Isaiah

The Book of Isaiah: The Holy One of Israel

We now enter the Major Prophets. These books are called “Major” not because they are more important than the others, but because of the significant length of their writings.

We begin with Isaiah, often called the “Fifth Gospel” because it contains some of the most profound prophecies regarding the birth, ministry, and sacrificial death of Jesus Christ.

Isaiah: Book Overview

Total Chapters: 66
Total Verses: 1,292
Author: The Prophet Isaiah
Date Written: Approximately 740–680 BC

NIV Chapter Pericopes (Sections)

Prophecies of Judgment (Chapters 1–12)

Chapter 1: A Rebellious Nation; A Call to Repentance
Chapter 2: The Mountain of the Lord; The Day of the Lord
Chapter 3: Judgment on Jerusalem and Judah
Chapter 4: The Branch of the Lord
Chapter 5: The Song of the Vineyard; Woes and Judgments
Chapter 6: Isaiah’s Commission
Chapter 7: The Sign of Immanuel
Chapter 8: Assyria, the Lord’s Instrument; Fear God, Not Man
Chapter 9: To Us a Child Is Born; The Lord’s Anger Against Israel
Chapter 10: Judgment on Assyria; The Remnant of Israel
Chapter 11: The Branch From Jesse
Chapter 12: Songs of Praise

Judgment on the Nations (Chapters 13–27)

Chapter 13: A Prophecy Against Babylon
Chapter 14: Restoration of Israel; A Prophecy Against Philistia
Chapter 15: A Prophecy Against Moab
Chapter 16: Moab’s Help From Judah; Moab’s Judgment
Chapter 17: A Prophecy Against Damascus
Chapter 18: A Prophecy Against Cush
Chapter 19: A Prophecy Against Egypt
Chapter 20: Prophecy Against Egypt and Cush
Chapter 21: A Prophecy Against Babylon, Edom, and Arabia
Chapter 22: A Prophecy About Jerusalem
Chapter 23: A Prophecy Against Tyre
Chapter 24: The Lord’s Devastation of the Earth
Chapter 25: Praise to the Lord
Chapter 26: A Song of Praise
Chapter 27: The Deliverance of Israel

Judgment and Blessing (Chapters 28–35)

Chapter 28: Woe to Ephraim; A Precious Cornerstone
Chapter 29: Woe to David’s City; Redemption for Israel
Chapter 30: Woe to the Obstinate Nation
Chapter 31: Woe to Those Who Rely on Egypt
Chapter 32: The Kingdom of Righteousness
Chapter 33: Distress and Help; The King in His Beauty
Chapter 34: Judgment Against the Nations
Chapter 35: Joy of the Redeemed

Historical Interlude (Chapters 36–39)

Chapter 36: Sennacherib Threatens Jerusalem
Chapter 37: Jerusalem’s Deliverance Foretold; Hezekiah’s Prayer
Chapter 38: Hezekiah’s Illness
Chapter 39: Envoys From Babylon

Prophecies of Comfort and Redemption (Chapters 40–66)

Chapter 40: Comfort for God’s People
Chapter 41: The Helper of Israel
Chapter 42: The Servant of the Lord; Song of Praise
Chapter 43: Israel’s Only Savior; God’s Mercy and Israel’s Unfaithfulness
Chapter 44: Israel the Chosen; The Irony of Idolatry; Jerusalem to Be Inhibited
Chapter 45: Cyrus, the Lord’s Instrument; The Lord, the Creator
Chapter 46: Gods of Babylon; God’s Deliverance of Israel
Chapter 47: The Fall of Babylon
Chapter 48: Stubborn Israel; Israel Freed
Chapter 49: The Servant of the Lord; Restoration of Israel
Chapter 50: Israel’s Sin and the Servant’s Obedience
Chapter 51: Everlasting Salvation for Zion
Chapter 52: The Suffering Servant (Introduction)
Chapter 53: The Suffering Servant (The Atonement)
Chapter 54: The Future Glory of Zion
Chapter 55: Invitation to the Thirsty
Chapter 56: Salvation for Others; God’s Accusation Against the Wicked
Chapter 57: Comfort for the Contrite
Chapter 58: True Fasting
Chapter 59: Sin, Confession and Redemption
Chapter 60: The Glory of Zion
Chapter 61: The Year of the Lord’s Favor
Chapter 62: Zion’s New Name
Chapter 63: God’s Day of Vengeance and Redemption
Chapter 64: A Prayer for Mercy
Chapter 65: Judgment and Salvation; New Heavens and a New Earth
Chapter 66: Judgment and Hope

