Unlocking Isaiah in the Book of Mormon Notes from 2006 BYU Education Week, Victor Ludlow,
Primary uses of Isaiah passages: Instruct House of Israel about her covenant promises and their fulfillment. Emphasize key events and prophecies relating to the latter days Highlight significant messianic prophecies of Isaiah Ask yourself: What can I learn in this Isaiah passage about:God’s covenants with the House of Israel Latter-day prophecies Savior’s calling and mission One third of Isaiah is in the Book of Mormon (21 chapters) | ||
Isaiah Ref.
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BofM Ref.
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Quoted By
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Isaiah 48-49
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1 Nephi 20-21
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Nephi
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Isaiah 50-51
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2 Nephi 7-8
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Jacob
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Isaiah 2-14
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2 Nephi 12-24
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Nephi
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Isaiah 29
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2 Nephi 27
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Nephi (plus commentary)
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Isaiah 53
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Mosiah 14
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Abinadi (suffering servant)
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Isaiah 52
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3 Nephi 20
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Jesus (law & covenant)
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Isaiah 54
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3 Nephi 22
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Jesus (covenant people discourse)
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Isaiah Passages in the Book of Mormon
Victor L. Ludlow - BYU Education Week 2005
Of all the prophetic writings available on the Brass Plates of Laban, Isaiah is the major resource used throughout the Book of Mormon. About 1/3 of Isaiah’s 66 chapters are found in the Book of Mormon. Two large blocks (chapters 2-14 and 48-54) are scattered among four books (1 Ne, 2 Ne, Mosiah, and 3 Ne). In addition, Isa 29 is quoted in 2 Ne. The following chart shows where these 21 Isaiah chapters are found:
1 Nephi * denotes the Isaiah passages paraphrased in BM
2 Nephi 28:7-8 Isaiah 22:13*
1 Nephi 20-21 Isaiah 48-49
2 Nephi 28:9b Isaiah 29:15a*
1 Nephi 10:8 Isaiah 40:3*
2 Nephi 28:16a Isaiah 29:21c
1 Nephi 13:8 Isaiah 52:1a*
2 Nephi 28:30 Isaiah 28:10,13*
1 Nephi 13:37 Isaiah 52:7*
2 Nephi 29:1a 29:1b Isaiah 11:11a, 29:14a *
1 Nephi 14:7a Isaiah 29:14a
2 Nephi 29:2 Isaiah 5:26*
1 Nephi 17:36 Isaiah 45:18*
2 Nephi 30:9 Isaiah 11:4
1 Nephi 22:8, 22:8a, 22:8b Isaiah 49:22, 29:14a, 49:23a*
2 Nephi 30:11-15 Isaiah 11:5-9
1 Nephi 22:10-11 Isaiah 52:10*
Mosiah Mosiah 12:21-24
2 Nephi Isaiah 52:7-10
2 Nephi 6:6 Isaiah 49:22*
Mosiah 14 Isaiah 53
2 Nephi 6:7 Isaiah 49:23
Mosiah 15:10-11 Isaiah 53:8,10*
2 Nephi 6:16-18 Isaiah 49:24-26
Mosiah 15:14-18 Isaiah 52:7*
2 Nephi 7-8 Isaiah 50-51
Mosiah 15:29-31 Isaiah 52:8-10
2 Nephi 8:24-25 Isaiah 52:1-2
2 Nephi 9:50-51 Isaiah 55:1-2
3 Nephi
2 Nephi 10:9a Isaiah 49:23a*
3 Nephi 16:18-20 Isaiah 52:8-10
2 Nephi 12-24 Isaiah 2-14
3 Nephi 20 Isaiah 52
2 Nephi 25:11 Isaiah 11:11a*
*3 Nephi 21:8-10 Isaiah 52:13-15
2 Nephi 25:17a, 25:17b Isaiah 11:11a*, 29:14a*
3 Nephi 21:29 Isaiah 52:12
2 Nephi 26:15 Isaiah 25:12*
3 Nephi 22 Isaiah 54
2 Nephi 26:15-16 Isaiah 29:3-4*
2 Nephi 26:18 Isaiah 29:5*
Moroni
2 Nephi 26:25 Isaiah 55:1*
Moroni 10:31a Isaiah 52:1a*, 54:2b*
In these quoted Isaiah passages, about 1/3 of the verses have major differences when compared to the King James Version of the Bible -- that is, wording changes or additions which significantly change or enlarge the meaning of the verse. Another 1/3 of the Isaiah verses in the Book of Mormon have minor wording or punctuation changes which do not alter the verse’s meaning; and 1/3 are exactly the same as the corresponding Biblical passages.
Purposes for quoting Isaiah in the Book of Mormon: The prophets Nephi, Jacob, Abinadi, and the resurrected Savior all cite Isaiah’s words. Their primary use of the Isaiah passages is threefold:
1. To instruct the house of Israel about her covenant promises (see title page, second paragraph) Isaiah’s passages especially fulfill this purpose. As examples, Isaiah 48 contains the elements of a covenant contract, and Isaiah 49 includes some great covenant promises for the house of Israel. Nephi cites these chapters shortly after his people arrive in the new world, and he then teaches them about their covenant promises (1 Nephi 22:7-12). Later, after Jacob has quoted Isaiah 50 and 51, he states that he has read these things that they “might know concerning the covenants of the Lord that he has covenanted with all the house of Israel” (2 Nephi 9:1). Centuries later, the resurrected Savior uses Isaiah 52 and 54 as he delivers his law and covenant teachings (3 Nephi 15-16) and his covenant people discourse (3 Nephi 20-22). Jesus promises that as the words of Isaiah are fulfilled, “then is the fulfilling of the covenant” (3 Nephi 20:12; cf verse 46).
