God Is My Salvation

Harmonizing Isaiah: Combing Ancient Scriptures

Donald W. Parry

2001

In Harmonizing Isaiah, Dead Sea Scrolls scholar Donald W. Parry provides his translation of the Isaiah Scroll combined with readings of other versions of Isaiah preserved in the Masoretic Text, the Book of Mormon, and the Joseph Smith Translation. With the Isaiah passages rendered in modern English and formatted into parallel lines of poetry, Harmonizing Isaiah is a helpful resource for teachers and students of the book of Isaiah. The chapter “The Book of Isaiah” contains the full Isaiah text, and an introduction and appendices of the full book are also available for free download.

Opening Isaiah: A Harmony

Ann N. Madsen, Shon D. Hopkin

Great Are the Words of Isaiah

Hugh W. Nibley

Sperry Symposium Classics: The Old Testament (2005)

“The quickest way to get an overview of the immense book of Isaiah is simply to read the first chapter.” Isaiah says that the worst vices are pride, selfishness, and grinding the faces of the poor. A happy world to come is described in chapters 11 and 12.

Isaiah and the Restoration of Israel

Terry B. Ball

A Witness for the Restoration: Essays in Honor or Robert J. Matthews (2012)

The restoration of Israel is foretold throughout Isaiah, including Isaiah 14, which prophesies that the “strangers,” or Gentiles and the house of Israel will together serve the Lord in the promised lands. Isaiah 29 foretells that the marvelous work and wonder of restoration would happen in a day when many are spiritually asleep.

On Christ and Covenants: An LDS Reading of Isaiah’s Prophetic Call

David E. Bokovoy

Studies in the Bible and Antiquity 3 (2011)

Bokovoy compares Isaiah’s prophetic call and heavenly vision to Lehi’s in 1 Nephi 1. Through this comparison he suggests that the deity in Isaiah’s heavenly vision is God the Father, while the angel that purifies Isaiah’s lips is an allusion to Jesus Christ.

The Christmas Creche

Eric D. Huntsman

Good Tidings of Great Joy: An Advent Celebration of the Savior's Birth, excerpted on the BYU New Testament Commentary website (Dec. 2013)

Harmonizing Isaiah: Combing Ancient Scriptures

Donald W. Parry

2001

In Harmonizing Isaiah, Dead Sea Scrolls scholar Donald W. Parry provides his translation of the Isaiah Scroll combined with readings of other versions of Isaiah preserved in the Masoretic Text, the Book of Mormon, and the Joseph Smith Translation. With the Isaiah passages rendered in modern English and formatted into parallel lines of poetry, Harmonizing Isaiah is a helpful resource for teachers and students of the book of Isaiah. The chapter “The Book of Isaiah” contains the full Isaiah text, and an introduction and appendices of the full book are also available for free download.

Opening Isaiah: A Harmony

Ann N. Madsen, Shon D. Hopkin

Chart 96: Isaiah Passages Listed by Book of Mormon Reference

John W. Welch, J. Gregory Welch

Charting the Book of Mormon (1999)

This chart lists Book of Mormon passages that quote or paraphrase the words of Isaiah. The main Nephite prophets who quoted Isaiah were Nephi, Jacob, and Abinadi.

Chart 97: Isaiah Passages Listed by Isaiah Reference

John W. Welch, J. Gregory Welch

Charting the Book of Mormon (1999)

This chart shows where Isaiah is quoted or paraphrased in the Book of Mormon. A companion chart, “Isaiah Passages Listed by Book of Mormon Reference,” shows these quotations, organized in Book of Mormon order.

Isaiah Variants in the Book of Mormon

John A. Tvedtnes

Isaiah and the Prophets: Inspired Voices from the Old Testament

Of the 478 verses in the Book of Mormon quoted from the book of Isaiah, 201 agree with the King James reading while 207 show variations. Some 58 are paraphrased, and 11 others are variants and/or paraphrases. It is to the variants that we will give our attention here.

