Brief biography
circa 739 B.C.-695 B.C.
Isaiah received his call as a prophet the year the Israelite king Uzziah died. He prophesied during the reigns of Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah. He lived during a time of significant transition in the history of Israel and Judah. He is believed to have been one of the most poetic of Israel’s prophets. Due to the people’s wickedness and unbelief, his teachings were not always heeded or well received. During the reign of Hezekiah, the northern kingdom of Israel was destroyed by Assyria and much of the southern kingdom of Judah (Isaiah’s native land) was destroyed as well. Survivors from the Assyrian invasion were carried away into captivity or found refuge at Jerusalem during that time. It was within this environment that Isaiah prophesied concerning the judgments of God upon Israel and other nations and the future gathering of Israel. Later Jewish tradition holds that Isaiah eventually suffered a martyr’s death at the hands of King Manasseh.
Total recorded words -- 12,925
Insights into words and phrases
Isaiah’s favorite nouns are "Zion" and the divine title "the Lord of Hosts,"
which he uses 29 times, far more than any other speaker in the Book of
Mormon. His favorite adjective is "holy," which he uses 24 times.
Significantly, Isaiah has the largest number of unique words of any Book of
Mormon speaker. He uses 92 words and phrases that no one else uses. This is
a distinctive feature of Isaiah’s style. Isaiah uses the phrase, "it came to
pass" (past tense), only twice, but uses "it shall come to pass" 15 times,
which is almost seven times more frequently than all the rest of the
speakers in the Book of Mormon combined. This is consistent with his focus
on prophecy.
Isaiah’s emphasis on holiness is significant. He
describes his call in Isaiah 6 (2 Nephi 16), when he found himself in the
presence of God in the temple and felt overwhelmed by his own lack of
holiness. "Then said I: Wo is unto me! for I am undone; because I am a man
of unclean lips; and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for
mine eyes have seen the King, the Lord of Hosts" (2 Nephi 16:5, Isaiah 6:5).
Forgiven of his sins, he was able to fulfill his prophetic call, but his
emphasis on holiness throughout his prophecies shows an acute awareness of
the dramatic contrast between human (and Israel’s) fallen nature and the
holiness of God, a contrast that he had experienced firsthand.
Personal application
The earnest hope for Zion’s future redemption, purification, and eventual glorification runs like a golden thread throughout Isaiah’s words. Isaiah’s words teach us that God wants to raise us above our fallen natures, heal our wounds, and clothe us with royal glory and holiness, but we must be willing to hear and receive Him.
Chronology
All dates are approximate.
739 B.C. Isaiah is called as a prophet in the year King Uzziah dies.
740 B.C. Isaiah begins to prophesy during the reign of King
Jothan.
734 B.C. Isaiah prophesies to King Ahaz. He prophesies about the
Messiah and the destruction of the northern kingdom.
726-696 B.C. Isaiah prophesies during the reign of King Hezekiah.
Judah is devastated by Assyria. Over 200,150 people of Judah are carried
into Assyrian captivity. The Assyrians lay siege to Jerusalem. Isaiah
prophesies deliverance and the Assyrian army is turned back.
After 695 B.C. Isaiah is killed by King Manasseh.