writings, see “Isaiah” in the Bible Dictionary. For information about the time when Isaiah lived, see 2 Kings 15–20 and 2 Chronicles 26–32.
Ideas for Learning at Home and at Church
Isaiah 1–12 — The words of Isaiah will all be fulfilled.
The Savior taught that “all things that [Isaiah] spake have been and shall be, even according to the words which he spake” (3 Nephi 23:3). As you study the book of Isaiah, consider making a chart of prophecies with headings like these: Isaiah’s day, The Savior’s mortal ministry, and The latter days. Note that many of Isaiah’s prophecies are fulfilled in more than one way (see Bible Dictionary, “Isaiah”).
President Dallin H. Oaks taught: “The book of Isaiah contains numerous prophecies that seem to have multiple fulfillments. One seems to involve the people of Isaiah’s day or the circumstances of the next generation. Another meaning, often symbolic, seems to refer to events in the meridian of time, when Jerusalem was destroyed and her people scattered after the crucifixion of the Son of God. Still another meaning or fulfillment of the same prophecy seems to relate to the events attending the Second Coming of the Savior. The fact that many of these prophecies can have multiple meanings underscores the importance of our seeking revelation from the Holy Ghost to help us interpret them” (“Scripture Reading and Revelation,” Ensign, Jan. 1995, 8).
Understanding Isaiah. The Savior said, “Search these things diligently; for great are the words of Isaiah” (3 Nephi 23:1; see also verses 2–3). Yet to many, Isaiah can be difficult to understand. The following ideas might help:
Isaiah 1 ; 3–5 — Prophets warn about sin and promise hope through repentance.
Like prophets in all times, Isaiah continually warned the people about their spiritual condition. As you read Isaiah 1; 3; 5, look for phrases that describe how the people were doing spiritually (see, for example, Isaiah 1:2–4, 21–23; 3:9, 16–17; 5:11–12, 20–23). What similar problems do you see in our time? You might also look for verses that warn about the consequences of the Israelites’ spiritual condition (such as Isaiah 1:7; 3:17–26; 5:5–7, 13–15).
In addition to warnings, Isaiah gave messages of hope for redemption through the Savior (see, for example, Isaiah 1:16–19, 25–27; 3:10; 4). What do you learn about the Lord from these messages? How is the Lord’s message in these verses different from what Satan wants us to believe?
Like Isaiah, prophets today warn us about sin and its consequences, and they provide messages of hope through Jesus Christ. What examples can you think of? You might want to review a message from a past general conference, looking for such warnings and promises.
Isaiah 2 ; 4 ; 11–12 — God will do a great work in the latter days.
Many of Isaiah’s prophecies have specific meaning for our day. To find them, look for future-tense verbs (such as “shall be” or “shall go”). For example, look for these verbs as you read Isaiah 2; 4; 11–12. You might even try replacing them with present-tense verbs (like is or is going). Which prophecies are especially inspiring to you? What do you learn from these prophecies about Zion, building temples, and gathering Israel?
Isaiah 2:2–3 is especially relevant for Latter-day Saints. How are these prophecies being fulfilled? What do you learn about the Lord’s “ways” and “paths” in His house? (verse 3).
In Isaiah 6, Isaiah recounted his call to be a prophet. As you read this chapter, what impresses you about Isaiah’s experience? How does this chapter influence the way you think about the Lord, His prophets, and the work they are called to do?
Isaiah 7–9 — God promised to send Jesus Christ to be my Savior.
During Isaiah’s ministry, Israel formed an alliance with Syria to defend itself against Assyria. Israel and Syria wanted to force Ahaz, the king of Judah, to join them. But Isaiah prophesied that the alliance would fail and counseled Ahaz to trust in the Lord (Isaiah 7:7–9; 8:12–13).
While Isaiah counseled Ahaz, he made several well-known prophecies, such as those found in Isaiah 7:14; 8:13–14; 9:2, 6–7. Whatever these prophecies meant to Ahaz, they clearly apply to Jesus Christ (see also Matthew 1:21–23; 4:16; 21:44; Luke 1:31–33). Why is “Immanuel” a good title for the Savior? (see Matthew 1:23). How has He been a “Counsellor” or “Prince of Peace” to you? (Isaiah 9:7). What else do you learn about the Savior from these verses?
01 Then all the people of Judah took Uzziah , who was sixteen years old, and made him king in the room of his father Amaziah.02 He built Eloth, and restored it to Judah, after that the king slept with his fathers.03 Sixteen years old was Uzziah when he began to reign, and he reigned fifty and two years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name also was Jecoliah of Jerusalem.04 And he did that which was right in the sight of the Lord , according to all that his father Amaziah did.05 And he sought God in the days of Zechariah, who had understanding in the visions of God: and as long as he sought the Lord , God made him to prosper .06 And he went forth and warred against the Philistines, and brake down the wall of Gath, and the wall of Jabneh, and the wall of Ashdod, and built cities about Ashdod, and among the Philistines.07 And God helped him against the Philistines, and against the Arabians that dwelt in Gur-baal, and the Mehunims.08 And the Ammonites gave gifts to Uzziah: and his name spread abroad even to the entering in of Egypt; for he strengthened himself exceedingly.09 Moreover Uzziah built towers in Jerusalem at the corner gate, and at the valley gate, and at the turning of the wall, and fortified them.010 Also he built towers in the desert, and digged many wells: for he had much cattle, both in the low country, and in the plains: husbandmen also, and vine dressers in the mountains, and in Carmel : for he loved husbandry .011 Moreover Uzziah had an host of fighting men, that went out to war by bands, according to the number of their account by the hand of Jeiel the scribe and Maaseiah the ruler, under the hand of Hananiah, one of the king’s captains.012 The whole number of the chief of the fathers of the mighty men of valour were two thousand and six hundred.013 And under their hand was an army, three hundred thousand and seven thousand and five hundred, that made war with mighty power, to help the king against the enemy.014 And Uzziah prepared for them throughout all the host shields, and spears, and helmets, and habergeons , and bows, and slings to cast stones.015 And he made in Jerusalem engines, invented by cunning men, to be on the towers and upon the bulwarks, to shoot arrows and great stones withal. And his name spread far abroad; for he was marvellously helped, till he was strong.016 ¶ But when he was strong, his heart was lifted up to his destruction: for he transgressed against the Lord his God, and went into the temple of the Lord to burn incense upon the altar of incense.017 And Azariah the priest went in after him, and with him fourscore priests of the Lord , that were valiant men:018 And they withstood Uzziah the king, and said unto him, It appertaineth not unto thee, Uzziah, to burn incense unto the Lord , but to the priests the sons of Aaron , that are consecrated to burn incense : go out of the sanctuary; for thou hast trespassed; neither shall it be for thine honour from the Lord God.019 Then Uzziah was wroth, and had a censer in his hand to burn incense: and while he was wroth with the priests, the leprosy even rose up in his forehead before the priests in the house of the Lord , from beside the incense altar.020 And Azariah the chief priest, and all the priests, looked upon him, and, behold, he was leprous in his forehead, and they thrust him out from thence; yea, himself hasted also to go out, because the Lord had smitten him.021 And Uzziah the king was a leper unto the day of his death, and dwelt in a several house, being a leper; for he was cut off from the house of the Lord : and Jotham his son was over the king’s house, judging the people of the land.022 ¶ Now the rest of the acts of Uzziah, first and last, did Isaiah the prophet, the son of Amoz, write .023 So Uzziah slept with his fathers, and they buried him with his fathers in the field of the burial which belonged to the kings; for they said, He is a leper: and Jotham his son reigned in his stead.
