Book 23 of 66 · Old Testament
Isaiah
The greatest of the prophets — judgment and dazzling hope, the suffering servant, and "comfort ye my people."
66 chapters1,292 versesWritten in HebrewSet Judah and Jerusalem, c. 740–700 BC
Overview
Isaiah is the longest and most influential of the prophetic books. The first half warns Judah and the nations of judgment under the rising empires, yet keeps promising a coming king and a shoot from the stump of Jesse. The second half, opening with "Comfort ye, comfort ye my people," speaks past the exile to Israel's return, to a "suffering servant" who bears the sins of many, and to a new creation. The New Testament quotes it more than any other prophet.
Book facts
- Author
- Isaiah, and othersNamed in the first verse; many scholars think the later chapters were added by his followers.
- Date written
- c. 700 BC onwardIsaiah prophesied c. 740–700 BC; chapters 40–66 are often dated to the exile and after.
- Original language
- HebrewSome of the finest poetry in the Hebrew Bible.
- Setting
- Judah and Jerusalem, c. 740–700 BCUnder the shadow of Assyria, looking beyond to Babylon and return.
How it came to be
Isaiah is named in the opening verse as a prophet in Jerusalem. He prophesied under kings Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, as Assyria threatened.
Many scholars think chapters 40–66, which address the exile and return, were added by later followers in his tradition.
What is arguedWhether one prophet wrote the whole book. The sharp shift at chapter 40 leads many to see two or three hands; traditional readings hold to a single Isaiah.
The whole book, chapter by chapter
| Chapter | What happens | Who is in it | Where it takes place |
|---|---|---|---|
Judgment and a coming king — warnings to Judah and the nations, chapters 1–39 | |||
| Chapter 1The rebellious nation | God indicts a rebellious Judah and calls, "Come now, and let us reason together." | — | |
| Chapter 2The mountain of the Lord | In the last days the nations will stream to the mountain of the Lord and beat swords into plowshares. | — | |
| Chapter 3The daughters of Zion | Judgment on Judah's corrupt leaders and the proud women of Jerusalem. | — | |
| Chapter 4The branch of the Lord | A promise that the branch of the Lord will be glorious for the survivors. | — | — |
| Chapter 5The vineyard song | The song of a vineyard that yields only wild grapes, and six woes on Judah. | — | — |
| Chapter 6The throne vision | Isaiah sees the Lord high and lifted up, and is sent: "Here am I; send me." | ||
| Chapter 7The sign of Immanuel | Isaiah gives King Ahaz the sign of Immanuel — "a virgin shall conceive." | , | |
| Chapter 8The waters of Shiloah | A warning that Assyria will sweep through Judah like a flood. | — | |
| Chapter 9The child born | "Unto us a child is born" — a promise of light and an everlasting king. | — | — |
| Chapter 10The Assyrian rod | Assyria is God's rod of judgment, but will itself be judged for its pride. | — | — |
| Chapter 11The rod of Jesse | A shoot from the stump of Jesse, on whom the Spirit rests, and a peaceable kingdom. | — | — |
| Chapter 12The wells of salvation | A short song of thanks: "with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation." | — | — |
| Chapter 13The burden of Babylon | An oracle of Babylon's fall. | — | |
| Chapter 14The fallen morning star | A taunt over the fallen king of Babylon, "Lucifer, son of the morning." | — | |
| Chapter 15The burden of Moab | An oracle against Moab. | — | |
| Chapter 16The lambs of Moab | Moab's ruin continues. | — | |
| Chapter 17The burden of Damascus | An oracle against Damascus and Israel. | — | |
| Chapter 18The land of wings | An oracle concerning the land of Ethiopia. | — | — |
| Chapter 19The burden of Egypt | An oracle against Egypt, ending with Egypt one day blessed alongside Israel. | — | |
| Chapter 20The naked prophet | Isaiah walks stripped for three years as a sign against Egypt and Ethiopia. | ||
| Chapter 21The desert watchman | Oracles against Babylon, Edom, and Arabia: "Babylon is fallen." | — | |
| Chapter 22The valley of vision | An oracle against Jerusalem's false security. | — | |
| Chapter 23The burden of Tyre | An oracle against the merchant city of Tyre. | — | |
| Chapter 24The emptied earth | The whole earth laid waste under God's judgment. | — | — |
| Chapter 25The feast on the mountain | God will make a feast for all peoples and swallow up death forever. | — | — |
| Chapter 26The song of Judah | A song of trust: "Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace." | — | — |
| Chapter 27The leviathan slain | God will punish Leviathan and gather his scattered people. | — | — |
| Chapter 28The drunkards of Ephraim | Woe to the drunkards of Ephraim; a tried cornerstone is laid in Zion. | — | — |