Nephi’s Use of Isaiah 2–14 in 2 Nephi 12–30

David Rolph Seely

Isaiah in the Book of Mormon (1998)

Isaiah 2 deals with the destruction of Judah and Jerusalem. Isaiah 3 and 4’s theme is Judah, Jerusalem, and daughters of Zion. Isaiah 5 sees Judah as a vineyard, and destruction. Isaiah 6 tells of Isaiah’s call and the iniquity of Judah. Warnings against pride run throughout the book of Isaiah.

Notes on Vocabulary in Isaiah 2–11, 13–14, 29, 48–54

Donald W. Parry, Janet L. Garrard Willis

Isaiah in the Book of Mormon (1998)

Defines obscure words and phrases in Isaiah, by chapter and verse, such as in Isaiah 2, where you’ll find definitions for “cease ye from man,” and “wherein is he to be accounted of?”

Temple Symbolism in Isaiah

John M. Lundquist

Isaiah and the Prophets: Inspired Voices from the Old Testament (1984)

Passages of Isaiah 2, 25, 28, and 30 touch on the themes of cosmic mountain, communal meals in connection with covenant making, the relationship of the temple to the afterlife, and the centrality of the temple. These Isaiah chapters are discussed at length.

The Great Jerusalem Temple Prophecy: Latter-day Context and Likening unto Us

Jeffrey R. Chadwick

Ascending the Mountain of the Lord: Temple, Praise, and Worship in the Old Testament, Sidney B. Sperry Symposium 50 (2013)

“The great Jerusalem temple prophecy, found in Isaiah 2:1–3, is one of the most remarkable passages in the Hebrew Bible, or indeed, in all of ancient scripture. At some point in early Jewish history, perhaps around 620 BC, during the reign of King Josiah, the admonitions that now constitute Isaiah 1 were placed in their current position as “the Lord’s preface” to the entire book of Isaiah.”

Was Joseph Smith Smarter than the Average Fourth Year Hebrew Student? Finding a Restoration-Significant Hebraism in Book of Mormon Isaiah

Paul Y. Hoskisson

Interpreter: A Journal of Mormon Scripture, no. 17 (2016)

The brass plates version of Isaiah 2:2, as contained in 2 Nephi 12:2, contains a small difference, not attested in any other pre-1830 Isaiah witness, that not only helps clarify the meaning but also ties the verse to events of the Restoration. The change does so by introducing a Hebraism that would have been impossible for Joseph Smith, the Prophet, to have produced on his own.

Harmonizing Isaiah: Combing Ancient Scriptures

Donald W. Parry

2001

In Harmonizing Isaiah, Dead Sea Scrolls scholar Donald W. Parry provides his translation of the Isaiah Scroll combined with readings of other versions of Isaiah preserved in the Masoretic Text, the Book of Mormon, and the Joseph Smith Translation. With the Isaiah passages rendered in modern English and formatted into parallel lines of poetry, Harmonizing Isaiah is a helpful resource for teachers and students of the book of Isaiah. The chapter “The Book of Isaiah” contains the full Isaiah text, and an introduction and appendices of the full book are also available for free download.

Opening Isaiah: A Harmony

Ann N. Madsen, Shon D. Hopkin

Great Are the Words of Isaiah

Hugh W. Nibley

Sperry Symposium Classics: The Old Testament (2005)

“The quickest way to get an overview of the immense book of Isaiah is simply to read the first chapter.” Isaiah says that the worst vices are pride, selfishness, and grinding the faces of the poor. A happy world to come is described in chapters 11 and 12.

Isaiah and the Messiah

Terry B. Ball

Jesus Christ, Son of God, Savior (2002)

Isaiah knew and loved the Messiah. From Isaiah we learn that in contrast to the mortal Messiah’s humble and quiet birth and ministry, the millennial Messiah will bare his holy arm in the eyes of all the nations.