2 Kings 15
01 In the twenty and seventh year of Jeroboam king of Israel began Azariah son of Amaziah king of Judah to reign.02 Sixteen years old was he when he began to reign, and he reigned two and fifty years in Jerusalem. And his mother’s name was Jecholiah of Jerusalem.03 And he did that which was right in the sight of the Lord , according to all that his father Amaziah had done;04 Save that the high places were not removed: the people sacrificed and burnt incense still on the high places.05 ¶ And the Lord smote the king, so that he was a leper unto the day of his death, and dwelt in a several house. And Jotham the king’s son was over the house, judging the people of the land.06 And the rest of the acts of Azariah, and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?07 So Azariah slept with his fathers; and they buried him with his fathers in the city of David: and Jotham his son reigned in his stead.08 ¶ In the thirty and eighth year of Azariah king of Judah did Zachariah the son of Jeroboam reign over Israel in Samaria six months.09 And he did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord , as his fathers had done: he departed not from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin.010 And Shallum the son of Jabesh conspired against him, and smote him before the people, and slew him, and reigned in his stead.011 And the rest of the acts of Zachariah, behold, they are written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel.012 This was the word of the Lord which he spake unto Jehu , saying, Thy sons shall sit on the throne of Israel unto the fourth generation. And so it came to pass.013 ¶ Shallum the son of Jabesh began to reign in the nine and thirtieth year of Uzziah king of Judah; and he reigned a full month in Samaria.014 For Menahem the son of Gadi went up from Tirzah, and came to Samaria, and smote Shallum the son of Jabesh in Samaria, and slew him, and reigned in his stead.015 And the rest of the acts of Shallum, and his conspiracy which he made, behold, they are written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel.016 ¶ Then Menahem smote Tiphsah, and all that were therein, and the coasts thereof from Tirzah: because they opened not to him, therefore he smote it; and all the women therein that were with child he ripped up.017 In the nine and thirtieth year of Azariah king of Judah began Menahem the son of Gadi to reign over Israel, and reigned ten years in Samaria.018 And he did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord : he departed not all his days from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin.019 And Pul the king of Assyria came against the land: and Menahem gave Pul a thousand talents of silver, that his hand might be with him to confirm the kingdom in his hand.020 And Menahem exacted the money of Israel, even of all the mighty men of wealth, of each man fifty shekels of silver, to give to the king of Assyria. So the king of Assyria turned back, and stayed not there in the land.021 ¶ And the rest of the acts of Menahem, and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?022 And Menahem slept with his fathers; and Pekahiah his son reigned in his stead.023 ¶ In the fiftieth year of Azariah king of Judah Pekahiah the son of Menahem began to reign over Israel in Samaria, and reigned two years.024 And he did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord : he departed not from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin.025 But Pekah the son of Remaliah, a captain of his, conspired against him, and smote him in Samaria, in the palace of the king’s house, with Argob and Arieh, and with him fifty men of the Gileadites: and he killed him, and reigned in his room.026 And the rest of the acts of Pekahiah, and all that he did, behold, they are written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel.027 ¶ In the two and fiftieth year of Azariah king of Judah Pekah the son of Remaliah began to reign over Israel in Samaria, and reigned twenty years.028 And he did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord : he departed not from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin.029 In the days of Pekah king of Israel came Tiglath-pileser king of Assyria, and took Ijon, and Abel-beth-maachah, and Janoah, and Kedesh, and Hazor, and Gilead, and Galilee, all the land of Naphtali, and carried them captive to Assyria .030 And Hoshea the son of Elah made a conspiracy against Pekah the son of Remaliah, and smote him, and slew him, and reigned in his stead, in the twentieth year of Jotham the son of Uzziah.031 And the rest of the acts of Pekah, and all that he did, behold, they are written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel.032 ¶ In the second year of Pekah the son of Remaliah king of Israel began Jotham the son of Uzziah king of Judah to reign.033 Five and twenty years old was he when he began to reign, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem. And his mother’s name was Jerusha, the daughter of Zadok.034 And he did that which was right in the sight of the Lord : he did according to all that his father Uzziah had done.035 ¶ Howbeit the high places were not removed: the people sacrificed and burned incense still in the high places. He built the higher gate of the house of the Lord .036 ¶ Now the rest of the acts of Jotham, and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?037 In those days the Lord began to send against Judah Rezin the king of Syria, and Pekah the son of Remaliah.038 And Jotham slept with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the city of David his father: and Ahaz his son reigned in his stead.
Isaiah 1
01 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.02 Hear , O heavens, and give ear, O earth: for the Lord hath spoken, I have nourished and brought up children, and they have rebelled against me.03 The ox knoweth his owner, and the ass his master’s crib : but Israel doth not know , my people doth not consider.04 Ah sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, a seed of evildoers, children that are corrupters : they have forsaken the Lord , they have provoked the Holy One of Israel unto anger , they are gone away backward.05 ¶ Why should ye be stricken any more? ye will revolt more and more: the whole head is sick, and the whole heart faint .06 From the sole of the foot even unto the head there is no soundness in it; but wounds, and bruises, and putrifying sores: they have not been closed , neither bound up, neither mollified with ointment.07 Your country is desolate , your cities are burned with fire: your land, strangers devour it in your presence, and it is desolate, as overthrown by strangers.08 And the daughter of Zion is left as a cottage in a vineyard , as a lodge in a garden of cucumbers, as a besieged city.09 Except the Lord of hosts had left unto us a very small remnant , we should have been as Sodom, and we should have been like unto Gomorrah.010 ¶ Hear the word of the Lord , ye rulers of Sodom ; give ear unto the law of our God, ye people of Gomorrah.011 To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices unto me? saith the Lord : I am full of the burnt offerings of rams, and the fat of fed beasts; and I delight not in the blood of bullocks, or of lambs, or of he goats.012 When ye come to appear before me, who hath required this at your hand, to tread my courts?013 Bring no more vain oblations ; incense is an abomination unto me; the new moons and sabbaths , the calling of assemblies , I cannot away with ; it is iniquity , even the solemn meeting .014 Your new moons and your appointed feasts my soul hateth: they are a trouble unto me; I am weary to bear them.015 And when ye spread forth your hands, I will hide mine eyes from you: yea, when ye make many prayers , I will not hear: your hands are full of blood .016 ¶ Wash you, make you clean ; put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes; cease to do evil;017 Learn to do well ; seek judgment , relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless , plead for the widow .018 Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord : though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.019 If ye be willing and obedient , ye shall eat the good of the land:020 But if ye refuse and rebel , ye shall be devoured with the sword: for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it.021 ¶ How is the faithful city become an harlot ! it was full of judgment ; righteousness lodged in it; but now murderers.022 Thy silver is become dross , thy wine mixed with water:023 Thy princes are rebellious, and companions of thieves: every one loveth gifts , and followeth after rewards: they judge not the fatherless, neither doth the cause of the widow come unto them.024 Therefore saith the Lord, the Lord of hosts, the mighty One of Israel, Ah, I will ease me of mine adversaries , and avenge me of mine enemies:025 ¶ And I will turn my hand upon thee, and purely purge away thy dross, and take away all thy tin:026 And I will restore thy judges as at the first, and thy counsellors as at the beginning: afterward thou shalt be called, The city of righteousness , the faithful city.027 Zion shall be redeemed with judgment , and her converts with righteousness.028 ¶ And the destruction of the transgressors and of the sinners shall be together, and they that forsake the Lord shall be consumed.029 For they shall be ashamed of the oaks which ye have desired, and ye shall be confounded for the gardens that ye have chosen.030 For ye shall be as an oak whose leaf fadeth, and as a garden that hath no water.031 And the strong shall be as tow , and the maker of it as a spark, and they shall both burn together, and none shall quench them.
Isaiah 11
01 And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse , and a Branch shall grow out of his roots:02 And the spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding , the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord ;03 And shall make him of quick understanding in the fear of the Lord : and he shall not judge after the sight of his eyes, neither reprove after the hearing of his ears:04 But with righteousness shall he judge the poor, and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth: and he shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked.05 And righteousness shall be the girdle of his loins, and faithfulness the girdle of his reins .06 The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them.07 And the cow and the bear shall feed; their young ones shall lie down together: and the lion shall eat straw like the ox.08 And the sucking child shall play on the hole of the asp , and the weaned child shall put his hand on the cockatrice’ den.09 They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain : for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord , as the waters cover the sea.010 ¶ And in that day there shall be a root of Jesse , which shall stand for an ensign of the people; to it shall the Gentiles seek: and his rest shall be glorious.011 And it shall come to pass in that day, that the Lord shall set his hand again the second time to recover the remnant of his people, which shall be left, from Assyria, and from Egypt, and from Pathros, and from Cush, and from Elam, and from Shinar, and from Hamath, and from the islands of the sea.012 And he shall set up an ensign for the nations, and shall assemble the outcasts of Israel, and gather together the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth.013 The envy also of Ephraim shall depart, and the adversaries of Judah shall be cut off: Ephraim shall not envy Judah , and Judah shall not vex Ephraim.014 But they shall fly upon the shoulders of the Philistines toward the west; they shall spoil them of the east together: they shall lay their hand upon Edom and Moab; and the children of Ammon shall obey them.015 And the Lord shall utterly destroy the tongue of the Egyptian sea; and with his mighty wind shall he shake his hand over the river, and shall smite it in the seven streams, and make men go over dryshod.016 And there shall be an highway for the remnant of his people, which shall be left, from Assyria; like as it was to Israel in the day that he came up out of the land of Egypt.