| Chapter 29The siege of Ariel | Woe to Ariel (Jerusalem), whose worship is mere lip service. | — | |
| Chapter 30The shadow of Egypt | Woe to those who trust in Egypt rather than in God. | — | |
| Chapter 31Horses and horsemen | Woe to those who rely on Egypt's horses instead of the Lord. | — | |
| Chapter 32The righteous king | A king will reign in righteousness, and the Spirit be poured out. | — | — |
| Chapter 33The spoiler spoiled | Woe to the destroyer; the Lord will be Judah's king and judge. | — | — |
| Chapter 34The sword of Edom | God's sword of judgment falls on the nations, especially Edom. | — | |
| Chapter 35The blooming desert | The desert will blossom, and the redeemed walk home on a highway of holiness. | — | — |
| Chapter 36The words of Rabshakeh | Assyria's Sennacherib besieges Jerusalem, and his officer Rabshakeh taunts Judah. | , , | |
| Chapter 37Hezekiah's prayer | Hezekiah prays, Isaiah answers, and the Assyrian army is struck down overnight. | , , | |
| Chapter 38Hezekiah's sickness | Hezekiah is healed and given fifteen more years, with the shadow turned back as a sign. | ||
| Chapter 39The envoys of Babylon | Hezekiah shows his treasures to Babylon's envoys, and Isaiah foretells the exile to Babylon. | , | |
Comfort and the servant — hope beyond the exile, chapters 40–55 | |||
| Chapter 40Comfort my people | "Comfort ye my people" — the greatness of God, who gives strength to the weary. | — | — |
| Chapter 41The islands' fear | God summons the nations and reassures Israel: "Fear not; I will help thee." | — | — |
| Chapter 42The chosen servant | The Lord's chosen servant, who will bring justice to the nations. | — | — |
| Chapter 43The waters and the fire | "When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee." | — | — |
| Chapter 44The idol makers | The folly of idol-making, and the naming of Cyrus to come. | — | |
| Chapter 45Cyrus the anointed | God names Cyrus his anointed to set the exiles free. | ||
| Chapter 46Bel and Nebo | The idols of Babylon are a burden; the true God carries his people. | — | |
| Chapter 47The daughter of Babylon | A taunt over the fall of the daughter of Babylon. | — | |
| Chapter 48The furnace of affliction | God refines Israel in the furnace of affliction and calls them out of Babylon. | — | |
| Chapter 49The light to the Gentiles | The servant will be a light to the Gentiles and restore Israel. | — | — |
| Chapter 50The smitten servant | The servant gives his back to the smiters and is not ashamed. | — | — |
| Chapter 51The rock of Abraham | Comfort for those who seek righteousness: look to Abraham your father. | — | — |
| Chapter 52The beautiful feet | "How beautiful are the feet" of those who bring good news; the servant is introduced. | — | — |
| Chapter 53The suffering servant | The suffering servant is wounded for our transgressions and bears the sin of many. | — | — |
| Chapter 54The enlarged tent | God's everlasting kindness to his people: "enlarge the place of thy tent." | — | — |
| Chapter 55Waters for the thirsty | An invitation: "Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters." | — | — |
The new creation — the future glory of God's people, chapters 56–66 | |||
| Chapter 56The house of prayer | God's house shall be "a house of prayer for all people." | — | — |
| Chapter 57The peace of the contrite | God dwells with the humble and contrite in spirit. | — | — |
| Chapter 58The chosen fast | The fast God chooses is to loose the bonds of injustice and feed the hungry. | — | — |
| Chapter 59The separating sins | Sin separates people from God, who comes himself to bring justice. | — | — |
| Chapter 60The rising light | "Arise, shine; for thy light is come" — the nations stream to Zion. | — | |
| Chapter 61The year of favor | The Spirit anoints the servant to proclaim good tidings and "the acceptable year of the Lord." | — | — |
| Chapter 62The new name | Zion will be given a new name and no more be called forsaken. | — | |
| Chapter 63The winepress trodden | God comes in judgment from Edom, and his people recall his mercies. | — | |
| Chapter 64The potter and the clay | A prayer: "we are the clay, and thou our potter." | — | — |
| Chapter 65The new heavens | God creates new heavens and a new earth for his servants. | — | — |
| Chapter 66Heaven my throne | "Heaven is my throne" — the final gathering of the nations to worship. | — | — |
All 66 chapters. Start reading →
Worth knowing
Key people
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Key places
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Known for
Some of the best-known passages in Isaiah — tap the verse to read it.
- "Here am I; send me"Isaiah 6:8
- "Unto us a child is born"Isaiah 9:6
- "Comfort ye my people"Isaiah 40:1
- The suffering servantIsaiah 53:5