Major Prophets · Old Testament

Isaiah

c. 740–680 BC

Section: Major Prophets · Old Testament
Events span: c. 740–680 BC
Written: c. 700–680 BC
Author: Isaiah of Jerusalem

Isaiah, prophet to Judah, warns of coming judgment for sin yet promises restoration and a Messiah. His soaring visions span the fall of nations, the comfort of the exiles, the Suffering Servant who bears our sins, and the new heavens and new earth.

Historical setting: Kingdom of Judah under the Assyrian shadow, the First Temple still standing; the later chapters look ahead to the Babylonian exile.

Key themes

Judgment and salvation
The holiness of God
The coming Messiah
The Suffering Servant
Comfort and restoration

Key events

Judgment on Judah & the Nations (Isaiah 1–39)

Isaiah sees the LORD high and lifted up in the temple and is commissioned to prophesy Isa 6c. 740 BC
Isaiah warns Judah of judgment but promises Immanuel, a child who will be born Isa 7–9c. 735 BC
Oracles of judgment against the nations: Babylon, Assyria, Egypt, and others Isa 13–23c. 720 BC
God will one day judge the whole earth, swallow up death, and reign in Zion Isa 24–27c. 710 BC
Isaiah counsels King Hezekiah; Jerusalem is delivered from Assyria and Hezekiah is healed Isa 36–39701 BC

Comfort & the Suffering Servant (Isaiah 40–66)

"Comfort ye my people" — God promises to restore the exiles and prepare a way for them Isa 40c. 700 BC
God alone is God; he foretells calling Cyrus by name to set his people free Isa 44–45c. 700 BC
The Suffering Servant is "wounded for our transgressions" and bears the sin of many Isa 52–53c. 700 BC
An invitation to the thirsty to come and freely receive God's mercy Isa 55c. 700 BC
God promises to create new heavens and a new earth Isa 65–66c. 700 BC

Key lessons

God is holy, and truly seeing that holiness exposes our sin and our need for cleansing, as it did for Isaiah in the temple: “Woe is me… I am undone.” Isa 6:5
Judgment is never God’s last word for his people; beyond every warning he promises comfort, a highway home, and a Redeemer. Isa 40:1–2
Salvation comes through a Suffering Servant who is “wounded for our transgressions” and bears the sin of many in their place. Isa 53:5
God alone is God, sovereign over every empire and naming Cyrus before his birth; idols are nothing, and all history serves his purposes. Isa 44:28; 46:9–10

“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.”

Isaiah 9:6 KJV

Critical scholarship view

Where mainstream critical scholarship dates or attributes this book differently from the traditional view above.

Written: chs. 1–39 in the 8th century BC; chs. 40–66 during or after the exile (c. 540 BC)
Author: Isaiah plus later authors ("Second" and "Third" Isaiah)