Isaiah 2
01 The word that Isaiah the son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem.02 And it shall come to pass in the last days , that the mountain of the Lord ’s house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it.03 And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord , to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law , and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.04 And he shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people: and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.05 O house of Jacob, come ye, and let us walk in the light of the Lord .06 ¶ Therefore thou hast forsaken thy people the house of Jacob, because they be replenished from the east, and are soothsayers like the Philistines, and they please themselves in the children of strangers.07 Their land also is full of silver and gold, neither is there any end of their treasures; their land is also full of horses, neither is there any end of their chariots:08 Their land also is full of idols ; they worship the work of their own hands, that which their own fingers have made:09 And the mean man boweth down, and the great man humbleth himself: therefore forgive them not.010 ¶ Enter into the rock, and hide thee in the dust, for fear of the Lord , and for the glory of his majesty.011 The lofty looks of man shall be humbled, and the haughtiness of men shall be bowed down, and the Lord alone shall be exalted in that day .012 For the day of the Lord of hosts shall be upon every one that is proud and lofty, and upon every one that is lifted up; and he shall be brought low :013 And upon all the cedars of Lebanon, that are high and lifted up, and upon all the oaks of Bashan,014 And upon all the high mountains, and upon all the hills that are lifted up,015 And upon every high tower, and upon every fenced wall,016 And upon all the ships of Tarshish, and upon all pleasant pictures.017 And the loftiness of man shall be bowed down, and the haughtiness of men shall be made low: and the Lord alone shall be exalted in that day.018 And the idols he shall utterly abolish.019 And they shall go into the holes of the rocks, and into the caves of the earth, for fear of the Lord , and for the glory of his majesty, when he ariseth to shake terribly the earth.020 In that day a man shall cast his idols of silver, and his idols of gold, which they made each one for himself to worship, to the moles and to the bats;021 To go into the clefts of the rocks, and into the tops of the ragged rocks, for fear of the Lord , and for the glory of his majesty, when he ariseth to shake terribly the earth.022 Cease ye from man, whose breath is in his nostrils: for wherein is he to be accounted of?
Isaiah 3
01 For , behold, the Lord, the Lord of hosts, doth take away from Jerusalem and from Judah the stay and the staff, the whole stay of bread , and the whole stay of water,02 The mighty man, and the man of war, the judge, and the prophet, and the prudent, and the ancient ,03 The captain of fifty, and the honourable man, and the counsellor, and the cunning artificer , and the eloquent orator .04 And I will give children to be their princes, and babes shall rule over them.05 And the people shall be oppressed, every one by another, and every one by his neighbour: the child shall behave himself proudly against the ancient , and the base against the honourable.06 When a man shall take hold of his brother of the house of his father, saying, Thou hast clothing, be thou our ruler, and let this ruin be under thy hand:07 In that day shall he swear, saying, I will not be an healer ; for in my house is neither bread nor clothing: make me not a ruler of the people.08 For Jerusalem is ruined, and Judah is fallen : because their tongue and their doings are against the Lord , to provoke the eyes of his glory.09 ¶ The shew of their countenance doth witness against them; and they declare their sin as Sodom , they hide it not. Woe unto their soul! for they have rewarded evil unto themselves.010 Say ye to the righteous , that it shall be well with him: for they shall eat the fruit of their doings.011 Woe unto the wicked ! it shall be ill with him: for the reward of his hands shall be given him.012 ¶ As for my people, children are their oppressors, and women rule over them. O my people, they which lead thee cause thee to err, and destroy the way of thy paths.013 The Lord standeth up to plead , and standeth to judge the people.014 The Lord will enter into judgment with the ancients of his people, and the princes thereof: for ye have eaten up the vineyard; the spoil of the poor is in your houses.015 What mean ye that ye beat my people to pieces, and grind the faces of the poor? saith the Lord God of hosts.016 ¶ Moreover the Lord saith, Because the daughters of Zion are haughty , and walk with stretched forth necks and wanton eyes, walking and mincing as they go, and making a tinkling with their feet:017 Therefore the Lord will smite with a scab the crown of the head of the daughters of Zion, and the Lord will discover their secret parts .018 In that day the Lord will take away the bravery of their tinkling ornaments about their feet, and their cauls , and their round tires like the moon,019 The chains, and the bracelets, and the mufflers ,020 The bonnets, and the ornaments of the legs, and the headbands, and the tablets, and the earrings,021 The rings, and nose jewels,022 The changeable suits of apparel , and the mantles, and the wimples, and the crisping pins,023 The glasses , and the fine linen, and the hoods, and the veils.024 And it shall come to pass, that instead of sweet smell there shall be stink; and instead of a girdle a rent ; and instead of well set hair baldness ; and instead of a stomacher a girding of sackcloth; and burning instead of beauty .025 Thy men shall fall by the sword, and thy mighty in the war.026 And her gates shall lament and mourn ; and she being desolate shall sit upon the ground .
Isaiah 4
01 And in that day seven women shall take hold of one man , saying, We will eat our own bread, and wear our own apparel: only let us be called by thy name , to take away our reproach .02 In that day shall the branch of the Lord be beautiful and glorious, and the fruit of the earth shall be excellent and comely for them that are escaped of Israel.03 And it shall come to pass, that he that is left in Zion , and he that remaineth in Jerusalem , shall be called holy, even every one that is written among the living in Jerusalem:04 When the Lord shall have washed away the filth of the daughters of Zion, and shall have purged the blood of Jerusalem from the midst thereof by the spirit of judgment, and by the spirit of burning .05 And the Lord will create upon every dwelling place of mount Zion , and upon her assemblies, a cloud and smoke by day, and the shining of a flaming fire by night: for upon all the glory shall be a defence.06 And there shall be a tabernacle for a shadow in the daytime from the heat, and for a place of refuge , and for a covert from storm and from rain.
Isaiah 5
01 Now will I sing to my wellbeloved a song of my beloved touching his vineyard . My wellbeloved hath a vineyard in a very fruitful hill:02 And he fenced it, and gathered out the stones thereof, and planted it with the choicest vine, and built a tower in the midst of it, and also made a winepress therein: and he looked that it should bring forth grapes, and it brought forth wild grapes.03 And now, O inhabitants of Jerusalem, and men of Judah, judge, I pray you, betwixt me and my vineyard.04 What could have been done more to my vineyard, that I have not done in it? wherefore, when I looked that it should bring forth grapes, brought it forth wild grapes ?05 And now go to; I will tell you what I will do to my vineyard : I will take away the hedge thereof, and it shall be eaten up; and break down the wall thereof, and it shall be trodden down:06 And I will lay it waste: it shall not be pruned, nor digged; but there shall come up briers and thorns: I will also command the clouds that they rain no rain upon it.07 For the vineyard of the Lord of hosts is the house of Israel, and the men of Judah his pleasant plant: and he looked for judgment , but behold oppression; for righteousness, but behold a cry .08 ¶ Woe unto them that join house to house , that lay field to field, till there be no place, that they may be placed alone in the midst of the earth!09 In mine ears said the Lord of hosts, Of a truth many houses shall be desolate, even great and fair, without inhabitant.010 Yea, ten acres of vineyard shall yield one bath , and the seed of an homer shall yield an ephah.011 ¶ Woe unto them that rise up early in the morning, that they may follow strong drink; that continue until night, till wine inflame them!012 And the harp, and the viol , the tabret , and pipe, and wine, are in their feasts: but they regard not the work of the Lord , neither consider the operation of his hands.013 ¶ Therefore my people are gone into captivity , because they have no knowledge : and their honourable men are famished, and their multitude dried up with thirst.014 Therefore hell hath enlarged herself, and opened her mouth without measure: and their glory, and their multitude, and their pomp , and he that rejoiceth, shall descend into it.015 And the mean man shall be brought down, and the mighty man shall be humbled, and the eyes of the lofty shall be humbled:016 But the Lord of hosts shall be exalted in judgment , and God that is holy shall be sanctified in righteousness.017 Then shall the lambs feed after their manner, and the waste places of the fat ones shall strangers eat.018 Woe unto them that draw iniquity with cords of vanity , and sin as it were with a cart rope:019 That say, Let him make speed , and hasten his work, that we may see it: and let the counsel of the Holy One of Israel draw nigh and come, that we may know it!020 ¶ Woe unto them that call evil good , and good evil; that put darkness for light , and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!021 Woe unto them that are wise in their own eyes , and prudent in their own sight!022 Woe unto them that are mighty to drink wine , and men of strength to mingle strong drink:023 Which justify the wicked for reward, and take away the righteousness of the righteous from him!024 Therefore as the fire devoureth the stubble , and the flame consumeth the chaff, so their root shall be as rottenness, and their blossom shall go up as dust: because they have cast away the law of the Lord of hosts, and despised the word of the Holy One of Israel.025 Therefore is the anger of the Lord kindled against his people, and he hath stretched forth his hand against them, and hath smitten them: and the hills did tremble, and their carcases were torn in the midst of the streets. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still.026 ¶ And he will lift up an ensign to the nations from far, and will hiss unto them from the end of the earth: and, behold, they shall come with speed swiftly:027 None shall be weary nor stumble among them; none shall slumber nor sleep; neither shall the girdle of their loins be loosed, nor the latchet of their shoes be broken:028 Whose arrows are sharp, and all their bows bent, their horses’ hoofs shall be counted like flint, and their wheels like a whirlwind:029 Their roaring shall be like a lion, they shall roar like young lions : yea, they shall roar, and lay hold of the prey , and shall carry it away safe, and none shall deliver it.030 And in that day they shall roar against them like the roaring of the sea: and if one look unto the land, behold darkness and sorrow, and the light is darkened in the heavens thereof.