Isaiah Variants in the Book of Mormon

John A. Tvedtnes

Isaiah and the Prophets: Inspired Voices from the Old Testament

Of the 478 verses in the Book of Mormon quoted from the book of Isaiah, 201 agree with the King James reading while 207 show variations. Some 58 are paraphrased, and 11 others are variants and/or paraphrases. It is to the variants that we will give our attention here.

Nephi’s Use of Isaiah 2–14 in 2 Nephi 12–30

David Rolph Seely

Isaiah in the Book of Mormon (1998)

Isaiah 2 deals with the destruction of Judah and Jerusalem. Isaiah 3 and 4’s theme is Judah, Jerusalem, and daughters of Zion. Isaiah 5 sees Judah as a vineyard, and destruction. Isaiah 6 tells of Isaiah’s call and the iniquity of Judah. Warnings against pride run throughout the book of Isaiah.

Notes on Vocabulary in Isaiah 2–11, 13–14, 29, 48–54

Donald W. Parry, Janet L. Garrard Willis

Isaiah in the Book of Mormon (1998)

Defines obscure words and phrases in Isaiah, by chapter and verse, such as in Isaiah 2, where you’ll find definitions for “cease ye from man,” and “wherein is he to be accounted of?”

Nephi’s Use of Isaiah 2–14 in 2 Nephi 12–30

David Rolph Seely

Isaiah in the Book of Mormon (1998)

Isaiah 2 deals with the destruction of Judah and Jerusalem. Isaiah 3 and 4’s theme is Judah, Jerusalem, and daughters of Zion. Isaiah 5 sees Judah as a vineyard, and destruction. Isaiah 6 tells of Isaiah’s call and the iniquity of Judah. Warnings against pride run throughout the book of Isaiah.

Notes on Vocabulary in Isaiah 2–11, 13–14, 29, 48–54

Donald W. Parry, Janet L. Garrard Willis

Isaiah in the Book of Mormon (1998)

Defines obscure words and phrases in Isaiah, by chapter and verse, such as in Isaiah 2, where you’ll find definitions for “cease ye from man,” and “wherein is he to be accounted of?”

Great Are the Words of Isaiah

Hugh W. Nibley

Sperry Symposium Classics: The Old Testament (2005)

“The quickest way to get an overview of the immense book of Isaiah is simply to read the first chapter.” Isaiah says that the worst vices are pride, selfishness, and grinding the faces of the poor. A happy world to come is described in chapters 11 and 12.

Nephi’s Use of Isaiah 2–14 in 2 Nephi 12–30

David Rolph Seely

Isaiah in the Book of Mormon (1998)

Isaiah 2 deals with the destruction of Judah and Jerusalem. Isaiah 3 and 4’s theme is Judah, Jerusalem, and daughters of Zion. Isaiah 5 sees Judah as a vineyard, and destruction. Isaiah 6 tells of Isaiah’s call and the iniquity of Judah. Warnings against pride run throughout the book of Isaiah.

A Latter–Day Saint Reading of Isaiah: The Example of Isaiah 6

Paul Y. Hoskisson

Sperry Symposium Classics: The Old Testament (2005)

Isaiah chapter 6 can be well understood by looking at the poetry, literary style, cultural context, scriptural context, and prophetic vision. This article goes verse by verse to illuminate the meaning of words that might be stumbling blocks to modern readers.

How Did Nephi Read Isaiah as a Witness of Christ’s Coming?

KnowWhy #40 (Feb. 2016)

As Nephi concludes his record, he powerfully testifies of Christ using Isaiah as inspiration. This KnoWhy discusses how Nephi used Isaiah to help him testify of Christ.

Nephi’s Use of Isaiah 2–14 in 2 Nephi 12–30

David Rolph Seely

Isaiah in the Book of Mormon (1998)

Isaiah 2 deals with the destruction of Judah and Jerusalem. Isaiah 3 and 4’s theme is Judah, Jerusalem, and daughters of Zion. Isaiah 5 sees Judah as a vineyard, and destruction. Isaiah 6 tells of Isaiah’s call and the iniquity of Judah. Warnings against pride run throughout the book of Isaiah.

