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IsaiahAid to Bible Understanding
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Some Prophecies Applying to Jesus Christ
Isaiah text Christian Scriptures
7:14 Birth of Jesus from a virgin Matt. 1:18-23
by power of holy spirit
9:1, 2 Jesus’ preaching brought light Matt. 4:14-16
to land of Zebulun and Naphtali
11:1, 10 Jesus Christ of the house of Matt. 1:1, 6, 16
David son of Jesse
40:3 John the Baptist the one Matt. 3:1-3
“calling out in the wilderness:
‘Clear up the way of Jehovah,
you people!’”
42:1-4 Jesus Christ God’s servant whom Matt. 12:14-21
he chose
53:4 Jesus carried the sicknesses of Matt. 8:14-17
the people
53:5, 11 Jesus bore the sins of the people 1 Pet. 2:24
on the stake
61:1, 2 Jesus’ application of a passage Luke 4:18-21
as his commission from Jehovah
In many other instances events fulfilling Isaiah’s prophecies are noted where the writer makes no reference to Isaiah.
Isaiah text Christian Scriptures
50:6 Jesus insulted, slapped, spat on Matt. 26:67;
53:7 Jesus quiet, uncomplaining, before Matt. 27:12-14
accusers
53:9 Jesus buried in a rich man’s grave Matt. 27:57-60
53:12 Jesus reckoned with lawless ones Luke 22:37
Other Prophecies Fulfilled
A few of the many events prior to the first century C.E. that fulfilled prophecies of Isaiah are:
Isaiah text
1:26-30; 24:1-6; 39:6, 7 Jerusalem to be destroyed;
captivity to Babylon
43:14; 44:26-28 Release from captivity; Jerusalem to be
restored; Cyrus an instrument used by Jehovah
to accomplish this
23:1, 8, 13, 14 Mainland city of Tyre destroyed by Chaldeans
under Nebuchadnezzar
Larger Fulfillments Now and in the Future
It is obvious, from a reading of the Bible, that many of Isaiah’s prophecies have more than one fulfillment, and that a great portion of the book is finding and is yet to find its final, major fulfillment. In the book of Revelation alone are many quotations or allusions to Isaiah’s prophecies, some of which are here listed:
Isaiah text Revelation
21:9 Babylon has fallen! 18:2
40:10 Jehovah is coming with his reward 22:12
47:5, 7-9 Babylon, a harlot and mistress of 17:1, 2,
kingdoms, suffers calamity 18; 18:7
48:20 God’s people commanded to get out of 18:4
Babylon
60:1, 3, 5, 11 New Jerusalem likened to ancient 21:11, 24-26
Jerusalem in its restored state
66:22 Jehovah creates a new heaven and 21:1
a new earth
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Isaiah, Book ofAid to Bible Understanding
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ISAIAH, BOOK OF
The book of Isaiah outstandingly magnifies Jehovah as “the Holy One of Israel,” applying this expression to him a total of twenty-five times. Also, it points with unmistakable clarity to the Messiah or Anointed One of Jehovah through whom deliverance would come to the people of God.
HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
Isaiah 1:1 informs us that Isaiah visioned these things in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz and Hezekiah, kings of Judah. This was a period of severe international tension and one in which false religious attitudes had a profound effect on the people of Judah. Near the beginning of Isaiah’s career King Uzziah died a leper because of his presumptuousness in taking over priestly duties. (2 Chron. 26:16, 19-21) During the reign of his son Jotham it is reported that, while the king did what was right, “the people were yet acting ruinously.”—2 Chron. 27:2; 2 Ki. 15:34.
Next Came King Ahaz, who for sixteen years set a bad example for the nation, carrying on Baal worship with its rites of human sacrifice. There was “great unfaithfulness toward Jehovah.” (2 Chron. 28:1-4, 19) It was at this time that the allied kings of Syria and Israel besieged Jerusalem so that Ahaz, ignoring the counsel of Isaiah the prophet, sent to Tiglath-pileser III, the king of Assyria, for military assistance. (2 Ki. 16:5-8; Isa. 7:1-12) By this Ahaz ‘made flesh his arm, his heart turning away from Jehovah.’ (Jer. 17:5) Assyria agreed to an alliance, but, of course, was interested mainly in expanding its own power. The Assyrian army captured Damascus of Syria and apparently took into exile the inhabitants of the trans-Jordanic territory of religiously apostate Israel.—1 Chron. 5:26.
Later, when Samaria failed to pay tribute, it too was besieged and its inhabitants were deported. (2 Ki. 16:9; 17:4-6; 18:9-12) This ended the ten-tribe kingdom and left Judah surrounded on all sides by Gentile nations. Later Assyrian rulers kept up military operations in the W, assaulting cities of Judah and of surrounding nations. Sennacherib even demanded the capitulation of Jerusalem itself. But under the kingship of Hezekiah the situation there had changed. Hezekiah trusted in Jehovah, and Jehovah proved to be with him.—2 Ki. 18:5-7; Isa. chaps. 36, 37.
Uzziah, during whose rule Isaiah entered upon his prophetic service, began to reign in 829 B.C.E. and Hezekiah concluded his reign by 716 B.C.E. However, the years of Isaiah’s service as prophet were likely shorter than that. Isaiah, chapter 6, verse 1, refers to “the year that King Uzziah died” (777 B.C.E.) as the time when Isaiah received the commission from Jehovah that is recorded in that chapter; though it may be that he had recorded the preceding information before that. Then in chapter 36, verse 1, reference is made to “the fourteenth year of King Hezekiah” (732/731 B.C.E.). How long it was after that until Isaiah had completed his writing we do not know, though it could well have been shortly thereafter.
There are also a few other references that help to date the contents of specific portions of the book of Isaiah. For example, chapter 7, verse 1, says that Pekah the king of Israel came against Jerusalem to war in the days of King Ahaz. Although Ahaz ruled from about 762 to about 746 B.C.E., Pekah’s kingship ended by about 758 B.C.E.; so the incident must have occurred before that year. Further,
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