ISAIAH
(Answers)
Updated 01/2024
CHAPTER 1
- Isaiah was a prophet from the days of
Kings Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and King Hezekiah, before the captivity of Judah. [Isaiah also prophesied of the upcoming downfall
of Babylon
(Isaiah 13, 14:4).]
- God was not pleased with the sacrifices,
festivals, incense, and offerings of Judah because they were a
sinful nation, not obedient to God.
- If Judah were willing to come to
God with all their hearts and be obedient to His commandments He would
forgive them of their sins.
- God will rid Himself of His adversaries,
enemies, and purge the impurity of the people. Then Judah will
be righteous and faithful
- The transgressor and sinner shall be
destroyed together. He shall consume those who forsake the Lord.
CHAPTER 2
- The mountain is when Gods kingdom is
set up above all other kingdoms. (This is during the thousand-year reign
of Jesus in the latter days).
- During the Kingdom of God
there will be no need for swords or spears for there will be no war.
- The people will try to save themselves
with their false idols and hide from Gods truth.
CHAPTER 3
- The leaders and elders were unqualified
to lead the people because of their sins. Judah was led as if by
children or women.
CHAPTER 4
- The branch is the remaining people of Israel who
return from captivity.
- The people will be happy to partake of
the fruit of their land once again.
- Judah will be judged for their apostasy and
consumed and destroyed by those God will send against them.
- Once Judah has been purged God will
once again lead His people day and night.
- Because the remnant is holy and God will
be present, He will be their covering (defense, protection).
CHAPTER 5
- God is the owner of the vineyard..
- Israel was God\'s vineyard.
- The vineyard brought forth wild grapes instead
of good grapes.
- God will trample down Israel,
break down its walls, and make it a place of thorns and briers. Many will
be killed and go into captivity.
- God will send nations from afar against Judah.
CHAPTER 6
- Isaiah saw himself as unholy and deserving
of death before the Lord and His angels.
- Isaiah\'s iniquity was taken away and
his sins were purged.
- Isaiah will be able to speak and
prophesy for the Lord concerning His people.
- The people will keep hearing and seeing
but not understanding until their cities are laid waste and the people are
removed far away.
CHAPTER 7
- This seems to be a far fulfillment
prophecy of Jesus. The near fulfillment prophecy is that all the land of Israel will be forsaken soon.
- Curds and honey will be all that is left
in the land for the few who will be left. The land will not be cultivated.
It will be full of briers and thorns. (7:22, 23).
CHAPTER 8
- The name of the child means, “Speed the spoil and hasten the booty. Before the
child could say mother or father the kingdom
of Syria and Israel will be taken over by Assyria.
- Isaiah was to fear, dread, and hallow
God. He was not to fear the people.
- God will be a sanctuary to Isaiah but to
both houses of Israel He will be a stone of stumbling, a rock of offense,
and a snare and a trap for Jerusalem.
- The people were not to seek mediums and
wizards, to seek the living among the dead.
CHAPTER 9
- The oppression of Israel
will not be forever. A Light in their darkness will come, a child, Jesus.
- The people had cursed God before but now
would praise Him because he brought light and salvation to them (see 8:21,
22). (The more common interpretation is this refers to Jesus).
CHAPTER 10
- Assyria was used by God to desolate Israel.
- The pride of the Assyrians made them boast
they had accomplished all things by their own power instead of the power
of the true God.
CHAPTER 11
- a. Jesus is the rod or branch that will
come from the stem of Jesse. b. He will possess the Spirit of God, wisdom,
understanding, counsel, might, knowledge, and the fear of the Lord.
- The animals represent the time after
Jesus' second return when God will again recover the remnant of His
people. All people will live under the rule of Jesus in harmony and safety, even the animals will live with each other and
humans with no fear of danger to either. (Notice the animals will
not be meat eaters but will eat of plants and straw.)
CHAPTER 12
- Everyone will sing, praise, and exalt
the name of God.
- Gods wonderful work will be known in
all the earth (not just Israel).