On Christ and Covenants: An LDS Reading of Isaiah’s Prophetic Call

David E. Bokovoy

Studies in the Bible and Antiquity 3 (2011)

Bokovoy compares Isaiah’s prophetic call and heavenly vision to Lehi’s in 1 Nephi 1. Through this comparison he suggests that the deity in Isaiah’s heavenly vision is God the Father, while the angel that purifies Isaiah’s lips is an allusion to Jesus Christ.

The Divine Council in the Hebrew Bible and the Book of Mormon

Stephen O. Smoot

Interpreter: A Journal of Mormon Scripture, no. 20 (2017)

When Nephi declares that he speaks with the tongue of angels (2 Ne. 32:2), it is thought that Nephi is alluding to admittance into the divine council, or admittance into the heavenly court of God. Stephen Smoot explores the concept of the divine council in the Hebrew Bible and Book of Mormon in order to provide greater context for theophanic experiences.

The Temple According to 1 Enoch

George W. E. Nickelsburg

BYU Studies Quarterly 53, no. 1 (2014)

During the Second Temple period (516 BC to 70 AD), most Jews in Jerusalem worshipped at the Jerusalem temple. But a separate community at Qumran decried the lack of ritual purity in the activity at the Second Temple and saw their community as an ersatz for the temple. Literature at Qumran included 1 Enoch, a collection of five tractates composed in the Aramaic language between the fourth century BC and the turn of the era and ascribed to the ancient patriarch Enoch, the head of the seventh generation after creation (Gen. 5:18–24). Some of the tractates are concerned about a dysfunctional Jerusalem cult and resolve the problem of how to worship by looking forward to the approaching eschaton. Other sections of 1 Enoch tell that the real action is already taking place in the true temple, which is the heavenly temple. There, variously, God is enthroned, and the Son of Man is being prepared to enact divine judgment so that God’s will may be done on earth as it is in heaven. He

The Throne-Theophany and Prophetic Commission in 1 Nephi: A Form-Critical Analysis

Blake T. Ostler

BYU Studies 26, no. 4 (1986)

Moses’ call as a prophet and leader (Exodus 3–4) fits the form that also occurs for Jeremiah, Nephi, and other prophets: a historical introduction, a divine confrontation, the individual’s reaction, a throne-theophany (seeing God on his throne), the commission, a protest, a reassurance, and a conclusion in which the prophet begins to act.

Jesus Christ: Resurrection of Jesus Christ

Tad R. Callister

Encyclopedia of Mormonism (1992)

Latter-day Saints believe in the literal and physical resurrection of Jesus Christ, supported by biblical and Book of Mormon accounts. The scriptures teach that the era preceding the second coming of the Savior will be perilous and filled with tribulation. When he does come, there will be an age of peace, harmony, and joy.

Panel Discussion of The Revelation of John the Apostle

Gaye Strathearn, Todd Harris, Brent Schmidt, Richard D. Draper, Michael D. Rhodes

BYU New Testament Commentary Conference (2014)

A panel of scholars discusses the message and text of the book of Revelation.

The Chronicles of Mary and Joseph: Part 2 of 4, Mary

S. Kent Brown

The Testimony of Luke, BYU New Testament Commentary, excerpted on the BYU New Testament Commentary website (Dec. 2014)

The earliest recorded prophecy that names Mary as the mother of the Savior comes from Isaiah. Centuries later, in Nazareth, the angel’s appearance to Mary changes everything for her. She goes to her cousin Elisabeth’s home, where Elisabeth welcomes her. Mary’s song in reply (Luke 1:46–55), known as the Magnificat from the first word in the Latin translation, goes beyond the song that Hannah, mother of Samuel, sings. Hannah mainly celebrates God’s exaltation of the low people of the earth, an idea that includes herself and her young son Samuel. In contrast, Mary’s song is chiefly one of redemption.

View of the Hebrews: Substitute for Inspiration?