Isaiah 6
01 In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne , high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple.02 Above it stood the seraphims : each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly.03 And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord of hosts : the whole earth is full of his glory .04 And the posts of the door moved at the voice of him that cried, and the house was filled with smoke .05 ¶ Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone ; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King , the Lord of hosts.06 Then flew one of the seraphims unto me, having a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with the tongs from off the altar:07 And he laid it upon my mouth , and said, Lo, this hath touched thy lips; and thine iniquity is taken away, and thy sin purged.08 Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send , and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me.09 ¶ And he said, Go, and tell this people, Hear ye indeed, but understand not; and see ye indeed, but perceive not.010 Make the heart of this people fat, and make their ears heavy, and shut their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and convert, and be healed.011 Then said I, Lord, how long? And he answered, Until the cities be wasted without inhabitant, and the houses without man, and the land be utterly desolate,012 And the Lord have removed men far away, and there be a great forsaking in the midst of the land.013 ¶ But yet in it shall be a tenth, and it shall return, and shall be eaten: as a teil tree, and as an oak, whose substance is in them, when they cast their leaves: so the holy seed shall be the substance thereof.
Isaiah 7
01 And it came to pass in the days of Ahaz the son of Jotham, the son of Uzziah, king of Judah, that Rezin the king of Syria, and Pekah the son of Remaliah, king of Israel, went up toward Jerusalem to war against it, but could not prevail against it.02 And it was told the house of David, saying, Syria is confederate with Ephraim . And his heart was moved, and the heart of his people, as the trees of the wood are moved with the wind.03 Then said the Lord unto Isaiah, Go forth now to meet Ahaz, thou, and Shear-jashub thy son, at the end of the conduit of the upper pool in the highway of the fuller’s field;04 And say unto him, Take heed , and be quiet; fear not, neither be fainthearted for the two tails of these smoking firebrands, for the fierce anger of Rezin with Syria, and of the son of Remaliah.05 Because Syria, Ephraim, and the son of Remaliah, have taken evil counsel against thee, saying,06 Let us go up against Judah, and vex it, and let us make a breach therein for us, and set a king in the midst of it, even the son of Tabeal:07 Thus saith the Lord God , It shall not stand, neither shall it come to pass.08 For the head of Syria is Damascus , and the head of Damascus is Rezin; and within threescore and five years shall Ephraim be broken, that it be not a people.09 And the head of Ephraim is Samaria, and the head of Samaria is Remaliah’s son. If ye will not believe, surely ye shall not be established.010 ¶ Moreover the Lord spake again unto Ahaz, saying,011 Ask thee a sign of the Lord thy God; ask it either in the depth, or in the height above.012 But Ahaz said, I will not ask, neither will I tempt the Lord .013 And he said, Hear ye now, O house of David; Is it a small thing for you to weary men, but will ye weary my God also?014 Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign ; Behold , a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son , and shall call his name Immanuel .015 Butter and honey shall he eat, that he may know to refuse the evil, and choose the good.016 For before the child shall know to refuse the evil , and choose the good, the land that thou abhorrest shall be forsaken of both her kings.017 ¶ The Lord shall bring upon thee, and upon thy people, and upon thy father’s house, days that have not come, from the day that Ephraim departed from Judah ; even the king of Assyria.018 And it shall come to pass in that day, that the Lord shall hiss for the fly that is in the uttermost part of the rivers of Egypt, and for the bee that is in the land of Assyria.019 And they shall come, and shall rest all of them in the desolate valleys, and in the holes of the rocks, and upon all thorns, and upon all bushes.020 In the same day shall the Lord shave with a razor that is hired, namely, by them beyond the river, by the king of Assyria, the head, and the hair of the feet: and it shall also consume the beard.021 And it shall come to pass in that day, that a man shall nourish a young cow, and two sheep;022 And it shall come to pass, for the abundance of milk that they shall give he shall eat butter: for butter and honey shall every one eat that is left in the land.023 And it shall come to pass in that day, that every place shall be, where there were a thousand vines at a thousand silverlings , it shall even be for briers and thorns.024 With arrows and with bows shall men come thither; because all the land shall become briers and thorns.025 And on all hills that shall be digged with the mattock , there shall not come thither the fear of briers and thorns: but it shall be for the sending forth of oxen, and for the treading of lesser cattle .
Isaiah 8
01 Moreover the Lord said unto me, Take thee a great roll , and write in it with a man’s pen concerning Maher-shalal-hash-baz .02 And I took unto me faithful witnesses to record, Uriah the priest, and Zechariah the son of Jeberechiah.03 And I went unto the prophetess ; and she conceived, and bare a son. Then said the Lord to me, Call his name Maher-shalal-hash-baz .04 For before the child shall have knowledge to cry, My father, and my mother, the riches of Damascus and the spoil of Samaria shall be taken away before the king of Assyria.05 ¶ The Lord spake also unto me again, saying,06 Forasmuch as this people refuseth the waters of Shiloah that go softly, and rejoice in Rezin and Remaliah’s son;07 Now therefore, behold, the Lord bringeth up upon them the waters of the river, strong and many, even the king of Assyria , and all his glory: and he shall come up over all his channels, and go over all his banks:08 And he shall pass through Judah ; he shall overflow and go over, he shall reach even to the neck ; and the stretching out of his wings shall fill the breadth of thy land, O Immanuel .09 ¶ Associate yourselves , O ye people, and ye shall be broken in pieces; and give ear, all ye of far countries: gird yourselves, and ye shall be broken in pieces; gird yourselves, and ye shall be broken in pieces.010 Take counsel together, and it shall come to nought; speak the word, and it shall not stand: for God is with us.011 ¶ For the Lord spake thus to me with a strong hand , and instructed me that I should not walk in the way of this people, saying,012 Say ye not, A confederacy , to all them to whom this people shall say, A confederacy; neither fear ye their fear, nor be afraid.013 Sanctify the Lord of hosts himself; and let him be your fear, and let him be your dread.014 And he shall be for a sanctuary ; but for a stone of stumbling and for a rock of offence to both the houses of Israel, for a gin and for a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem.015 And many among them shall stumble, and fall, and be broken, and be snared, and be taken.016 Bind up the testimony, seal the law among my disciples.017 And I will wait upon the Lord , that hideth his face from the house of Jacob, and I will look for him.018 Behold, I and the children whom the Lord hath given me are for signs and for wonders in Israel from the Lord of hosts, which dwelleth in mount Zion.019 ¶ And when they shall say unto you, Seek unto them that have familiar spirits , and unto wizards that peep, and that mutter: should not a people seek unto their God? for the living to the dead?020 To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.021 And they shall pass through it, hardly bestead and hungry: and it shall come to pass, that when they shall be hungry, they shall fret themselves, and curse their king and their God, and look upward.022 And they shall look unto the earth; and behold trouble and darkness , dimness of anguish ; and they shall be driven to darkness.
Isaiah 9
01 Nevertheless the dimness shall not be such as was in her vexation, when at the first he lightly afflicted the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, and afterward did more grievously afflict her by the way of the sea, beyond Jordan, in Galilee of the nations.02 The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light : they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined.03 Thou hast multiplied the nation , and not increased the joy: they joy before thee according to the joy in harvest, and as men rejoice when they divide the spoil.04 For thou hast broken the yoke of his burden , and the staff of his shoulder, the rod of his oppressor, as in the day of Midian .05 For every battle of the warrior is with confused noise, and garments rolled in blood; but this shall be with burning and fuel of fire.06 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 .07 Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end , upon the throne of David , and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.08 ¶ The Lord sent a word into Jacob, and it hath lighted upon Israel .09 And all the people shall know, even Ephraim and the inhabitant of Samaria, that say in the pride and stoutness of heart,010 The bricks are fallen down, but we will build with hewn stones: the sycomores are cut down, but we will change them into cedars.011 Therefore the Lord shall set up the adversaries of Rezin against him, and join his enemies together;012 The Syrians before , and the Philistines behind ; and they shall devour Israel with open mouth. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still.013 ¶ For the people turneth not unto him that smiteth them, neither do they seek the Lord of hosts.014 Therefore the Lord will cut off from Israel head and tail, branch and rush, in one day.015 The ancient and honourable , he is the head; and the prophet that teacheth lies, he is the tail.016 For the leaders of this people cause them to err; and they that are led of them are destroyed .017 Therefore the Lord shall have no joy in their young men, neither shall have mercy on their fatherless and widows: for every one is an hypocrite and an evildoer, and every mouth speaketh folly. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still.018 ¶ For wickedness burneth as the fire: it shall devour the briers and thorns , and shall kindle in the thickets of the forest, and they shall mount up like the lifting up of smoke.019 Through the wrath of the Lord of hosts is the land darkened, and the people shall be as the fuel of the fire: no man shall spare his brother .020 And he shall snatch on the right hand, and be hungry; and he shall eat on the left hand, and they shall not be satisfied: they shall eat every man the flesh of his own arm:021 Manasseh, Ephraim; and Ephraim, Manasseh: and they together shall be against Judah. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still.
