King James Bible Dictionary

(Heb. Yesh'yahu, i.e., "the salvation of Jehovah").

1. The son of Amoz (Isaiah 1:1; 2:1), who was apparently a man of humble rank. His wife was called "the prophetess" (8:3), either because she was endowed with the prophetic gift, like Deborah (Judges 4:4) and Huldah (2 Kings 22:14-20), or simply because she was the wife of "the prophet" (Isaiah 38:1). He had two sons, who bore symbolical names.

He exercised the functions of his office during the reigns of Uzziah (or Azariah), Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah (1:1). Uzziah reigned fifty-two years (B.C. 810-759), and Isaiah must have begun his career a few years before Uzziah's death, probably B.C. 762. He lived till the fourteenth year of Hezekiah, and in all likelihood outlived that monarch (who died B.C. 698), and may have been contemporary for some years with Manasseh. Thus Isaiah may have prophesied for the long period of at least sixty-four years.

His first call to the prophetical office is not recorded. A second call came to him "in the year that King Uzziah died" (Isaiah 6:1). He exercised his ministry in a spirit of uncompromising firmness and boldness in regard to all that bore on the interests of religion. He conceals nothing and keeps nothing back from fear of man. He was also noted for his spirituality and for his deep-toned reverence toward "the holy One of Israel."

In early youth Isaiah must have been moved by the invasion of Israel by the Assyrian monarch Pul (q.v.), 2 Kings 15:19; and again, twenty years later, when he had already entered on his office, by the invasion of Tiglath-pileser and his career of conquest. Ahaz, king of Judah, at this crisis refused to co-operate with the kings of Israel and Syria in opposition to the Assyrians, and was on that account attacked and defeated by Rezin of Damascus and Pekah of Samaria (2 Kings 16:5; 2 Chronicles 28:5, 6). Ahaz, thus humbled, sided with Assyria, and sought the aid of Tiglath-pileser against Israel and Syria. The consequence was that Rezin and Pekah were conquered and many of the people carried captive to Assyria (2 Kings 15:29; 16:9; 1 Chronicles 5:26). Soon after this Shalmaneser determined wholly to subdue the kingdom of Israel. Samaria was taken and destroyed (B.C. 722). So long as Ahaz reigned, the kingdom of Judah was unmolested by the Assyrian power; but on his accession to the throne, Hezekiah (B.C. 726), who "rebelled against the king of Assyria" (2 Kings 18:7), in which he was encouraged by Isaiah, who exhorted the people to place all their dependence on Jehovah (Isaiah 10:24; 37:6), entered into an alliance with the king of Egypt (Isaiah 30:2-4). This led the king of Assyria to threaten the king of Judah, and at length to invade the land. Sennacherib (B.C. 701) led a powerful army into Palestine. Hezekiah was reduced to despair, and submitted to the Assyrians (2 Kings 18:14-16). But after a brief interval war broke out again, and again Sennacherib (q.v.) led an army into Palestine, one detachment of which threatened Jerusalem (Isaiah 36:2-22; 37:8). Isaiah on that occasion encouraged Hezekiah to resist the Assyrians (37:1-7), whereupon Sennacherib sent a threatening letter to Hezekiah, which he "spread before the Lord" (37:14). The judgement of God now fell on the Assyrian host. "Like Xerxes in Greece, Sennacherib never recovered from the shock of the disaster in Judah. He made no more expeditions against either Southern Palestine or Egypt." The remaining years of Hezekiah's reign were peaceful (2 Chronicles 32:23, 27-29). Isaiah probably lived to its close, and possibly into the reign of Manasseh, but the time and manner of his death are unknown. There is a tradition that he suffered martyrdom in the heathen reaction in the time of Manasseh (q.v.).

2. One of the heads of the singers in the time of David (1 Chronicles 25:3, 15, "Jeshaiah").

3. A Levite (1 Chronicles 26:25).

4. Ezra 8:7.

5. Nehemiah 11:7.

the salvation of the Lord

Called also Esaias.

History of:

Son of Amos
Isaiah 1:1

Prophesies in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah
Isaiah 1:1; Isaiah 6:1; Isaiah 7:1; Isaiah 7:3; Isaiah 14:27; Isaiah 20:1; Isaiah 36:1; Isaiah 38:1; Isaiah 39:1

Prophesies at the time of the invasion by Tartan, of Assyria
Isaiah 20:1

Symbolically wears sackcloth, and walks barefoot, as a sign to Israel
Isaiah 20:2-3

Comforts and encourages Hezekiah and the people in the siege of Jerusalem by Rab-shakeh
Isaiah 12:18; Isaiah 37:6-7

Comforts Hezekiah in his affliction
2 Kings 20:1-11; 2 Kings 23:38

Performs the miracle of the returning shadow to confirm Hezekiah's faith
2 Kings 20:8-11

Reproves Hezekiah's folly in exhibiting his resources to the commissioners from Babylon
2 Kings 20:12-19; Isaiah 39:1-8

Is chronicler of the times of Uzziah and Hezekiah
2 Chronicles 26:22; 2 Chronicles 32:32