CHAPTER 13
- The near prophecy is the destruction of Babylon. The future
prophecy is the destruction of the whole world for its evil and the wicked
for their iniquity. (Is. 34:4; Joel 2:10; Rev 6:12)
- The Medes will be sent to remove the
Babylonians.
CHAPTER 14
- The people of other nations will cling
to the house of Jacob. (Esther 8:17; Neh
10:28-31)
- Babylon is equivalent to Lucifer (Satan). The
pride and pomp of Satan was in the Babylonians.
- Lucifer wanted to exalt himself above
all and be like God.
- There will be no rest for Lucifer where
He will be going.
- Both Assyria and Philistia
will be destroyed.
CHAPTER 15
- Moab will be destroyed.
CHAPTER 16
- Israel is to have mercy on the outcasts and
refugees of Moab during
their punishment (Moab
is the relative of Israel,
the child of Lot who is the nephew of
Abraham).
- Moab is to help Israel in the time of their
persecution. (Their opportunity could be at the time of Israels
tribulation and with the Anti-Christ.)
- The one who will sit in truth in the
tabernacle of David will be Jesus.
CHAPTER 17
- They had forgotten God. They had not
remembered that He was their stronghold. Syria
and Ephraim joined forces against Judah. (2 Ki.
16:5-9)
CHAPTER 18
- The Ethiopians were not needed to fight
against the Assyrians. God would help Judah against the Assyrians.
- There will be a day when the people of Ethiopia will come to Jerusalem to worship God and to bring
presents (Acts 8:26-40).
CHAPTER 19
- The dried up waters were the people who
lead Egypt
into sin and false gods.
- Th e fishermen are those who profit from
those deceived and led astray.
- Egypt, Assyria, and Israel
will one day be at peace. The gospel of Jesus Christ will connect them.
CHAPTER 20
- a. Isaiah was unclothed (stripped like a
captive wearing only the undergarment) for three years. b. It was a
message for Israel that
it was useless to trust in Egypt
and Ethiopia for help
against Assyria. Egypt and Ethiopia who would be led away
captive, stripped, and barefoot.
CHAPTER 21
- The night of Belshazzars feast of
pleasure is the sane night King Cyrus of Persia
took Babylon
(Daniel 5:1-31).
- The chariots were the two nations, the
Medes and the Persians, coming to overthrow Babylon.
- Babylon is an example of all nations and people
who do not know God or obey His will. They have their own righteousness,
religion, and gods. They will fall.
- Edom will also suffer calamity due to their
enmity against Israel
(Nu. 20:18-21; 2 Ki. 8:20).
- Arabia will suffer collateral damage from the
kingdom to come (perhaps Jer. 49:28).
CHAPTER 22
- Jerusalem is called the valley of vision because
they knew God and His ways.
- Jerusalem had turned from seeking God and
remembering Him.
- Shebna was over the house of King Hezekiah,
king of Judah,
and a scribe (2 Kings 18:18). Shebna thought
highly of himself and built a prestigious tomb to show his honor and
authority even though Israel
was under the threat of exile.
CHAPTER 23
- Tyre had become prideful and self-glorifying. God was about to humble
them.
- Tyre will return after seventy years of desolation and rebuild the
city and their commerce.
- Tyre will once again do business freely with all nations for profit.
However, this time her gain will be for those who dwell before the Lord
(Nehemiah 13:16; Ezra 3:7).
CHAPTER 24
- The land (Canaan)
will be emptied of inhabitants and plundered.
- The removal of the people from the land
will be so complete it will look like an olive tree completely shaken or
the grape vine completely gleaned.
- The exalted ones refers
to the time of the end when the fallen angels and demons will be punished.
- The kings are the nations that will come
against God and Jesus during the time of tribulation and at the battle of
Armageddon (Rev. 16:13,14).
- The fallen angels and kings of the earth
will be locked up and thrown into the pit for a while and then punished
(Rev. 19:20; 20:2,10).