Some Christians accept the Bible as the one true word, completely inspired of God in its entirety. At the opposite extreme, some other Christians consider the Bible as the writings of persons who may or may not have been inspired of God, which writings have little moral authority in our day. The Latter-day Saint belief that the Bible is “the word of God as far as it is translated correctly” (A of F 1:8) places us between these extremes, but this belief is not what makes us unique in Christianity.
What makes us different from most other Christians in the way we read and use the Bible and other scriptures is our belief in continuing revelation. For us, the scriptures are not the ultimate source of knowledge, but what precedes the ultimate source. The ultimate knowledge comes by revelation. With Moroni we affirm that he who denieth revelation “knoweth not the gospel of Christ” (Morm. 9:8).
The word of the Lord in the scriptures is like a lamp to guide our feet (see Ps. 119:105), and revelation is like a mighty force that increases the lamp’s illumination manyfold. We encourage everyone to make careful study of the scriptures and of the prophetic teachings concerning them and to prayerfully seek personal revelation to know their meaning for themselves.
Because of our belief in continuing revelation, we Latter-day Saints maintain that the canon (the authoritative body) of scriptures is open. In fact, the scriptural canon is open in several ways, and continuing revelation is crucial to each of them.
First, we believe that God will guide his children by giving new additions to the existing body of scriptures through the prophet and the established procedures of his Church. The Book of Mormon is such an addition. So are the revelations in the Doctrine and Covenants, including sections 137 and 138 [D&C 137; D&C 138], which were added in our lifetime.
Second, we believe that God will give new revelations on the meaning of scriptures previously canonized, meanings that were not evident in earlier times. These new revelations are of two types: public and private.
Public revelations on the meaning of earlier scriptures come through those we sustain as prophets, seers, and revelators. Examples of public revelations are the numerous additions and clarifications in the Joseph Smith Translation of the Bible and in the Doctrine and Covenants revelations on the meaning of Bible passages. (For example, see D&C 77 on the book of Revelation and D&C 113 on some prophecies in Isaiah.) These public revelations usually illuminate scriptural passages that are doctrinal rather than those that are descriptive or directive.
Our belief in an open canon also includes private revelations to individual seekers of the meaning of existing scriptures. Such revelations are necessary because, as Elder Bruce R. McConkie of the Quorum of the Twelve observed, “Each pronouncement in the holy scriptures … is so written as to reveal little or much, depending on the spiritual capacity of the student” (A New Witness for the Articles of Faith, Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1985, p. 71).
Nephi attempted to teach his brothers that they could know the meaning of their father’s prophetic utterances, “which were hard to be understood, save a man should inquire of the Lord” (1 Ne. 15:3). Nephi told them if they did not harden their hearts and would keep the commandments and inquire of the Lord in faith, “surely these things shall be made known unto you” (1 Ne. 15:11).
If we harden our hearts, reject continuing revelation, and limit our learning to what we can obtain by study and reason on the precise language of the present canon of scriptures, our understanding will be limited to what Alma called “the lesser portion of the word” (Alma 12:11). If we seek and accept revelation and inspiration to enlarge our understanding of the scriptures, we will realize a fulfillment of Nephi’s inspired promise that those who diligently seek will have “the mysteries of God … unfolded unto them, by the power of the Holy Ghost” (1 Ne. 10:19).
To illustrate this essential truth, consider the fact that the most important knowledge we can obtain is a testimony of the Father and the Son. This vital knowledge is received through the witness of the Holy Ghost (see D&C 20:27). Many of the other things mentioned in the scriptures can be comprehended only by the inspiration of the Holy Ghost. In the words of the Apostle Paul, “The things of God knoweth no man, except he has the Spirit of God” (JST, 1 Cor. 2:11).
We become receptive to inspiration and revelation by obedience to the commandments of God, by prayer, and by attention to the teachings of the living prophets. Their words serve as a guide for each of us, in scripture interpretation as in other matters.
The Lord promised Nephi: “Unto him that receiveth I will give more; and from them that shall say, We have enough, from them shall be taken away even that which they have” (2 Ne. 28:30; see also Matt. 13:12). That verse capsulizes the Latter-day Saint belief in the importance of continuing revelation as we read and interpret the scriptures. Even if there were no additional revelations to be added to the published canon, an open canon would still be an essential part of our belief and practice in scripture reading. We believe that the scriptures, which are the revelations of the past, cannot be understood without openness to the revelations of the present.
Just as continuing revelation enlarges and illuminates the scriptures, so also a study of the scriptures enables men and women to receive revelations. Elder Bruce R. McConkie said, “I sometimes think that one of the best-kept secrets of the kingdom is that the scriptures open the door to the receipt of revelation” (Doctrines of the Restoration, ed. Mark L. McConkie, Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1989, p. 243). This happens because scripture reading puts us in tune with the Spirit of the Lord.
The idea that scripture reading can lead to inspiration and revelation opens the door to the truth that a scripture is not limited to what it meant when it was written but may also include what that scripture means to a reader today. Even more, scripture reading may also lead to current revelation on whatever else the Lord wishes to communicate to the reader at that time. We do not overstate the point when we say that the scriptures can be a Urim and Thummim to assist each of us to receive personal revelation.
Because we believe that scripture reading can help us receive revelation, we are encouraged to read the scriptures again and again. By this means, we obtain access to what our Heavenly Father would have us know and do in our personal lives today. That is one reason Latter-day Saints believe in daily scripture study.
Similarly, what a scripture in the Book of Mormon meant to me when I first read it at age sixteen is not conclusive upon me as I read it at age sixty. With the benefit of my life’s experiences and with my greater familiarity with revelation, I can learn things that were not available to me yesterday by reading the scriptures today.
Another reason for repeated reading of the scriptures is that many of the prophecies and doctrinal passages in the scriptures have multiple meanings. The Savior affirmed that fact when he told his disciples that the reason he taught the multitude in parables was that this permitted him to teach them “the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven” (Matt. 13:11) while not revealing those mysteries to the multitude. His parables had multiple meanings or applications according to the spiritual maturity of the listener. They had a message for both children and gospel scholars.
Other illustrations of multiple meanings occur in the prophecies and visions recorded in the scriptures. Elder McConkie observed that “some of the [Savior’s] prophetic utterances [in 3 Ne. 21] apply to both pre- and post-millennial events; some have an initial and partial fulfillment in our day and shall have a second and grander completion in the days ahead” (The Millennial Messiah, Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1982, p. 251). Similarly, in answer to his brothers’ questions about the meaning of Isaiah’s words in the brass plates, Nephi explained that these words spoke of “things both temporal and spiritual” (1 Ne. 22:3).
The book of Isaiah contains numerous prophecies that seem to have multiple fulfillments. One seems to involve the people of Isaiah’s day or the circumstances of the next generation. Another meaning, often symbolic, seems to refer to events in the meridian of time, when Jerusalem was destroyed and her people scattered after the crucifixion of the Son of God. Still another meaning or fulfillment of the same prophecy seems to relate to the events attending the Second Coming of the Savior. The fact that many of these prophecies can have multiple meanings underscores the importance of our seeking revelation from the Holy Ghost to help us interpret them. As Nephi says, the words of Isaiah “are plain unto all those that are filled with the spirit of prophecy” (2 Ne. 25:4).
Another illustration of multiple meanings concerns the prophecy in the book of Joel that in the last days the Lord will pour out his spirit upon all flesh and that our sons and our daughters will prophesy (see Joel 2:28). On the day of Pentecost, the Apostle Peter declared that the events they had witnessed were those “spoken by the prophet Joel” (Acts 2:16). Eighteen hundred years later, the angel Moroni quoted this same prophecy and said that “this was not yet fulfilled, but was soon to be” (JS—H 1:41).
The principle that scriptures can have multiple meanings also helps us appreciate the fact that a single scripture may be given to us in more than one set of words. For example, Moroni quoted the prophecy of Malachi quite differently than it appears in the Bible. (Compare Mal. 4:5–6 with JS—H 1:38–39.) We believe that both accounts are scripturally and doctrinally correct and that the differences of expression are attributable to the different aspects of salvation for the dead being stressed in these two different circumstances (see D&C 128:17).
Those who believe the scriptural canon is closed typically approach the reading of scriptures by focusing on what was meant at the time the scriptural words were spoken or written. In this approach, a passage of scripture may appear to have a single meaning and the reader typically relies on scholarship and historical methods to determine it.