Prophecies, reproofs, and Exhortations of:

Foretells punishment of the Jews for idolatry, and reproves self-confidence and distrust of God
Isaiah 2:6-20

Foretells the destruction of the Jews
Isaiah 23:3

Promises to the remnant restoration of divine favor
Isaiah 4:2-6; Isaiah 6:1-13

Delineates in the parable of the vineyard the ingratitude of the Jews, and reproves it
Isaiah 5:1-10

Denounces existing corruptions
Isaiah 5:8-30

Foretells the ill success of the plot of the Israelites and Syrians against Judah
Isaiah 7:1-16

Denounces calamities against Israel and Judah
Isaiah 7:16-25; Isaiah 9:2-6

Foretells prosperity under Hezekiah, and the manifestation of the Messiah
Isaiah 9:1-7

Denounces vengeance upon the enemies of Israel
Isaiah 9:8-12

Denounces the wickedness of Israel, and foretells the judgments of God
Isaiah 9:13-21

Denounces judgments against false prophets
Isaiah 10:1-4

Foretells the destruction of Sennacherib's armies
Isaiah 10:5-34

Foretells the restoration of Israel and the triumph of the Messiah's kingdom
Isaiah 23:11

The burden of Babylon
Isaiah 23:13; Isaiah 14:1-28

Denunciation against the Philistines
Isaiah 14:9-32

Burden of Moab
Isaiah 23:15

Burden of Damascus
Isaiah 17:1-14

Obscure prophecy, supposed by some authorities to be directed against the Assyrians, by others against the Egyptians, and by others against the Ethiopians
Isaiah 18:1-7

The burden of Egypt
Isaiah 23:19

Denunciations against Babylon
Isaiah 21:1-10

Prophecy concerning:

Seir
Isaiah 21:11-12

Arabia
Isaiah 21:13-17

The conquest of Jerusalem, the captivity of Shebna, and the promotion of Eliakim
Isaiah 22:1-22

The overthrow of Tyre
Isaiah 23:23

The judgments upon the land, but that a remnant of the Jews would be saved
Isaiah 23:25

Reproves Ephraim for his wickedness, and foretells the destruction by Shalmaneser
Isaiah 28:1-5

Declares the glory of God upon the remnant who are saved
Isaiah 28:5-6

Exposes the corruptions in Jerusalem and exhorts to repentance
Isaiah 28:7-29

Foretells the invasion of Sennacherib, the distress of the Jews, and the destruction of the Assyrian army
Isaiah 29:1-8

Denounces the hypocrisy of the Jews
Isaiah 29:9-17

Promises a reformation
Isaiah 29:18-24

Reproves the people for their confidence in Egypt, and their contempt of God
Isaiah 30:1-17; Isaiah 31:1-6

Declares the goodness and longsuffering of God toward them
Isaiah 30:18-26; Isaiah 23:32

Reproves the Jews for their spiritual blindness and infidelity
Isaiah 42:18-25

Promises ultimate restoration of the Jews
Isaiah 43:1-13

Foretells the ultimate destruction of Babylon
Isaiah 43:14-17; Isaiah 47:1-15

Exhorts the people to repent
Isaiah 43:22-28

Comforts the church with promises, exposes the folly of idolatry, and their future deliverance from captivity by Cyrus
Isaiah 23:44; Isaiah 45:1-5; Isaiah 48:20

Foretells the conversion of the Gentiles, and triumph of the gospel
Isaiah 45:5-25

Denounces the evils of idolatry
Isaiah 46:1-13

Reproves the Jews for their idolatries and other wickedness
Isaiah 23:48

Exhorts to sanctification
Isaiah 56:1-8

Foretells calamities to Judah
Isaiah 23:57

Foreshadows the person and the kingdom of the Messiah
Isaiah 23:32; Isaiah 23:42; Isaiah 23:45; Isaiah 23:49; Isaiah 59:15-21; Isaiah 23:60

the prophet, son of Amoz. The Hebrew name signifies Salvation of Jahu (a shortened form of Jehovah), He prophesied concerning Judah and Jerusalem in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz and Hezekiah, kings of Judah, (Isaiah 1:1) covering probably 758 to 698 B.C. He was married and had two sons. Rabbinical tradition says that Isaiah, when 90 years old, was sawn asunder in the trunk of a carob tree by order of Manasseh, to which it is supposed that reference is made in (Hebrews 11:37)

I. Chapters 1-5 contain Isaiah's prophecies in the reigns of Uzziah and Jotham, foretelling that the present prosperity of Judah should be destroyed, and that Isr'l should be brought to desolation. In chs. 6, 7 he announces the birth of the child Immanuel, which in ch. 9 is more positively predicted. Chs. 9-12 contain additional prophecies against Isr'l, chs. (Isaiah 10:5-12) (6) being the most highly-wrought passages in the whole book. Chs. 13-23 contain chiefly a collection of utterances, each of which is styled a "burden," fore-telling the doom of Babylon, Philistia, Moab, Ethiopia, Egypt and Tyre. The ode of triumph in ch. (Isaiah 14:3-23) is among the most poetical passages in all literature. Chs. 24-27 form one prophecy, essentially connected with the preceding ten "burdens," chs. 13-23, of which it is in effect a general summary. Chs. 23-35 predict the Assyrian invasion, and chs. 36-39 have reference to this invasion; prophecies that were so soon fulfilled. (2 Kings 19:35) II. The last 27 chapters form a separate prophecy, and are supposed by many critics to have been written in the time of the Babylonian captivity, and are therefore ascribed to a "later Isaiah;" but the best reasons are in favor of but one Isaiah. This second part falls into three sections, each consisting of nine chapters-