CHAPTER 25
- The strong people call on God for
strength, trust in His protection, and know He is the One who blesses
them.
- The mountain of God
are all those who know God and live according to His ways.
- God will bestow all manner of blessings
upon His people.
- The covering is the sin of the people;
the veil is the people\'s blindness to God\'s word. (Through Jesus sin
will be forgiven. Through the Holy Spirit understanding and obedience will
increase.)
- Death will be swallowed up. (1 Co
15:55-57).
CHAPTER 26
- The strong are all true believers, the
righteous, those who obey the truth who will be gathered together in one
place. (This will happen at the end of time when the New Jerusalem comes
to earth).
- The people who knew God shall arise out
of their graves to live.
CHAPTER 27
- Leviathan represents all the ungodly people,
nations, and the great enemy of God and the church, Satan.
- The Lords vineyard is His people He
watches over.
- Those against or who do not obey God are
the briers and thorns that must be removed.
- It will be possible for the lost to make
peace with God and avoid their destruction
- God measured out an appropriate
punishment on His people for their sins by sending a nation against them
to destroy their city and take a remnant captive.
- a. God will gather His people back to
their city. b. Israel
comes back after seventy years but Gods Holy mount will be in the New
Jerusalem at the call of the last or great trumpet (the end of the age).
CHAPTER 28
- The priest and the prophet were
intoxicated and could not make any judgments.
- The Assyrians and Babylonians will speak
to Israel
in the near future. In the distant future God will speak to His people
through the Gentiles who would serve Him as Israel watches.
- Because they did not take Gods precepts
seriously the people have made a covenant with death.
- Jesus is the cornerstone (1 Pe 2:6).
- God revealed to Isaiah what will happen
at the time of the end. There was going to be total destruction on the
whole earth.
- As God teaches the plowman in correct
judgment He will guide and counsel His people into a righteous walk with
Him. (God sows His word, the seed, among the people. His Spirit to grows each believer. Then fruit will come and there
will be a harvest of all true believers).
CHAPTER 29
- The people spoke of God with their lips,
but He was not in their hearts.
- God made man and knew his ways. Man
could hide nothing from Him. Shall the thing formed say of the one who
formed it He has no understanding?).
- All those who commit iniquity will be
cut off.
- Jacob will see those who were once
wayward but came back to God.
CHAPTER 30
- Israel was not trusting in God and Egypt saw no benefit for them to help Israel.
- God will be gracious to Israel
when they weep and cry for Him.
- There will be our conscience and a
teacher who will instruct us in the way we should go. Today this is
through the Holy Spirit.
CHAPTER 31
- The one who looks for help from other
places rather than from God and the one who helps him will perish
together.
- The one who trusts in God will be like a
lion who roars or stands over his prey. No one
will run Him off. God will defend and preserve His people.
CHAPTER 32
- The righteousness and understanding of
God among the people will be evident. Eyes and ears will be opened and
understanding will grow.
- The foolish and evil will not be
condoned or excused anymore. They will be seen clearly for what they are.
- When God pours out His Spirit on the
people from on high their mourning will stop and their land will be a
fruitful forest..
- Gods people will dwell peaceably,
securely, and quietly.
CHAPTER 33
- The sinners and the hypocrites will be
afraid of Gods devouring fire.
- Those who walk upright,
refuse bribes, and hate bloodshed will have nothing to fear.
- a. The righteous will see the king and
His beauty (king of the universe) and the land far off (place of
eternity). b. They will remember the terror of the invading nations. c.
They will not see an invading nation anymore
- Zion will become a quiet place, a place that
will never be destroyed, a permanent tabernacle will be there, and the
Lord will be present among His people.
CHAPTER 34
- The nations will be utterly destroyed
and the people slaughtered (Rev 14:19-20; 19:17-21)
- The host of heaven will be dissolved and
the sky will roll up like a scroll (Rev 6:13-14).
- Edom is all the people who have lived contrary
to Gods will.