As we move into the Major Prophets, we begin with the “Mount Everest” of prophetic literature: the Book of Isaiah. Isaiah is so foundational to the biblical narrative that it is often called “The Fifth Gospel.” It contains some of the most vivid imagery of God’s holiness, the most direct prophecies of the Messiah, and the most expansive vision of a restored world.

The Book of Isaiah covers a massive span of history, written during the decline of the Northern Kingdom and the looming threat of Assyria and Babylon over Judah. The book is named after the prophet Isaiah, whose name means “Yahweh is Salvation.”

Many scholars note that the structure of Isaiah mirrors the Bible itself:

The First Section (Chapters 1–39): 39 chapters focusing largely on judgment and the law (matching the 39 books of the Old Testament).
The Second Section (Chapters 40–66): 27 chapters focusing on comfort, grace, and the new creation (matching the 27 books of the New Testament).

I. The Vision of Holiness and Judgment (Chapters 1–12)

Isaiah’s ministry begins with a terrifying and beautiful vision of God in the Temple.

The Condition of the Nation: God describes Israel as a rebellious child and a “sick body,” calling them to wash themselves and seek justice (Isaiah 1).
Isaiah’s Call: Isaiah sees the Lord seated on a high throne, surrounded by seraphim crying, “Holy, holy, holy!” Isaiah is cleansed by a coal from the altar and says, “Here am I. Send me!” (Isaiah 6).
The Immanuel Prophecy: During a political crisis, Isaiah prophesies that a virgin will conceive and bear a son named Immanuel (“God with us”), a sign of God’s presence (Isaiah 7).
The Prince of Peace: A promise that a child will be born who will sit on David’s throne, called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9).

II. Judgments on the Nations (Chapters 13–35)

Isaiah looks beyond the borders of Israel to declare that God is the Sovereign Ruler of all the earth.

Oracles against Babylon and Assyria: Isaiah warns the superpowers of the day that their pride will lead to their downfall.
The “Little Apocalypse”: Chapters 24–27 describe a global judgment followed by a great banquet where God will “swallow up death forever” and wipe away every tear.
The Highway of Holiness: A beautiful vision of a transformed desert where the blind see, the deaf hear, and the redeemed return to Zion with singing (Isaiah 35).

III. The Historical Bridge (Chapters 36–39)

This section shifts from poetry to prose, telling the story of King Hezekiah.

The Assyrian Siege: When the Assyrian army surrounds Jerusalem, Hezekiah prays, and God miraculously delivers the city.
Hezekiah’s Mistake: After being healed of a deadly illness, Hezekiah pridefully shows the Babylonian envoys all his treasures, leading Isaiah to prophesy the future Babylonian exile (Isaiah 39).

IV. The Servant and the New Creation (Chapters 40–66)

This section is some of the most comforting poetry in existence, beginning with the words, “Comfort, comfort my people, says your God.”

The Servant Songs: Isaiah introduces a mysterious figure known as the “Servant of the Lord.” The most famous of these is the Suffering Servant in Chapter 53, who is “pierced for our transgressions” and “crushed for our iniquities”—a direct prophecy of the crucifixion of Jesus.
The Call to the Thirsty: An invitation for all who are hungry and thirsty to come to the waters and enjoy God’s covenant without money and without price (Isaiah 55).
New Heavens and a New Earth: The book concludes with a vision of God creating a world where pain and crying are gone, and all nations come to worship Him (Isaiah 65–66).