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Old Testament · Prophecy

Isaiah

Judgment and comfort in the same breath — and the clearest picture of Jesus written centuries early.

Author
Isaiah of Jerusalem
Written
Ministry c. 740–680 BC
Genre
Prophecy
Length
66 chapters · 1,292 verses

What Isaiah is about

Isaiah opens with a covenant lawsuit (riv) against Judah and Jerusalem. God indicts His people as rebellious children who have forsaken Him, leaving the nation morally and spiritually desolate despite continued religious observance.

This superscription places Isaiah's ministry across four Judean kings (ca. 740–686 BC), a period of Assyrian imperial expansion. The opening oracle likely dates to a time of national crisis, possibly the Syro-Ephraimite threat or its aftermath.

Key themes

HolinessJudgmentComfortMessiah

Where to start in Isaiah

Isaiah 6 · Holy, Holy, HolyIsaiah 9 · A Child Is BornIsaiah 40 · Comfort My PeopleIsaiah 53 · The Suffering ServantIsaiah 55 · Come, Everyone Who Thirsts

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All 66 chapters

Isaiah
1 The Prophet's Vision Isaiah sees further and says more than perhaps any other prophet. His words stretch from judgment to hope, from exile to a suffering servant who changes everything. 2 The Mountain of the Lord In the last days, the mountain of the Lord's house will be the highest. Nations will stream to it. Swords will become plowshares. 3 Judgment on the Leaders God takes away the strong and the mighty. When the leaders fail, the nation crumbles. Even the women's finery becomes a sign of judgment. 4 The Branch of the Lord After the stripping comes beauty. A remnant will be holy, washed clean. God shelters them with cloud by day and fire by night — exodus imagery, reborn. 5 The Vineyard Song God planted a vineyard, tended it, waited for good grapes — and got wild ones. The love song turns into a courtroom. 6 Holy, Holy, Holy Isaiah sees God on His throne. The seraphim cry out. The temple shakes. And a man undone by his own unworthiness hears: who will go? 7 The Sign of Immanuel Ahaz is afraid to ask God for a sign. Isaiah gives him one anyway: a virgin will conceive and bear a son — Immanuel, God with us. 8 The Rushing River Assyria is coming like a flood. The waters will rise to the neck. But God is a sanctuary for those who fear Him — and a stone of stumbling for those who don't. 9 A Child Is Born In the middle of judgment, a light breaks through. A child, a son, a name that carries the weight of eternity. 10 The Axe and the Hand Assyria is God's instrument of judgment — but the axe doesn't get to boast against the one who swings it. Pride will be punished, even in the tool. 11 The Stump of Jesse A shoot will spring from Jesse's stump. A ruler with the Spirit of the Lord. The wolf will lie down with the lamb — and a little child will lead them. 12 A Song of Salvation With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation. A short, radiant hymn — the calm after the storm of judgment. 13 The Fall of Babylon Babylon at its height — and God already announcing its end. The day of the Lord is near, and it will be merciless. 14 The Morning Star Falls How you have fallen from heaven, O morning star. A taunt against the king of Babylon that echoes with cosmic resonance. 15 Moab's Ruin A lament for Moab — not from Moab, but from Isaiah. Even in judgment against Israel's enemies, there is grief. 16 Moab's Pride Moab is proud, exceedingly proud. The vineyards are devastated, the shouting has stopped. Pride precedes every fall. 17 Damascus and Israel Damascus will cease to be a city. Israel will be gleaned like olive trees — a few berries left on the highest branches. 18 The Land of Buzzing Wings A message to distant Ethiopia. God watches quietly, like summer heat, like morning dew. Then He acts. 19 Egypt The Lord rides a swift cloud into Egypt. Idols tremble. The Nile dries up. But the chapter ends with Egypt worshiping the Lord. 20 Barefoot Prophet God tells Isaiah to walk naked and barefoot for three years — a living sign of Egypt and Ethiopia's coming humiliation. 21 The Fallen, the Fallen Babylon has fallen, has fallen! All the images of her gods lie shattered on the ground. A watchman's report from the night. 22 The Valley of Vision Jerusalem parties while judgment approaches. One official is removed, another installed. Human security is a nail in a wall — and the wall is coming down. 23 Tyre's Judgment The great merchant city will be forgotten for seventy years. Wealth built on the sea is vulnerable to the God who commands it. 24 The Earth Mourns The whole earth is devastated. The city of chaos is broken down. A global judgment that spares no one — except a remnant who sings. 25 The Great Feast On this mountain, God will prepare a feast for all peoples. He will swallow up death forever and wipe away every tear. 26 The Song of Trust You will keep in perfect peace the mind that is stayed on You. A song for the day when the gates of the righteous city swing open. 27 The Vineyard Restored In that day — the vineyard song returns, but transformed. God tends it, waters it, guards it night and day. What was wild will bear fruit. 28 The Cornerstone Behold, I am the one who has laid in Zion a stone — a tested stone, a precious cornerstone. But the drunkards of Ephraim won't see it. 29 The Sealed Book The whole vision has become like a sealed book. Lips honor God, but hearts are far away. Wisdom fails — and God does something wonderful instead. 30 In Returning and Rest In returning and rest you shall be saved. In quietness and trust is your strength — but you were unwilling. 