- They animals represent all those, great
and small, who are lost. They will be the sacrifice of the Lord
- The books of prophecy, particularly
Isaiahs, can be searched later to see if this prophecy was fulfilled. Not
one prophecy will lack fulfillment.
CHAPTER 35
- The land will once again blossom and
produce abundantly on its own.
- The blind, deaf, and the lame will see,
hear, and walk again.
- No unclean people shall dwell in the
land or on the highway of holiness (Rev 21:27).
- There will be no evil to tempt the
simple-minded or lead him astray.
- Only the redeemed and ransomed of the
Lord will be on the highway of holiness.
CHAPTER 36
- Rabshakeh
accused Hezekiah of turning the people away from God because he had taken
down the high places and altars.
- Rabshakeh said God had sent him against Judah.
- Rabshakeh said that the god\'s of the other
nations could not stand against him and neither will the Lord.
CHAPTER 37
- God would send a rumor and have Rabshakeh return to his
own land where he would die by the sword.
- Assyria became prideful. They felt their
success was by their own power not realizing God had delivered those
nations into their hands.
- The people of Judah would eat of the land
whatever it produced on its own for the next three years. Then they will
sow and reap as usual.
- The angel of the Lord killed 185,000
Assyrians.
CHAPTER 38
- God added fifteen years to Hezekiahs
life.
- God made the shadow on the sundial would
go backward ten degrees.
CHAPTER 39
- Hezekiah entertained and showed his
treasures to some men from Babylon.
- God revealed that Babylon would one day carry away all his
treasures he had shown them. (Dan 1:1-4)
CHAPTER 40
- God would exalt the humble and humble
the prideful.
- Who is like God in any way?
- God never becomes faint or weary.
- God helps the weak and the meek.
- Those who wait on the Lord will have new
strength, a smooth path, and will not faint or be weary.
CHAPTER 41
- God is in charge. He put nations over other nations in His
righteousness and infinite wisdom.
- God is before the first generation of
people and will be there after the last.
- All those who contended with Israel
will become as nothing and will perish.
- The idols could not recall the past or
show the future. They were nothing.
- Cyrus, the ruler of the Medes (from the
north) and the Persians (from the east) would be a blessing to Israel
(Ezra 1:2-4).
CHAPTER 42
- a. The servant of God is Israel
(Isaiah 41:8-9; 44:21). Here it is futuristic in a descendant of the
righteous of Israel,
Jesus (Matthew 12:16-21). b. God will put His Spirit upon Jesus. c. The
spreading of the gospel of Jesus will cover the whole earth, a ministry
also to the Gentiles.
- God will hold His servant by the hand,
and guide Him and keep Him.
- The Servant would become the covenant to
the people and a light to the Gentiles.
- The people in prison and darkness are
those in sin and who do not know how to get out.
- God wanted the people to know that He is
God and give their honor and praise to Him, not to any other or a carved
image.
- God will dry up and lay waste all the
things and people (the heathen, the foes, their idols, their doctrines)
against God and those who lead people away from God.
CHAPTER 43
- The rivers and waters are the people who
do not know or obey God. They spread ungodliness that Gods people will
have to face.
- The fire is the lies, deceiving
doctrines, and tribulation from the ungodly people that Gods people will
go through.
- a. Those who know God will be protected
from the deceiving lies and doctrines of the ungodly. b. They have called
on God and obeyed Him.
- Gods people will come from all over the
world.
- a. Those who
did not see or hear God, who rejected Him before, are called on to
acknowledge the work of God when He returns His people from captivity. b.
The people who know and serve God will be His witnesses and verify His
work.
- a. The divine protection and provision
of God for the return of His people from Babylon is the immediate reference. (A
greater reference is to the road of righteousness and of knowledge of God,
the conversion of sinners, which will come through Jesus). b. The people
will be protected from wild beasts on their return from Babylon. (This is also a reference to
the conversion of the Gentiles who have never served God.)
- God asks His people to come to Him and
speak their case for forgiveness but they will not be able to justify
themselves. God will blot out their sins for His sake. (This will be done
through Jesus on the cross.)