2. To emphasize key events and prophecies relating to the latter days. The significance of temples and priesthood leadership (Isa 2 & 2 Ne 12), God’s judgments of his children in Zion (Isa 3-5 & 2 Ne 13-15), an invasion of armies from the north towards Jerusalem (Isa 10 & 2 Ne 20), the impact of key servants and prophets (Isa 11 & 2 Ne 21), the downfall of spiritual Babylon (Isa 13-14 & 2 Nephi 23-24), and the impact of the Book of Mormon and other sacred records coming from the dust (Isa 29 & 2 Ne 27) are all quoted by Nephi before he provides additional, inspired commentary in 2 Nephi 25-33. These prophecies of Isaiah highlight many significant events in different parts of the world. With Nephi’s insights, they help us to understand the fulfillment of God’s work in the latter days so we can know we are not forgotten by God (BM title page).
3. To highlight significant messianic prophecies of Isaiah. The second major purpose of the Book of Mormon is “to the convincing of the Jew and Gentile that Jesus is the Christ” (title page, second paragraph). Abinadi and Nephi quote Isaiah as they deliver their important witnesses of Christ and his atonement. The most powerful messianic passage of Isaiah is the “suffering servant song” of chapter 53. The prophet Abinadi cites this chapter as he teaches King Noah and his priests (Mosiah 14). Abinadi’s inspired commentary helps us understand how Christ can make intercession for his followers, as promised by Isaiah (Mosiah 15). Additional messianic prophecies of Isaiah, chapters 6-9, are quoted by Nephi as a prelude to his great testimony about Christ (2 Nephi 25, 31-33). Isaiah is used to strengthen prophetic witnesses about Christ in the Book of Mormon.
Studying Isaiah in a Book of Mormon perspective: To study Isaiah within its Book of Mormon setting, study the material in smaller units, usually as individual chapters or, at most, a small group of chapters.
1. Read the relevant material. Read the chapter headings in the Book of Mormon of the Isaiah chapters to be quoted. Next, read the verses just prior to the quoted Isaiah sections. Then read the Isaiah material carefully and completely. Finally, be sure to read the verses (and sometimes the chapters) immediately following the Isaiah passages as inspired prophetic commentary is given!
2. Review the major or important ideas in your mind. What for you, at this time, are the significant concepts that you remember from this material. Identify the particular message of greatest value for you. Can you liken any message unto yourself? (1 Nephi 19:23-24). Seek to apply the relevant insights in your own life. One good way of focusing upon the essential elements is to record some key ideas in the margins of your scriptures. In addition, you may want to write your feelings and commitments in your journal or diary.
3. Study one small section of the material at a time, just a few verses. This could be the verses highlighting the major message for you. It could be the least understood portion of the reading, or just a portion which you feel you want to study in greater depth.
· Reread those verses in their context and then use the footnotes of both the Book of Mormon and the Bible. Note any Hebrew clarifications or JST insights.
· Read the verses cross referenced in the footnotes in their context. Look up the topical guide (TG) entries, and see if any other Isaiah passages deal with the same theme; then read those passages.
· Skim through the other listings in that TG entry and note if other passages in the Standard Works provide insights for that concept.
· Reread the verses and consider if there might be any terms, names, etc. which might be in the Bible Dictionary; see if any of them are listed.
· Prepare a brief outline of the key ideas or words of that section of verses. Try to identify any poetic patterns or parallelisms.
· Reread the section, and ponder how it fits within its Book of Mormon context.
4. Follow Moroni’s admonition of how to study the scriptures as you read, remember, ponder, and pray (Moroni 10:3-5).
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Book of Mormon
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11:4-9
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2 Ne. 30:9, 12-15
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11:11 , 29:14
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2 Ne. 25:17 (mixed)
2 Ne. 29:1 |
28:10, 13
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2 Ne. 28:30a
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29:3-5
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2 Ne. 26:15-16, 18
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29:4, 11
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2 Ne. 27:6-9
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29:6
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2 Ne. 6:15
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29:6-10
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2 Ne. 27:2-5
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29:11-12
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2 Ne. 27:15-19
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29:13b
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2 Ne. 28:14b
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29:12-13
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2 Ne. 28:3
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29:13-24
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2 Ne. 27:25-35
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29:14, 11:11
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2 Ne. 25:17 (mixed)
2 Ne. 29:1
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29:15
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2 Ne. 28:9b
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29:21
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2 Ne. 28:16a
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48-49
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1 Ne. 20-21
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49:22
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1 Ne. 22:6
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49:22-23
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2 Ne. 6:6b-7
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49:22-23; 29:14
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1 Ne. 22:8
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49:24-52:2
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2 Ne. 6:16-8:25
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52:1-2; 54:2
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Moro. 10:31
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52:1-3, 6-7, 11-15
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3 Ne. 20:36-46
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52:7
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Mosiah 15:14-18
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52:10
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1 Ne. 22:10-11
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52:12
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3 Ne. 21:29
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52:15b
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3 Ne. 21:8b
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52:7-10
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Mosiah 12:21-24
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52:8-10
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Mosiah 15:29-31
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52:8-10
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3 Ne. 16:18-20
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52:8-10
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3 Ne. 20:32-35
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53
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Mosiah 14:1-12
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53:10
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Mosiah 15:10
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54
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3 Ne. 22:1b-17
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55:1
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2 Ne. 26:25
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55:1-2
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2 Ne. 9:50-51
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You are amazing! This was awesome.
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