The Latter-day Saint approach is different. Professor Hugh Nibley illuminates this in his essay “The Prophets and the Scripture.” He observes that “men fool themselves when they think for a moment that they can read the scripture without ever adding something to the text, or omitting something from it. For in the wise words of St. Hilary, … ‘Scripture consists not in what one reads, but in what one understands.’” Consequently, he continues, “in the reading of the scripture we must always have an interpreter” (The World and the Prophets, The Collected Works of Hugh Nibley, 12 vols., Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1987, 3:202).
He concludes: The question is not whether or not one shall add to the word of the scripture—thousands of volumes of learned commentary have already done that—but whether such addition shall come by the wisdom of men or the revelation of God” (ibid., p. 206).
Latter-day Saints know that true doctrine comes by revelation from God, not by scholarship or worldly wisdom (see Moses 5:58). Similarly, the Apostle Paul wrote that we are not “sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God” (2 Cor. 3:5). Rather than trusting in our own interpretations of written texts, we rely on God and the glorious “ministration of the spirit” (2 Cor. 3:8). Here we encounter a new meaning of Paul’s familiar teaching that true believers are “ministers … of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life” (2 Cor. 3:6).
Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery set the example for this dispensation. After their baptism, they were filled with the Holy Ghost. Then, as Joseph explained in his personal history, “Our minds being now enlightened, we began to have the scriptures laid open to our understandings, and the true meaning and intention of their more mysterious passages revealed unto us in a manner which we never could attain to previously, nor ever before had thought of” (JS—H 1:74).
Latter-day Saints know that learned or authoritative commentaries can help us with scriptural interpretation, but we maintain that they must be used with caution.
Commentaries are not a substitute for the scriptures any more than a good cookbook is a substitute for food. (When I refer to “commentaries,” I refer to everything that interprets scripture, from the comprehensive book-length commentary to the brief interpretation embodied in a lesson or an article, such as this one.)
One trouble with commentaries is that their authors sometimes focus on only one meaning, to the exclusion of others. As a result, commentaries, if not used with great care, may illuminate the author’s chosen and correct meaning but close our eyes and restrict our horizons to other possible meanings. Sometimes those other, less obvious meanings can be the ones most valuable and useful to us as we seek to understand our own dispensation and to obtain answers to our own questions. This is why the teaching of the Holy Ghost is a better guide to scriptural interpretation than even the best commentary.
As Paul told Timothy, “all scripture is given by inspiration of God” (2 Tim. 3:16; also see 2 Pet. 1:21). This means that in order to understand scripture, our minds need to be enlightened by the Spirit of the Lord. As we learn from the fiftieth section of the Doctrine and Covenants, “he that receiveth the word by the Spirit of truth receiveth it as it is preached by the Spirit of truth” (D&C 50:21). When this happens, the reader is edified by personal revelation.
President Spencer W. Kimball told the members of the Church that he was “convinced that each of us, at some time in our lives, must discover the scriptures for ourselves” (Ensign, Sept. 1976, p. 4). When we do that, we can obtain revelation. If we depend only upon our own reasoning or the scholarship or commentaries of others, we will never obtain the understanding that can come only by revelation. Persons in that circumstance will be left forever with what Alma calls “the lesser portion of the word” (Alma 12:11).
1.High on the mountain top A banner is unfurled. Ye nations, now look up; It waves to all the world. In Deseret’s sweet, peaceful land, On Zion’s mount behold it stand!
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2.For God remembers still His promise made of old That he on Zion’s hill Truth’s standard would unfold! Her light should there attract the gaze Of all the world in latter days.
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3.His house shall there be reared, His glory to display, And people shall be heard In distant lands to say: We’ll now go up and serve the Lord, Obey his truth and learn his word.
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4.For there we shall be taught The law that will go forth, With truth and wisdom fraught, To govern all the earth. Forever there his ways we’ll tread, And save ourselves with all our dead.
The Savior declared, “Great are the words of Isaiah” (3 Nephi 23:1), and commanded us to search Isaiah’s prophecies diligently. Isaiah was a prophet in the Southern Kingdom of Judah in the latter half of the eighth century BC. His ministry took place during the time when Assyria conquered the Northern Kingdom of Israel and was threatening to do the same to Judah. Isaiah was called by God in a vision. He delivered messages of warning, judgment, and hope to the people of his day. He condemned their sinful actions, idolatry, and injustice and called the people to repent. Isaiah also prophesied of the birth of Jesus Christ, the latter-day Restoration of the gospel, and the Second Coming of the Savior.
Note: The citation of a source not published by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints does not imply that it or its author is endorsed by the Church or represents the official position of the Church.
What is the book of Isaiah?
The book of Isaiah contains the writings and prophecies of Isaiah, a prophet who lived in Jerusalem during the latter half of the eighth century BC. Isaiah’s name means “the Lord is salvation,” an idea that is reflected in his writings. Isaiah lived in a time of widespread wickedness and political turmoil. The Assyrian empire was the most dominant and threatening political power in his day. Many of Isaiah’s prophecies address the danger that Assyria posed to both the Northern Kingdom of Israel and the Southern Kingdom of Judah. Isaiah had a particularly strong influence on King Hezekiah of Judah.
Isaiah is quoted extensively in other books of scripture—more than any other Old Testament prophet. He spoke extensively about the house of Israel and its restoration in the latter days. Perhaps the most important part of Isaiah’s writings is his witness of the Holy One of Israel, the promised Messiah. President Jeffrey R. Holland wrote: “Isaiah is by every standard the messianic prophet of the Old Testament and as such is the most penetrating prophetic voice in that record.” When the resurrected Jesus Christ visited the Nephites and Lamanites in the Americas, He taught, “A commandment I give unto you that ye search these things diligently; for great are the words of Isaiah.”
Many of Isaiah’s prophecies are dualistic in the sense that his messages were fulfilled in his own day, but they were also types or shadows of events to take place at a much later time. President Dallin H. Oaks explained: “The book of Isaiah contains numerous prophecies that seem to have multiple fulfillments. One seems to involve the people of Isaiah’s day or the circumstances of the next generation. Another meaning, often symbolic, seems to refer to events in the meridian of time. … Still another meaning or fulfillment of the same prophecy seems to relate to the events attending the Second Coming of the Savior. The fact that many of these prophecies can have multiple meanings underscores the importance of our seeking revelation from the Holy Ghost to help us interpret them.”
The book of Isaiah can be organized into the following sections:
Isaiah 1–12: Isaiah’s call from the Lord, his message of warning, and his prophecies of the destruction and restoration of Judah and Israel.
Isaiah 13–23: Prophecies of God’s judgments upon wicked nations and a vision of Israel’s future prominence.
Isaiah 24–35: Additional prophecies of judgment and destruction.
Isaiah 36–39: Historical narrative of the Assyrian invasion of Jerusalem, parallelling the account found in 2 Kings 18–20.
Isaiah 40–48: Promises of deliverance for the Jews exiled to Babylon.
Isaiah 49–59: Prophecies about God’s servants, including the Messiah, who would bring salvation to Israel.
Isaiah 60–66: Promises of Israel’s final restoration, the Second Coming of Jesus Christ, and His millennial reign.
Isaiah 1 was likely written later than many of Isaiah’s other revelations. It is a prologue or preface to the rest of the book, similar to how section 1 is used in the Doctrine and Covenants.Chapter 1 summarizes a prominent message in Isaiah: When God’s people break their covenant, they will lose His blessings and protection. But when they return to Him, He will forgive and bless them beyond measure.
What can we learn from the imagery of scarlet, crimson, snow, and wool?
Isaiah compared Israel’s sins to scarlet and crimson—red colors that come from dyes. He pleaded with his people to “wash” and make themselves clean. Isaiah testified that their scarlet and crimson sins could be “as white as snow” and “as wool.” This powerful imagery can remind us that the sins of those who repent can be “washed white through the blood of the Lamb.”
Of these symbols, Sister Sharon Eubank, formerly of the Relief Society General Presidency, taught: “The scarlet dye of the Old Testament was not only colorful but also colorfast, meaning that its vivid color stuck to the wool and would not fade no matter how many times it was washed. Satan wields this reasoning like a club: white wool stained scarlet can never go back to being white. But Jesus Christ declares, ‘My ways [are] higher than your ways’ [Isaiah 55:9], and the miracle of His grace is that when we repent of our sins, His scarlet blood returns us to purity. It isn’t logical, but it is nevertheless true.”
Isaiah’s prophecy has multiple fulfillments. In its immediate context, it points to a time when the Lord will establish His temple in Jerusalem in the last days, and people from all nations will come to worship there. Latter-day prophets have also taught that this prophecy applies to the Restoration of the Church of Jesus Christ and the establishment of temples throughout the world.
What is meant by the phrase “out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem”?
