A Marvellous Work and a Wonder

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, Isaiah, and the Latter-day Restoration

S. Brent Farley

The Book of Mormon: Second Nephi, the Doctrinal Structure (1989)

Nephi and Isaiah shared a common culture and special seeric insights. They both prophesied of the Restoration. They had a clear understanding of the rebellion of Israel and still had a firm hope in the Savior.

Old Testament Minute: Isaiah

Donald W. Parry

Book of Mormon Central (2022)

Donald Parry’s in-depth commentary on each chapter in Isaiah. Click on a chapter number and then click “Show full text” to see the commentary. Isaiah 13’s theme is judgment on Babylon, or the world and wickedness, and that the day of the Lord will come. Isaiah 14’s theme is the gathering of Israel and the fall of the king of Babylon. In Isaiah 24, Isaiah charges that people have changed the ordinance and broken the covenant. The commentary continues with themes and explanations of certain passages and phrases in each chapter.

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.

Old Testament Minute: Isaiah

Donald W. Parry

Book of Mormon Central (2022)

Donald Parry’s in-depth commentary on each chapter in Isaiah. Click on a chapter number and then click “Show full text” to see the commentary. Isaiah 13’s theme is judgment on Babylon, or the world and wickedness, and that the day of the Lord will come. Isaiah 14’s theme is the gathering of Israel and the fall of the king of Babylon. In Isaiah 24, Isaiah charges that people have changed the ordinance and broken the covenant. The commentary continues with themes and explanations of certain passages and phrases in each chapter.

The Condescension of the Lamb of God

S. Brent Farley

Jesus Christ, Son of God, Savior (2002)

Jesus condescended to be born and live in humble circumstances. To know of the condescension of God is to know of his love. This condescension still occurs in the present time, as every time God interacts with his children, it is a manifestation of his continuing condescension.

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.

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.

Peter’s Keys (Matthew 16:18–19)

S. Kent Brown

The Testimony of Luke, BYU New Testament Commentary, excerpted on the BYU New Testament Commentary website (Mar. 2015)

The keys promised to Peter bear links to the gates of hell, to the next world, and to a greater knowledge of God. When Jesus promises to entrust keys to Peter, part of the promise is that “the gates of hell shall not prevail against it [the church].”

Old Testament Minute: Isaiah

Donald W. Parry

Book of Mormon Central (2022)

Donald Parry’s in-depth commentary on each chapter in Isaiah. Click on a chapter number and then click “Show full text” to see the commentary. Isaiah 13’s theme is judgment on Babylon, or the world and wickedness, and that the day of the Lord will come. Isaiah 14’s theme is the gathering of Israel and the fall of the king of Babylon. In Isaiah 24, Isaiah charges that people have changed the ordinance and broken the covenant. The commentary continues with themes and explanations of certain passages and phrases in each chapter.

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.

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.

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.

How Are the Words of the Book of Mormon Like “One That Hath a Familiar Spirit”? (2 Nephi 26:16)

KnoWhy #491 (Dec. 2018)

These three resources offer information about Nephi and Isaiah’s use of “familiar spirit,” used to compare the Book of Mormon rising from the dust to the practice of speaking with the dead.

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.

Martin Harris and Three Wise Men

Richard E. Bennett

BYU Speeches (Jun. 2010)

Isaiah 29:11 prophesies about the sealed book. This prophecy has come to be understood as being fulfilled when Martin Harris visited scholars with characters from the gold plates. Learn more about this history in this speech by Richard Bennett.

Question: Does the Term "Familiar Spirit" in the Book of Mormon Refer to Occult Practices?

FAIR Answers

These three resources offer information about Nephi and Isaiah’s use of “familiar spirit,” used to compare the Book of Mormon rising from the dust to the practice of speaking with the dead.

Reading the Old Testament in Light of the Restoration: A Comprehensive Bibliography of LDS Writings on the Old Testament (1830–1997)

David Rolph Seely

BYU Studies 37, no. 2 (Invalid Date)

Remnants Gathered, Covenants Fulfilled

Russell M. Nelson

Sperry Symposium Classics: The Old Testament (2005)

The Church today is linked to the exodus in many ways. Both the Israelites and the Saints were forced from their homes, made covenants with God, followed a prophet, and more.

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.

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.