1. The first section, chs 40-48 has for its main topic the comforting assurance of the deliverance from Babylon by Koresh (Cyrus), who is even named twice. ch. (Isaiah 41:2,3,25; 44:28; 45:1-4,13; 46:11; 48:14,15)
2. The second section, chs. 49-56, is distinguished from the first by several features. The person of Cyrus as well as his name and the specification of Babylon, disappear altogether. Return from exile is indeed spoken of repeatedly and at length, ch. (Isaiah 49:9-26; 51:9-52; 12; 55:12,13; 57:14) but in such general terms as admit of being applied to the spiritual and Messianic as well as to the literal restoration.
3. This section is mainly occupied with various practical exhortations founded upon the views of the future already set forth. In favor of the authenticity of the last 27 chapters the following reasons may be advanced-

   (a) The unanimous testimony of Jewish and Christian tradition, comp. Ecclus. 48.24, and the evidence of the New Testament quotations. (Matthew 3:3; Luke 4:17; Acts 8:28; Romans 10:16,20) (b) The unity of design which connects these last 27 chapters with the preceding; the oneness of diction which pervades the whole book; the peculiar elevation and grandeur of style which characterize the second part as well as the first; the absence of any other name than Isaiah's claiming the authorship; lastly, the Messianic predictions which mark its inspiration and remove the chief ground of objection against its having been written by Isaiah. In point of style we can find no difficulty in recognizing in the second part the presence of the same plastic genius as we discover in the first.

Consists of prophecies delivered (Isaiah 1) in the reign of Uzziah (1-5), (2) of Jotham (6), (3) Ahaz (7-14:28), (4) the first half of Hezekiah's reign (14:28-35), (5) the second half of Hezekiah's reign (36-66). Thus, counting from the fourth year before Uzziah's death (B.C. 762) to the last year of Hezekiah (B.C. 698), Isaiah's ministry extended over a period of sixty-four years. He may, however, have survived Hezekiah, and may have perished in the way indicated above.

The book, as a whole, has been divided into three main parts-

1. The first thirty-five chapters, almost wholly prophetic, Israel's enemy Assyria, present the Messiah as a mighty Ruler and King.

2. Four chapters are historical (36-39), relating to the times of Hezekiah.

3. Prophetical (40-66), Israel's enemy Babylon, describing the Messiah as a suffering victim, meek and lowly.

The genuineness of the section Isaiah 40-66 has been keenly opposed by able critics. They assert that it must be the production of a deutero-Isaiah, who lived toward the close of the Babylonian captivity. This theory was originated by Koppe, a German writer at the close of the last century. There are other portions of the book also (e.g., ch. 13; 24-27; and certain verses in ch. 14 and 21) which they attribute to some other prophet than Isaiah. Thus they say that some five or seven, or even more, unknown prophets had a hand in the production of this book. The considerations which have led to such a result are various-

1. They cannot, as some say, conceive it possible that Isaiah, living in B.C. 700, could foretell the appearance and the exploits of a prince called Cyrus, who would set the Jews free from captivity one hundred and seventy years after.

2. It is alleged that the prophet takes the time of the Captivity as his standpoint, and speaks of it as then present; and (3) that there is such a difference between the style and language of the closing section (40-66) and those of the preceding chapters as to necessitate a different authorship, and lead to the conclusion that there were at least two Isaiahs. But even granting the fact of a great diversity of style and language, this will not necessitate the conclusion attempted to be drawn from it. The diversity of subjects treated of and the peculiarities of the prophet's position at the time the prophecies were uttered will sufficiently account for this.

The arguments in favour of the unity of the book are quite conclusive. When the LXX. version was made (about B.C. 250) the entire contents of the book were ascribed to Isaiah, the son of Amoz. It is not called in question, moreover, that in the time of our Lord the book existed in the form in which we now have it. Many prophecies in the disputed portions are quoted in the New Testament as the words of Isaiah (Matthew 3:3; Luke 3:4-6; 4:16-41; John 12:38; Acts 8:28; Romans 10:16-21). Universal and persistent tradition has ascribed the whole book to one author.

Besides this, the internal evidence, the similarity in the language and style, in the thoughts and images and rhetorical ornaments, all points to the same conclusion; and its local colouring and allusions show that it is obviously of Palestinian origin. The theory therefore of a double authorship of the book, much less of a manifold authorship, cannot be maintained. The book, with all the diversity of its contents, is one, and is, we believe, the production of the great prophet whose name it bears.