This phrase uses a form of Hebrew poetry known as parallelism, where two lines express the same idea using different words. Throughout the Old Testament, the word Zion is used synonymously with Jerusalem and the temple mount. Isaiah’s prophecy indicates that in the last days, the word of the Lord and His sacred law will go forth from Jerusalem, where the temple will be built.
Isaiah’s prophecy can also refer to the New Jerusalem, which will be built on the American continent and from which Christ will reign during the Millennium. President Joseph Fielding Smith said the following about these two cities: “Jerusalem of old … shall become a holy city where the Lord shall dwell and from whence he shall send forth his word unto all people. Likewise, on [the American] continent, the city of Zion, New Jerusalem, shall be built, and from it the law of God shall also go forth.”
Most scholars agree that the phrase daughter of Zion in its singular form refers to the people of Jerusalem and Judah. The plural form, “daughters of Zion,” appears only a few times in the Old Testament. It may have a different meaning from the singular form, possibly referring specifically to the women of Jerusalem or the inhabitants of both the Northern and Southern Kingdoms. Regardless of the specific meaning, Isaiah’s description of the daughters of Zion shows that pride and arrogance had come to characterize the people.
Isaiah prophesied that the Lord would ultimately wash away “the filth of the daughters of Zion.” Rather than abandoning Israel with nobody to care for them, God would continue to honor His covenant with them. Isaiah prophesied that the Lord would be in Israel’s midst as a source of protection and refuge in the last days.
What does Isaiah mean when he says the Lord’s hand is “stretched out still”?
The phrase “For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still” occurs several times in the early chapters of Isaiah. In each instance, the phrase is associated with the punishment of the wicked. Isaiah used this phrase to emphasize that because past punishments had not led Israel to repent, God’s hand would remain outstretched in judgment. These passages may also show that the Lord’s extended hands and arms are used to describe His mercy.
Did the Lord command Isaiah to teach in a way that the people would not understand?
The translation of verses 9–10 makes it seem as though Isaiah was commanded to prophesy in a way that would cause the people to harden their hearts and become spiritually deaf and blind. Some scholars believe that these verses are describing the people’s existing spiritual condition, while others believe they are a prophecy of how the people would respond to Isaiah’s message. Another possibility is that the Lord was instructing Isaiah to deliver his message in such a way that those with hardened hearts would fail to understand, but those who were spiritually prepared would comprehend.
In 735 BC, the Assyrian empire was rapidly expanding and posed a growing threat to nearby kingdoms. These included the Northern Kingdom of Israel (also known as Ephraim) and the kingdom of Syria (also known as Aram). In response, King Pekah of the Northern Kingdom and King Rezin of Syria formed an alliance to defend their kingdoms against Assyria. They urged King Ahaz of the Southern Kingdom to join them, but he refused. In retaliation, Pekah and Rezin attacked Ahaz’s kingdom, intending to replace Ahaz with a ruler who would join their alliance. It was during this time that Isaiah prophesied to King Ahaz.
Isaiah urged Ahaz and the people of Judah to rely on the Lord for deliverance from the armies of Pekah (king of Israel) and Rezin (king of Syria). He also encouraged Ahaz not to seek help from Assyria. To strengthen Ahaz’s faith in the prophecy, the Lord promised a sign: “Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.” The Hebrew word translated as “virgin” can simply mean a young woman of marriageable age. The Lord assured Ahaz that before this child reached maturity, Pekah and Rezin would be destroyed.
Despite Isaiah’s counsel, Ahaz chose to seek help from Assyria. As a result, Judah came under Assyrian control. Isaiah’s prophecy began to be fulfilled in 732 BC, when Assyria destroyed the alliance between Pekah and Rezin and conquered Damascus in Syria and portions of the kingdom of Israel.
Beyond its immediate historical context, the prophecy of Immanuel holds deeper significance. The Gospel of Matthew identifies it as a prophecy of the birth of Jesus Christ to the virgin Mary. The name Immanuel means “God with us.”
“For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given” (Isaiah 9:6).
What is significant about the names of Isaiah’s sons?
Isaiah declared, “I and the children whom the Lord hath given me are for signs and for wonders in Israel.” The names of Isaiah and his sons contained symbolic messages that would serve as reminders of Isaiah’s prophecies to the people. Maher-shalal-hash-baz (“to speed to the spoil, he hasteneth the prey”) foreshadowed the destruction the people would face if they persisted in wickedness. Shear-jashub (“the remnant shall return”) pointed to the eventual gathering of Israel back to the promised land and God’s everlasting covenant. The name Isaiah (“Jehovah is salvation”) represented the power of Jesus Christ to save His people.
What did Isaiah mean when he said, “For unto us a child is born”?
In Isaiah 9, Isaiah prophesied of a time of “vexation” and “dimness.” He was likely referring to the Assyrian invasions of the Northern Kingdom of Israel that occurred in 732 BC. These invasions posed significant threats to the Northern Kingdom, as well as to the Southern Kingdom of Judah. Despite these dangers, Isaiah prophesied of the coming of “a great light” and of the birth of a child who would bring peace and justice.
In its immediate context, this prophecy may have referred to the birth of King Hezekiah. When Hezekiah became king of Judah, he brought spiritual light to the people by helping them turn away from idolatry and rely on the Lord. During Hezekiah’s reign, the people of Jerusalem miraculously avoided destruction at the hands of the Assyrians. Above all, Jesus Christ is the divine and ultimate fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophecy. He is the great light who will forever sit “upon the throne of David” as the King of kings.
President Russell M. Nelson taught:
“As the prophet Isaiah prophesied, and as memorialized in Handel’s Messiah, when Jesus Christ returns, ‘the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together’ [Isaiah 40:5].
“In that day ‘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].”
The Prophet Isaiah Foretells Christ’s Birth, by Harry Andersen
Isaiah prophesied of the destruction of Assyria in Isaiah 10. Assyria was a dominant power that eventually conquered the Northern Kingdom of Israel and scattered its people. Assyria also posed a grave threat to the Southern Kingdom of Judah. Isaiah prophesied that the Assyrian army would invade Judah and even listed the names of cities that would fall along its path. He then described the army drawing closer to Jerusalem, advancing to the point that it would “shake [its] hand” against the city.
Despite how close Jerusalem would come to being destroyed, Isaiah prophesied that the Lord would intervene to save His people. He compared Assyria to a forest of trees that would be cleared. One fulfillment of this prophecy occurred during the reign of King Hezekiah, when an army of 185,000 Assyrians threatened to destroy Jerusalem. However, before the Assyrians began their attack, the Lord sent a plague upon the Assyrian camp, and Jerusalem was miraculously spared. Several decades later, Assyria was conquered by Babylon and ceased to exist as an empire.
What is the “stem of Jesse” and the branch that grew from it?
Isaiah’s prophecy has multiple fulfillments. In one sense, Isaiah 11:1 can be seen as using synonymous parallelism, a form of Hebrew poetry where the second part of a phrase reinforces the meaning of the first. In this case, rod can be equated with branch, and stem (or stump) with roots. In other words, Isaiah prophesied of a rod or branch that would grow out of the stump or roots of a tree. This was fulfilled by Jesus Christ, who was a branch that grew from the roots of Jesse. Jesse was the father of King David and an ancestor of Jesus Christ.
Restoration scripture helps us understand an additional fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophecy. On the night of September 21, 1823, the angel Moroni appeared to 17-year-old Joseph Smith and told him of the work God had for Joseph to do. As part of this visitation, Moroni quoted numerous Old Testament prophecies, including Isaiah 11. He told Joseph that this prophecy “was about to be fulfilled.” Nearly 15 years later, in March 1838, the Prophet Joseph Smith addressed questions about Isaiah 11. His inspired responses, which are recorded in Doctrine and Covenants 113, explain some elements of this prophecy.
Doctrine and Covenants 113:1–2 states that “the Stem of Jesse” is Jesus Christ. Verses 3–6 explain that the person symbolized by the rod and root is a descendant of Jesse and of Ephraim who would hold the “keys of the kingdom … for the gathering of [the Lord’s] people in the last days.” This is likely referring to the Prophet Joseph Smith.
In Isaiah’s day, an ensign was a flag or banner that an army carried that showed which nation they were from. The ensign was raised up during battle so that the army’s soldiers could gather beneath it or march behind it. The ensign spoken of in Isaiah 11:10, which the Gentiles would seek, is the “everlasting covenant,” or the gospel of Jesus Christ. The restored Church of Jesus Christ is an ensign to gather scattered Israel back to Him.
What might the “highway for the remnant” represent?
Isaiah spoke of a highway that would lead the scattered tribes back to Israel. While it is possible that Isaiah was referring to a physical road, he may have been speaking symbolically of the strait and narrow covenant path.