Spencer J. Palmer, William L. Knecht

BYU Studies 5, no. 2 (1964)

Some critics have tried to explain the Isaiah passages in the Book of Mormon as the result of an idea that Joseph Smith supposedly got from a book written in 1825 called View of the Hebrews. This BYU Studies article from 1964 not only succeeded in putting this dubious notion completely to rest, but it also presents data that still today attests to the importance of certain Isaiah chapters in the Nephite prophetic worldview.

Christ the Creator

Mark E. Petersen

BYU Speeches (Dec. 1977)

Moses gives testimony of Christ through his scriptural writings and through his appearance to Joseph Smith. The writings of Moses help us understand the covenant God made with Abraham.

My Testimony

President Gordon B. Hinckley

General Conference (Apr. 2000)

President Hinckley shares his personal testimony, reflecting on the divinity of Jesus Christ as portrayed in the Gospel of John and the creation.

Titles of the Messiah from Isaiah 9:6

Eric D. Huntsman

Good Tidings of Great Joy: An Advent Celebration of the Savior's Birth, excerpted on the BYU New Testament Commentary website (Dec. 2013)

View of the Hebrews: Substitute for Inspiration?

Spencer J. Palmer, William L. Knecht

BYU Studies 5, no. 2 (1964)

Some critics have tried to explain the Isaiah passages in the Book of Mormon as the result of an idea that Joseph Smith supposedly got from a book written in 1825 called View of the Hebrews. This BYU Studies article from 1964 not only succeeded in putting this dubious notion completely to rest, but it also presents data that still today attests to the importance of certain Isaiah chapters in the Nephite prophetic worldview.

“More Fully Persuaded”: Isaiah’s Witness of Christ’s Ministry

Jeffrey R. Holland

Isaiah in the Book of Mormon (1998)

Isaiah was prepared to testify of the Messiah and bear such witness of the divinity of Christ’s coming. Elder Holland focuses on Isaiah’s prophecies regarding Christ’s birth, mortal ministry, and Atonement; Christ’s visit to spirits in prison; Christ showing kindness and preserving latter-day Zion; and the millennial Christ. The full book, Isaiah in the Book of Mormon, is available at Book of Mormon Central.

Chart 96: Isaiah Passages Listed by Book of Mormon Reference

John W. Welch, J. Gregory Welch

Charting the Book of Mormon (1999)

This chart lists Book of Mormon passages that quote or paraphrase the words of Isaiah. The main Nephite prophets who quoted Isaiah were Nephi, Jacob, and Abinadi.

Great Are the Words of Isaiah

Hugh W. Nibley

Sperry Symposium Classics: The Old Testament (2005)

“The quickest way to get an overview of the immense book of Isaiah is simply to read the first chapter.” Isaiah says that the worst vices are pride, selfishness, and grinding the faces of the poor. A happy world to come is described in chapters 11 and 12.

The Holy Spirit: Creating, Anointing, and Empowering throughout the Old Testament

Lynne Hilton Wilson

The Gospel of Jesus Christ in the Old Testament (2009)

Many narratives in the Old Testament, including some in Numbers, teach about the role of the Holy Spirit. Moses’s lesson in delegation (Numbers 11) teaches that whoever the Spirit endows in empowered to work for God. Gifts of the Spirit include learning knowledge (Numbers 24:16), faith (Numbers 21:7-9), prophecy (Numbers 1:17), tongues (Numbers 22:28), and discernment of spirits (Numbers 24:2).

View of the Hebrews: Substitute for Inspiration?

Spencer J. Palmer, William L. Knecht

BYU Studies 5, no. 2 (1964)

Some critics have tried to explain the Isaiah passages in the Book of Mormon as the result of an idea that Joseph Smith supposedly got from a book written in 1825 called View of the Hebrews. This BYU Studies article from 1964 not only succeeded in putting this dubious notion completely to rest, but it also presents data that still today attests to the importance of certain Isaiah chapters in the Nephite prophetic worldview.