CHAPTER 44
- The dry and the thirsty are people who
are seeking God. They are thirsty for righteousness, spiritual blessings,
and the grace of God
- God told the people the same piece of
wood they used for crafting their gods they also use for fire to cook
their food and to warm themselves.
- Jerusalem will be inhabited, the cities of Judah will
be built, and the temple foundation shall be laid.
CHAPTER 45
- Cyrus, king of Persia
will be Gods servant.
- Cyrus did not have a relationship with
God but will be used by Him.
- God has made the earth, created man, and
stretched out the heavens.
- Egypt, Cush,
and the Sabeans would be Cyrus, king of Persias reward for his favor to Israel.
CHAPTER 46
- The idols were loaded on carriages and
carried by their animals but the idols who should have burdened the burden
of their worshipers could not and went themselves into captivity.
- Cyrus of Persia is the bird from the
east that God will use.
- God will place salvation in Zion.
CHAPTER 47
- a. God is going to bring down the
Chaldeans and the Babylonians. b. They were cruel to the elderly and
showed no mercy to Gods people. c. The Babylonian astrologers and
stargazers would become as stubble.
CHAPTER 48
- God warned His people early so they
would not say or think the things that happened to them were from their
idols or carved images, but from the one true God.
- God put His people through ttribulation to refine them and to turn them back to
Him for His sake, honor, and glory.
- God is the first and true God, and there
is no other; none before Him or after Him.
- Isaiah was sent by God since the
beginning of Israels
desolation to speak prophecy openly to His people..
- If the people had obeyed God\'s
commandments (from the beginning), they would have peace and righteousness
and no loss of descendants.
CHAPTER 49
- a. Jesus will be the sharp sword of God.
b. Jesus has been shielded by God until His time comes.
- a. The servant will bring God\'s people
back to Him. b. God, the Father, will be His strength. c. The servant will
also be a light to the Gentiles.
- God sent His son, Jesus, at the time
fixed by Him and helped Jesus as He became the covenant to the people (2
Co 6:2).
- Yes, as a woman who could not forget her
child God will remember Israel.
- Israel wondered because there would be a
multitude of children and from other nations. (These will be children of
God from the Gentile nations.
CHAPTER 50
- Isaiah did not hide from the people in
shame or from their persecution. He gave them the word of God.
- He said to rely on God.
- a. Those who
develop their own lighted path instead of trusting in God. b. They will go
down in torment.
CHAPTER 51
- Those who know righteousness and who
have God\'s law in their heart will not fear man.
- God will remove His fury from Israel and
direct it to those who afflict them.
CHAPTER 52
- The mountains of Judea
will hear of God\'s salvation.
- The watchman over Judea
will understand and announce the signs of Gods work.
- Israel is the anti-type of the Messiah. They
will be returned and exalted.
- As Israel suffered destruction so
will the Messiah for the majority will not know he is the Messiah.
CHAPTER 53
- God will nurture and protect Him like a
tender plant in a time of spiritual oppression of His people (dry ground).
(See also Isaiah 7:15)
- The Servant would not be dressed in
splendor or look beautiful.
- The Servant would know sorrow and grief.
All the sufferings of the body and would will be known to Him
- God will lay the iniquity of us all on
the Servant.
- The Servant was killed with the wicked
(Luke 23:32-33) but buried with the rich (Matthew 27:57-60).
- The strong; those who believe in the
Servant, will divide the spoil with the Servant.
CHAPTER 54
- God had forsaken His people only for a
moment.
- As God swore in the days of Noah not to
cover the earth with water He will not destroy His people.
- Even if the mountains and hills be
removed (Rev 16:20) God’s covenant of peace
will remain with His people.
- No weapon formed against Gods people
shall proper and any word spoken against them shall be condemned.
CHAPTER 55
- Gods thoughts and ways are higher than
mans.
- As the rain waters the earth and brings
forth seed and bread so will the word of God not return void.
CHAPTER 56
- The Gentiles also are promised
salvation.
