TRUDGING THRU THE BOOK OF ISAIAH

Have you ever tried to get thru the Book of Isaiah? There is so much symbolism and puzzling jargon that the natural man in me says I’d just as soon have a root canal. There have been many scholars who have written commentaries about it, but even many of them admit that parts of it are still challenging. Educators tell us that the best commentary on scripture is scripture.

Second Nephi 12, footnote 2a, page 81 of the Book of Mormon informs us:

“Comparison with the King James Bible in English shows that there are differences in more than half of the 433 verses of Isaiah quoted in the Book of Mormon, while about 200 verses have the same wording as the KJV.” The Book of Mormon contains about 35% of the Book of Isaiah’s 66 chapters, found in the Bible. Since this is so, we should be able to understand at least some of the passages because the Savior tells us in 3 Nephi 23:1 that:

And now, behold, I say unto you, that ye ought to search these things. Yea, a commandment I give unto you that ye search these things diligently; for great are the words of Isaiah. Further the LDS Bible Dictionary tells us that:

“Isaiah means The Lord is salvation. He was the son of Amoz and a prophet in Jerusalem during 40 years, 740–701 B.C. He had great religious and political influence during the reign of Hezekiah, whose chief advisor he was. (This probably made Isaiah an aristocrat). Tradition states that he was “sawn asunder” during the reign of Manasseh; for that reason he is often represented in art holding a saw.

Isaiah is the most quoted of all the prophets, being more frequently quoted by Jesus, Paul, Peter, and John (in his Revelation) than any other O.T. prophet. Likewise the Book of Mormon and the Doctrine and Covenants quote from Isaiah more than from any other prophet.
The writings of Isaiah deal with events of his day as well as events beyond his time, some of which have already come to pass and others are yet to be.

A major difficulty in understanding the book of Isaiah is his extensive use of symbolism, as well as his prophetic foresight and literary style; these take many local themes (which begin in his own day) and extend them to a latter-day fulfillment or application. Consequently, some prophecies are probably fulfilled more than one time and/or have more than one application.
The reader today has no greater written commentary and guide to understanding Isaiah than the Book of Mormon and the Doctrine and Covenants.

As one understands these works better he will understand Isaiah better, and as one understands Isaiah better, he more fully comprehends the mission of the Savior, and the meaning of the covenant that was placed upon Abraham and his seed by which all the families of the earth would be blessed.”

How about some examples of how the Book of Mormon helps us understand the Book of Isaiah? Let’s look at Isaiah 2:9, page 864:

9. And the mean man boweth down, and the great man humbleth himself: therefore forgive them not.

The footnote on the word “mean,” which we might think means less than friendly, actually means ordinary man.

If an ordinary man bowed down and a great man humbled himself, to me, that implies repentance, why wouldn’t they be forgiven?

If we check the equivalent translation in 2nd Nephi 12:9 it reads:

9. And the mean man boweth not down, and the great man humbleth himself not, therefore, forgive him not.

Now that makes sense. No humbling, no forgiveness.

Then Isaiah 6:9 reads:

9. And he said, Go, and tell this people, Hear ye indeed, but understand not; and see ye indeed, but perceive not. (Hear, but don’t understand; see but don’t perceive)?

Compare that with 2nd Nephi 16:9

9. And he said: Go and tell this people—Hear ye indeed, but they understood not; and see ye indeed, but they perceived not. (That looks like a big change from above).

Isaiah 13:3 says:

3. I have commanded my sanctified ones; I have also called my mighty ones for mine anger, even them that rejoice in my highness. (Isaiah is hard enough without a statement like this that makes no sense).

Compare with 2nd Nephi 23:3 that mentions:

3. I have commanded my sanctified ones; I have also called my mighty ones, for mine anger is not upon them that rejoice in my highness. (much better)

These are just three tiny examples of how the Book of 2nd Nephi helps us understand the Book of Isaiah. There are so many more. Since the Savior has given us a commandment to search these things diligently, by reading this, you have completed another step in that direction.