31 Not Horses, but God Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help, who rely on horses. The Egyptians are humans, not God. Their horses are flesh, not spirit. 32 A King Who Reigns in Righteousness A king will reign in righteousness. Each will be like a shelter from the wind. The Spirit is poured out from on high — and the desert becomes a garden. 33 The Consuming Fire Who among us can dwell with the consuming fire? The one who walks righteously and speaks uprightly. Holiness is not a concept — it's a dwelling place. 34 Judgment on the Nations God's fury falls on every nation. The sword is bathed in heaven. Edom becomes a wasteland — a picture of final judgment. 35 The Desert Blooms The wilderness will rejoice. The blind will see, the deaf will hear, the lame will leap. A highway called the Way of Holiness cuts through the desert. 36 Sennacherib at the Gates The Assyrian army surrounds Jerusalem. Their commander mocks God to the people on the walls. The test of faith has arrived. 37 The Prayer That Saved a City Hezekiah takes the threatening letter and spreads it before God in the temple. That night, an angel strikes down 185,000 soldiers. 38 Fifteen More Years Hezekiah is dying. He prays, weeps, and turns his face to the wall. God adds fifteen years to his life. A reprieve — and a psalm of gratitude. 39 The Foolish Tour Hezekiah shows Babylon's envoys everything in his treasury. Isaiah delivers the verdict: all of it will be carried to Babylon. Every last piece. 40 Comfort My People After thirty-nine chapters of judgment, the tone shifts completely. Comfort. Every valley raised. Every mountain made low. Something is coming. 41 Do Not Fear Fear not, for I am with you. I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. A promise spoken to exiles. 42 The Servant Behold my servant — He will not break a bruised reed or snuff out a smoldering wick. A portrait of gentleness that carries justice to the nations. 43 Called by Name Fear not, for I have redeemed you. I have called you by name; you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you. 44 The Absurdity of Idols A man cuts down a tree. Half becomes fuel for his fire; from the other half he carves a god and bows before it. Isaiah's satire is devastating. 45 Cyrus, God's Anointed God calls a pagan king by name before he's born. Cyrus will set the exiles free — not because he knows God, but because God knows him. 46 Carry or Be Carried Babylon's gods are loaded on beasts of burden — they must be carried. Israel's God carries His people from birth to gray hairs. 47 Babylon Falls Come down and sit in the dust, virgin daughter of Babylon. Your sorceries and spells cannot save you. Judgment falls on the empire. 48 Stubborn Israel God knew Israel would be obstinate — so He announced things in advance, so they couldn't credit their idols. Grace outmaneuvering pride. 49 A Light to the Nations The Servant speaks: the Lord called me from the womb. It is too small a thing for you to restore Israel alone — I will make you a light to the nations. 50 The Obedient Servant The Servant offers His back to those who strike Him, His cheek to those who pull out His beard. He does not hide His face from disgrace. 51 Awake, Awake Look to the rock from which you were hewn. God is about to do what He did before — comfort Zion, turn the desert into Eden. 52 Beautiful Feet How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news. Break forth in singing, for the Lord has comforted His people. 53 The Suffering Servant Written centuries before Jesus, this chapter describes a figure who carries everyone else's pain. You'll recognize Him. 54 Sing, O Barren One The barren woman will have more children than the married one. God's covenant of peace will not be shaken — like His promise after Noah's flood. 55 Come, Everyone Who Thirsts Come to the waters, all who are thirsty. Come without money. God's word will not return empty — it will accomplish what He purposes. 56 A House for All Nations My house shall be called a house of prayer for all peoples. The foreigner and the outcast are gathered in. The boundaries expand. 57 The High and the Low God lives in a high and holy place — and also with the contrite and lowly in spirit. The Most High is closest to the most broken. 58 The Fast God Wants Is not this the fast I choose: to loose the bonds of injustice, to share your bread with the hungry? Real worship changes the world. 59 The Arm of the Lord Your sins have separated you from God. His arm is not too short to save — but injustice has built a wall. So God Himself puts on armor. 60 Arise, Shine Arise, shine, for your light has come. Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn. Darkness covers the earth — but not you. 61 Good News to the Poor The Spirit of the Lord is upon me — to bring good news to the poor, to bind up the brokenhearted. Jesus read these words in Nazareth and said: today, this is fulfilled. 62 A New Name You shall no longer be called Forsaken. Your new name is My Delight Is in Her. God renames what He restores. 63 The Winepress Who is this coming from Edom, with garments stained crimson? God has trodden the winepress alone. Judgment and salvation in the same image. 64 Tear Open the Heavens Oh, that You would rend the heavens and come down! We are the clay; You are the potter. A prayer so desperate it begs God to stop holding back. 65 New Heavens and New Earth Behold, I am creating new heavens and a new earth. The former things will not be remembered. The wolf and the lamb will feed together. 66 Heaven Is My Throne Heaven is my throne, earth is my footstool — what house could you build for me? The book ends with fire, judgment, and a vision of all nations worshiping.
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