“O Come, O Come Emmanuel,” Hymns—For Home and Church
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Isaiah, by Ted Henninger
For unto Us a Child Is Born, by Simon Dewey
The Angel Moroni Appears to Joseph Smith, by Tom Lovell
See RoseAnn Benson and Shon D. Hopkin, “Finding Doctrine and Meaning in Book of Mormon Isaiah,” Religious Educator, vol. 15, no. 1 (2014), 107. See also Bible Dictionary, “Isaiah”; Isaiah 12:2–3.
See Guide to the Scriptures, “Isaiah,” Gospel Library. See also Richard Neitzel Holzapfel and others, Jehovah and the World of the Old Testament: An Illustrated Reference for Latter-day Saints (2009), 294.
See Bible Dictionary, “Isaiah.” Isaiah is the most-quoted prophet in the New Testamant as well as the Book of Mormon and Doctrine and Covenants (see Russell M. Nelson, “Remnants Gathered, Covenants Fulfilled,” in Sperry Symposium Classics: The Old Testament, ed. Paul Y. Hoskisson [2005], 5–7). See also 3 Nephi 23:1–3; 2 Nephi 25:7–8.
Jeffrey R. Holland, Christ and the New Covenant: The Messianic Message of the Book of Mormon (1997), 75.
Many scholars think that chapters 40–66 of Isaiah may have been written by someone other than Isaiah. They point to differences in language, writing style, and themes compared to chapters 1–39. Even though we can’t prove who wrote Isaiah just by studying it, we can trust that the book is inspired scripture. Modern prophets and apostles teach from Isaiah and often quote it in their messages. The Book of Mormon also includes passages from both the first and second halves of Isaiah. Because of this, many Latter-day Saint scholars believe Isaiah wrote the whole book (see Kerry Muhlestein, Learning to Love Isaiah [2021], 2–3; Holzapfel and others, Jehovah and the World of the Old Testament, 295; D. Kelly Ogden and Andrew C. Skinner, Verse by Verse: The Old Testament, vol. 2 [2013], 253–54). Other Latter-day Saint scholars offer additional perspectives regarding the authorship of Isaiah (see Joshua M. Sears, “Deutero-Isaiah in the Book of Mormon: Latter-day Saint Approaches,” in They Shall Grow Together: The Bible in the Book of Mormon, ed. Charles Swift and Nicholas J. Frederick [2022], 365–92).
See Guide to the Scriptures, “Isaiah,” Gospel Library; Jeffrey R. Chadwick, “The Great Jerusalem Temple Prophecy: Latter-day Context and Likening unto Us,” in Ascending the Mountain of the Lord: Temple, Praise, and Worship in the Old Testament, ed. David Rolph Seely and others (2013), 368–69.
Alma 13:11. See also Revelation 7:14; Terry B. Ball, “Isaiah and the Messiah,” in Jesus Christ: Son of God, Savior, ed. Paul H. Peterson and others (2002), 88.
See Chadwick, “The Great Jerusalem Temple Prophecy,” 371–74. These same verses appear in Micah 4:1–5. It is not known whether they were revealed first to Isaiah or to Micah.
See Gary E. Stevenson, “Days Never to Be Forgotten,” Liahona, Nov. 2024, 90; Ronald A. Rasband, “Fulfillment of Prophecy,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2020, 76–77; Jeffrey R. Holland, “An Ensign to the Nations,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2011, 111; Bruce R. McConkie, The Millennial Messiah: The Second Coming of the Son of Man (1982), 275. Speaking of Isaiah 2:2–5, President Gordon B. Hinckley taught, “I believe that prophecy applies to the historic and wonderful Salt Lake Temple. But I believe also that it is related to this magnificent [Conference Center]. For it is from this pulpit that the law of God shall go forth, together with the word and testimony of the Lord (“This Great Millennial Year,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2000, 69).
See Chadwick, “The Great Jerusalem Temple Prophecy,” 374–75.
See Guide to the Scriptures, “New Jerusalem” and “Zion,” Gospel Library.
Doctrines of Salvation, comp. Bruce R. McConkie (1956), 3:69–71. See also Russell M. Nelson, “The Lord Jesus Christ Will Come Again,” Liahona, Nov. 2024, 121, including the scriptures in endnote 6.
See Donald W. Parry and others, Understanding Isaiah (1998), 43, note on Isaiah 3:16. See also Adele Berlin and Marc Zvi Brettler, eds., The Jewish Study Bible, 2nd ed. (2014), 773, note on Isaiah 3:16–4:1; Ball, “Isaiah and the Messiah,” 91–94. Isaiah’s description of the pride of the daughters of Zion follows his description of the pride and misdeeds of the males of Judah (see Isaiah 2:10–22).
See Paul Y. Hoskisson, “A Latter-day Saint Reading of Isaiah: The Example of Isaiah 6,” in Sperry Symposium Classics: The Old Testament, ed. Paul Y. Hoskisson (2005), 215–16.
See Berlin and Brettler, The Jewish Study Bible, 779–80, note on Isaiah 6:8–10.
See Muhlestein, Learning to Love Isaiah, 55–56, note on Isaiah 6:9–10.
Isaiah 7:14. The identity of the young mother is unknown. Some think she may have been Isaiah’s wife. Others suggest she was the wife of King Ahaz (see Jason R. Combs, “‘From King Ahaz’s Sign to Christ Jesus’: The ‘Fulfillment’ of Isaiah 7:14,” in Prophets and Prophecies of the Old Testament, ed. Aaron P. Schade and others (2017), 101–5.
Combs, “From King Ahaz’s Sign to Christ Jesus,” 104.
1.I love to see the temple. I’m going there someday To feel the Holy Spirit, To listen and to pray. For the temple is a house of God, A place of love and beauty. I’ll prepare myself while I am young; This is my sacred duty.
Verse
2.I love to see the temple. I’ll go inside someday. I’ll cov’nant with my Father; I’ll promise to obey. For the temple is a holy place Where we are sealed together. As a child of God, I’ve learned this truth: A fam’ly is forever.
The Israelites had been conquered many times and wanted the Lord to protect them. One day in the temple, the Lord called a man named Isaiah to teach the people about the coming of Jesus Christ. Isaiah loved the people and taught them about how Christ could save them.
Isaiah learned that Jesus Christ would come one day to save His people from sin. But not everyone would recognize Him as their Savior. Isaiah was very sad because he knew many people would not believe in Jesus Christ.
But Isaiah also prophesied of the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ would return and be the King of the whole earth. He would come again and fulfill His Father’s plan by bringing kindness and peace forever. Isaiah said everyone would know Jesus Christ is their Savior.
Come, Follow Me Resources for Children: Old Testament 2026
September 14–20
You can use these additional resources for children to help teach from each week to study the Old Testament using Come, Follow Me. Choose whichever stories, activities, or videos work best for you.
Isaiah 1:2–4, 16–19 — Because of Jesus Christ, I can repent and be clean.
In Isaiah 1:2–4, you and your children could find reasons that the Lord was not happy with the people. Note the comparison with animals in verse 3—who is our “master”? How do we show that we know Him?
To visualize Isaiah 1:16–18, you and your children could look at something bright red and something pure white. Or maybe you could work together to wash something. How do we become unclean spiritually? How does Jesus help us become clean? What do we learn about the Savior from these verses? Share with your children how you feel about Him and what He has done for you.
Isaiah 2:2–4 — In the temple, I learn about Jesus Christ.
Isaiah foresaw a time when “the mountain of the Lord’s house” would attract people from “all nations” (Isaiah 2:2). How can you help your children feel excited about going to the Lord’s house? You could invite them to draw a picture of their home. Then read together Isaiah 2:2, and invite them to draw a picture of “the Lord’s house,” which is a temple. Read Isaiah 2:3 together. Invite them to add to their pictures many people coming to the temple, including their families.
You could also read Isaiah 2:2–3 together and identify something that inspires you and your children to go to the temple. Then, after reading Isaiah 2:4 together, you could discuss how the temple brings them peace. Consider singing a song about the temple, such as “I Love to See the Temple” (Children’s Songbook, 95). Help your children find words in the song that teach what the temple is and what we do there.
Isaiah 7:14 ; 9:6–7 — Jesus Christ came to earth to be my Savior.
To introduce Isaiah’s prophecies of Christ, you and your children could talk about titles of people, like president, bishop, or teacher. What do these titles tell us about these people? Help your children find titles of Jesus Christ in Isaiah 7:14 and 9:6–7 (see also this week’s activity page). What do each of these titles teach about Him? What else do we learn about Jesus Christ from these verses?
You could also share with your children “Isaiah the Prophet” (in Old Testament Stories, 150–51). Pause periodically to ask what Isaiah knew about Jesus Christ many years before He was born. You can then use Matthew 1:21–23; Luke 1:31–33 to talk about how Isaiah’s prophecies in Isaiah 7:14; 9:6–7 were fulfilled.
For more, see this month’s issue of the Friend magazine.
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