- The watchmen were the irresponsible
leaders and priests of Israel
who sought their own pleasure and gain.
CHAPTER 57
- God gives rest and peace to the
righteous person.
- The righteous (at this time) were
removed to save them from the evils and sufferings caused by their leaders
and of the calamity to come.
- The people sacrificed and worshiped
their false gods on the hills and mountains.
- The people had turned as far away from
God as they could in seeking help from other nations and foreign gods.
- God dwells with those who have a
contrite and humble spirit.
- God will heal backsliders who turn back
to Him because He will not hide from them and leave then to their ways.
CHAPTER 58
- Israels worship and fasting were not sincere.
They still found pleasure and were abusive to people during their fast.
Some fasted for selfish reasons to win an argument or debate even to hurt
or oppress others.
- a. God wanted the people to break the
bonds of wickedness, heavy burdens, and the yoke they put on their
brethren and to help the poor, feed the hungry, and clothe the needy. b.
God will hear us, healus, and guard us.
- By riding ourselves of all wickedness,
then only light will go forth.
- We honor God by keeping the Sabbath holy
and by following and obeying God instead of our own will or pleasure.
CHAPTER 59
- a. Sin separates us from God. b. God
turns His face from us and will not listen to us.
- We don\'t know which way to go because
of our self-will and the multitude of our sins and darkness in us.
- There was no man or intercessor to save
the people therefore God set the plan for salvation.
- Jesus will become our redeemer.
- God will leave His Spirit with the
people forever.
CHAPTER 60
- The Gentiles will worship God at the
altar of Israel.
(Spiritually, we all worship the God of Israel now).
- There will be different nations of
people who will help supply materials for the rebuilding of the temple.
- The sun and the moon will no longer be
needed because the Lord will be an everlasting light (Rev 21:23).
- a. The righteous and redeemed are the
work of His hands. b. At the end of the age the heavenly land, the New
Jerusalem, will be among God’s people Rev
(21:1-3).
CHAPTER 61
- a. Isaiah was appointed to preach to the
people. (Here he prophesies about the work of the coming Messiah Luke
4:16-22) b. Their city will be rebuilt.
- The people will be clothed with the
garments of salvation and the robe of righteousness.
CHAPTER 62
- The watchmen know God, wait on Him, and can
lead the people. Here they are looking for God to restore the people and
the city.
- The watchmen will not stop until Jerusalem is made a praise in the earth. (After the end of this age when
God\'s heavenly city is established the watchmen will not be needed).
- The banner leads the way home for the
Jews.
CHAPTER 63
- A mighty force covered in blood.
This is God taking vengeance against the enemies of His people.
- Isaiah declared Gods
loving kindnesses and goodness to His people, helping them in times
of affliction.
- God remembered how the people called on
Him before and how He had led them in the days of Moses.
- The people felt they had become like the
people of old whom God never knew or were ever called by His name. .
CHAPTER 64
- God helps and comes to those who know
and wait on Him and who rejoice in doing good.
- Israel did their righteous acts not out of a
pure and sincere heart because they were in sin. The filthy rags were a
garment used during menstruation in which a woman became unclean for
several days. (The people were always stained; never clean, to be used by
God.)
CHAPTER 65
- a. The Gentiles will find God (Rom
10:20-21). b. Israel,
Gods chosen people rebelled against Him.
- In the New Jerusalem people will live a
long time, as the days of a tree. If someone dies at a hundred years old
they will be considered accursed.
- The animals will live together in peace
and will no longer be carnivores but will eat straw.
CHAPTER 66
- God looks to help the poor and the
humble person who trembles at the word of God.
- The people were full of hypocrisy; full
of sin at the same time they did their righteous rituals. (Ezekiel 23:39)
- The male child of Jerusalem is the spiritual church that
would be born because of the Messiah.
- The children of Zion will increase rapidly because they
will include the Gentiles. Christianity will spread quickly.
- Some people of the nations will become
priests and Levites for the Lord.