Major Prophet, Author of the Book of Isaiah
c. 740–680 BC · Old Testament
The greatest prophet of Israel after Moses — gave the most extensive Messianic prophecies in the Old Testament, including Isaiah 53 on Christ's suffering.
Isaiah son of Amoz prophesied in Judah from approximately 740 to 680 BC, serving under four kings: Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah. His call to ministry came in 'the year that king Uzziah died' (Isaiah 6:1) — about 740 BC. In the temple Isaiah saw a vision of God enthroned, surrounded by seraphim crying 'Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts.' Isaiah responded with confession of unworthiness; a seraph touched his lips with a coal from the altar to purify him; then God called him to prophetic ministry. Isaiah's lifetime spanned the Assyrian crisis. The northern kingdom of Israel was destroyed by Assyria in 722 BC. Judah was threatened repeatedly. Sennacherib of Assyria invaded in 701 BC and besieged Jerusalem; through Isaiah's prophecy and Hezekiah's prayer, the angel of the LORD struck down 185,000 Assyrian soldiers in one night (Isaiah 37:36). The book of Isaiah has 66 chapters — sometimes called 'the Bible in miniature' for its parallel structure. The first 39 chapters emphasize judgment; the last 27 emphasize comfort and the gospel. Major prophecies include: a virgin shall conceive (Isaiah 7:14), 'unto us a child is born' (9:6), the Spirit-anointed Messiah (11:1-5), the new heavens and new earth (65:17), and the Suffering Servant (Isaiah 53) — the most extensive prophecy of Christ's atoning death in the Old Testament. Tradition holds that Isaiah was martyred under King Manasseh by being sawn in two — referenced in Hebrews 11:37.
"Holy, holy, holy"; Isaiah's call to ministry
Virgin birth prophecy
Messianic prophecy
Sennacherib's army destroyed
Most extensive OT prophecy of Christ's atonement
Eschatological vision
Isaiah is the most-quoted Old Testament prophet in the New Testament. His Messianic prophecies — virgin birth, the Spirit-anointed king, the Suffering Servant, the new creation — are foundational to Christian understanding of Christ. Isaiah 53 alone is so directly applied to Jesus that some early Christians called it 'the fifth Gospel.' His vision of God in the temple (Isaiah 6) is the classic Old Testament account of encountering divine holiness.
“Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory.”— Isaiah 6:3
“Here am I; send me.”— Isaiah 6:8
“Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow.”— Isaiah 1:18
“All we like sheep have gone astray... and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.”— Isaiah 53:6
Isaiah was the major Old Testament prophet who ministered in Judah from approximately 740 to 680 BC, serving under four kings. He is the author of the book of Isaiah (66 chapters), which contains the most extensive Messianic prophecies in the Old Testament — including the virgin birth (Isaiah 7:14), 'unto us a child is born' (9:6), and the Suffering Servant (Isaiah 53). He is the most-quoted Old Testament prophet in the New Testament.
Isaiah 53 is the most extensive Old Testament prophecy of the atoning death of Christ. Written about 700 years before Jesus's crucifixion, it describes a Suffering Servant who would be despised and rejected, wounded for our transgressions, bruised for our iniquities, oppressed and afflicted yet silent like a lamb before its shearers. The New Testament directly applies the chapter to Christ (Acts 8:32-35; 1 Peter 2:24). Some early Christians called Isaiah 53 'the fifth Gospel.'
The Bible does not record Isaiah's death, but ancient Jewish and Christian tradition holds that he was martyred under King Manasseh (son of Hezekiah) by being sawn in two. Hebrews 11:37 refers to faithful believers who 'were sawn asunder,' traditionally understood as a reference to Isaiah.
Isaiah prophesied for approximately 60 years — from about 740 BC until about 680 BC, spanning four kings: Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah.