Where I Started

My Personal Study of Isaiah

2289

When I first got serious about Isaiah, in the 1990’s, I found it interesting that Nephi, the Savior [and other Book of Mormon writers] chose 433 verses from Isaiah to include in the book of Mormon. In all, twenty-one chapters of Isaiah are quoted (Chapters 2-14, 29, and 48-54) partially or entirely. Together these represent about one-third of the book of Isaiah.

As Joseph Smith translated the Book of Mormon, he made corrections in more than half of the verses from Isaiah. When I found changes I have marked, them this way: [additions] and [deletions] in red. Footnotes from the 1981 LDS version of the Scriptures appear in the right column, with the most important highlighted. Other commentaries are marked in green.

Of the verses quoted from Isaiah, 234 of 433 differ from the King James version (see note to 2 Nephi 12:2 ^a). And, all of this was just sitting in the footnotes of my 1981 edition of the Book of Mormon.

Because of that, I decided to try a new way to study Isaiah; I looked at each footnote, listed it and looked for related commentary. Before I had a computer I wrote many side notes in my scriptures and later filled them with post-it notes, but with the computer, this became much easier.

I have been going back through these books for years now, so there is no real rhyme or reason to this, but here is the first chapter as I have outlined it:

THE BOOK OF THE PROPHET ISAIAH CHAPTER 1 Israel is apostate, rebellious, and corrupt; a very small remnant only is faithful—Their sacrifices and feasts are rejected—They are called upon to repent and work righteousness—Zion shall be redeemed in the day of restoration. Joseph Smith Translation (JST) Isa. 1 Chapter Heading Judah’s rebellion—Promises and threatenings. David J Ridges, in Isaiah Made Easier, states: “Chapter 1 is a preface to the whole book of Isaiah, much like D&C section 1 is to the whole Doctrine and Covenants”
King James Version	Expanded Foot Notes
1 THE ^avision of ^bIsaiah the son of Amoz, which he saw concerning ^cJudah and Jerusalem in the days of ^dUzziah, ^eJotham, ^fAhaz, ~~and~~ Hezekiah, kings of Judah. .	^1a TG Visions. ^b 1 Ne. 19: 23 (23-24) 23 And I did read many things unto them which were written in the books of Moses; but that I might more fully persuade them to believe in the Lord their Redeemer I did read unto them that which was written by the prophet Isaiah; for I did liken all scriptures unto us, that it might be for our profit and learning. 3 Ne. 23: 1 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. Isaiah in Hebrew is yeshayahu and means “Jehovah saves” ^cTG Israel, Judah, People of ^d 2 Kgs. 15: 13 (1-13) Shallum the son of Jabesh began to reign in the nine and thirtieth year of Uzziah king of Judah, and he reigned a full month in Samaria. Hosea 1: 1 THE word of the LORD that came unto Hosea, the son of Beeri, in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah, and in the days of Jeroboam the son of Joash, king of Israel. ^e 2 Kgs. 15: 30, 38 (13-38) 30 And Hoshea the son of Elah made a conspiracy against Pekah the son of Remaliah, and smote him, and slew him, and reigned in his stead, in the twentieth year of Jotham the son of Uzziah. Micah 1: 1 THE word of the LORD that came to Micah the Morasthite in the days of Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah, which he saw concerning Samaria and Jerusalem. ^f 2 Kgs. 16: 20 (19-20) And Ahaz slept with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the city of David: and Hezekiah his son reigned in his stead.
The reigns of Uzziah (Azariah), Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah occurred in the late 700s BC. See 2 Kgs 14–21 and 2 Chr 26–32. Uzziah, Jotham, and Hezekiah are described as mostly righteous. Madsen and Hopkin, Opening Isaiah: a Harmony, p 2
2 ^aHear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth: for the LORD hath spoken, I have nourished and brought up children, and they have ^brebelled against me. .	THEME: Rebellion against the lord 2 ^a Deut. 32: 1 GIVE ear, O ye heavens, and I will speak; and hear, O earth, the words of my mouth.D&C 1: 1 (1-2) HEARKEN, O ye people of my church, saith the voice of him who dwells on high, and whose eyesare upon all men; yea, verily I say: Hearken ye people from afar; and ye that are upon the islands of the sea, listen together. D&C 76: 1 HEAR, O ye heavens, and give ear, O earth, and rejoice ye inhabitants thereof, for the Lord is God, and beside him there is no Savior. ^b Deut. 32: 19 And when the LORD saw it, he abhorred them, because of the provoking of his sons, and of his daughters.
3 The ox knoweth his owner, and the ass his master’s ^acrib: ~~but~~ Israel doth not ^bknow, my people doth not consider.	3a HEB stall, or manger. b TG Apostasy of Israel. TG God, Knowledge about. TG Ignorance.
4 Ah ^asinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, a seed of evildoers, ^bchildren that are ^ccorrupters: they have forsaken the LORD, they have provoked the Holy One of Israel unto ^danger, they are gone away backward..	4a TG Man, Natural, Not Spiritually Reborn. b Isa. 57: 4 Against whom do ye sport yourselves? against whom make ye a wide mouth, and draw out the tongue? are ye not ^achildren of transgression, a seed of falsehood, c D&C 38: 11 (10-12) For all ^aflesh is corrupted before me; and the powers of ^bdarkness prevail upon the earth, among the children of men, in the presence of all the hosts of heaven— d TG Anger
5 ¶ Why should ye be ^astricken any more? ye will ^brevolt more and more: the whole head is sick, and the whole heart ^cfaint.	5a HEB smitten. b TG Rebellion. c HEB diseased.
6 From the sole of the foot even unto the head ~~there is~~ no soundness in it; ~~but~~ wounds, and bruises, and putrifying sores: they have not been ^aclosed, neither bound up, neither ^bmollified with ointment.	^a HEB squeezed out. ^bHEB softened. You are completely sick; you are sick and you don’t even care; you won’t try the simplest first aid. Ridges, Isaiah Made Easier, p 1
7 Your ^acountry is ^bdesolate, your cities are burned with fire: your land, ^cstrangers devour it in your presence, and ~~it is~~ desolate, as overthrown by strangers. .	7 ^a Deut. 28:51 And he shall eat the fruit of thy cattle, and the fruit of thy land, until thou be destroyed: which also shall not leave thee either corn, wine, or oil, or the increase of thy kine, or flocks of thy sheep, until he have destroyed thee. ^b Jer. 9:11 ; Micah 3:12 ; 2 Ne. 13:8 For Jerusalem is ruined, and Judah is fallen, because their tongues and their doings have been against the Lord, to provoke the eyes of his glory. ^cTG Israel, Scattering of.
8 And the daughter of Zion is left as a cottage in a ^avineyard, as ^ba lodge in a garden of cucumbers, as a besieged city. .	^a TG Vineyard of the Lord . ^bIE a watchman’s hut. “You are about as secure as a flimsy shade shack in a garden.” Ridges, Isaiah Made Easier, p 1
9 Except the LORD of hosts had left unto us a very small ^aremnant, we should have been as Sodom, ~~and~~ we should have been like unto Gomorrah.	^a TG Israel, Remnant of . The Lord did not allow Judah to be entirely destroyed, but he intended a remnant to continue, possibly symbolized by the solitary shelter—Madsen and Hopkin, Opening Isaiah: a Harmony, p 3
10 ¶ Hear the word of the LORD, ye rulers of ^aSodom; give ear unto the law of our God, ye people of Gomorrah.	^a Ezek. 16:46 And thine elder sister is Samaria, she and her daughters that dwell at thy left hand: and thy younger sister, that dwelleth at thy right hand, isSodom and her daughters. ( see also 44–55).
11 To what purpose is the multitude of your ^asacrifices unto me? saith the LORD: I am full of the burnt offerings of rams, and the fat of fed beasts; and I ^bdelight not in the blood of bullocks, or of lambs, or of he goats. .	Theme: Religious ceremonies without meaning or faith ^aTG Sacrifice. ^b 1 Sam. 15:22 And Samuel said, Hath the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams. Isaiah describes in detail how his people are performing empty rituals. This counterfeit obedience is blasted by the Lord—Madsen and Hopkin, Opening Isaiah: a Harmony, p 3
12 When ye come to appear before me, who hath required this at your hand, to tread my courts?	“Who authorized you to be such hypocrites?” Ridges, Isaiah Made Easier, p 2
13 Bring no more ^avain ^boblations; incense is an abomination unto me; the new moons and ^csabbaths, the calling of ^dassemblies, I cannot ^eaway with; ~~it is~~ ^finiquity, even the ^gsolemn meeting. .	^a TG Hypocrisy ^b 1 Chr. 23:31 And to offer all burnt sacrifices unto the Lord in the sabbaths, in the new moons, and on the set feasts, by number, according to the order commanded unto them, continually before the Lord: (see also 28–32). Bible Dictionary New Moon: The law appointed that at the new moon special sacrifices should be offered (Num. 10:10; see also 1 Sam. 20:5–6, 29; 2 Kgs. 4:23; Amos 8:5). The prophets often speak of “new moons” along with “Sabbaths.” As the days for all Jewish feasts were reckoned by the moon, the exact time of the appearance of the new moon was of great importance. ^c Lam. 2:6 And he hath violently taken away his tabernacle, as if it were of a garden: he hath destroyed his places of the assembly: the Lord hath caused the solemn feasts and sabbaths to be forgotten in Zion, and hath despised in the indignation of his anger the king and the priest. ^d Matt. 15:9 But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. ^eHEB endure. (Ps. 101:5 Whoso privily slandereth his neighbour, him will I cut off: him that hath an high look and a proud heart will not I suffer.) ^f Isa. 29:13 Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men: ^g TG Solemn Assembly.
14 Your new ^amoons and your appointed ^bfeasts my soul hateth: they are a trouble unto me; I am ^cweary to bear ~~them~~.	^a Hosea 2:11 I will also cause all her mirth to cease, her feast days, her new moons, and her sabbaths, and all her solemn feasts. ^bAmos 5:21 I hate, I despise your feast days, and I will not smell in your solemn assemblies. ^cIsa. 43:24 Thou hast bought me no sweet cane with money, neither hast thou filled me with the fat of thy sacrifices: but thou hast made me to serve with thy sins, thou hast wearied me with thine iniquities. (See also Isa. 43:24–28).
15 And when ye spread forth your hands, I will hide mine eyes from you: yea, when ye make many ^aprayers, I will not hear: your hands are full of ^bblood.	^a 1 Sam. 8:18; D&C 101:7 (7–8). TG God, Access to. ^bHEB bloods; i.e., bloodshed. Isa. 59:2 (2–3).
16 ¶ ^aWash you ye, make you ^bclean; put away the ^cevil of your doings from before mine eyes; ^dcease to do evil;	^a Jer. 7:3 (1–7). TG Baptism. ^b TG Cleanliness; Purification; Purity. ^c TG Evil.
17 ^aLearn to do ^bwell; seek ^cjudgment, ^drelieve the oppressed, ^ejudge^• the fatherless, plead for the ^fwidow.	^a TG Learn. ^b TG Good Works. ^cHEB justice. ^d TG Charity. ^eIE give a just verdict to the fatherless. ^f TG Widows.
18 Come now, and let us ^areason together, saith the LORD: though your ^bsins be as scarlet, they shall be as ^cwhite as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. .	^a D&C 50:10 And now come, saith the Lord, by the Spirit, unto the elders of his church, and let us reason together, that ye may understand; ^b TG Forgive; Sin. ^c TG Purification. Snow falls infrequently in Jerusalem, creating a pristine blanket of white. Scarlet is the color of blood. The image of white wool could refer to lambs washed for sacrifice—Madsen and Hopkin, Opening Isaiah: a Harmony, p 5
19 If ye be ^awilling and ^bobedient, ye shall eat the ^cgood of the land:	^a TG Teachhable ^b TG Obedience. ^c TG Abundant Life.
20 But if ye refuse and ^arebel, ye shall be ^bdevoured with the sword: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it	^aTG Rebellion ^b TG Punish
21 ¶ How is the faithful city become an ^aharlot! it was full of ^bjudgment; righteousness lodged in it; but now murderers.	^a TG Apostasy of Israel. The harlot is often used as a symbol for those who have prostituted their covenants with God.—Madsen and Hopkin, Opening Isaiah: a Harmony, p 5 ^bOR justice.
22 Thy silver is become ^adross, thy wine mixed with water:	^a TG Apostasy of Israel.
23 Thy ^aprinces are rebellious, and companions of thieves: every one loveth ^bgifts, and followeth after rewards: they ^cjudge not the fatherless, neither doth the cause of the widow come unto them.	^a TG Kings, Earthly. ^b IE bribes; TG Bribe; Ezek. 22:12 In thee have they taken gifts to shed blood; thou hast taken usury and increase, and thou hast greedily gained of thy neighbours by extortion, and hast forgotten me, saith the Lord God. ^cHEB “do not do justice to.” TG Judgment.
24 Therefore saith the Lord, the LORD of hosts, the mighty One of Israel, Ah, I will ease me of mine ^aadversaries, and avenge me of mine enemies:	^aD&C 101:58 And inasmuch as they gather together against you, avenge me of mine enemies, that by and by I may come with the residue of mine house and possess the land.
25 ¶ And I will ^aturn my hand upon thee, and purely ^bpurge away thy dross, and take away all thy tin: .	^aHEB return; i.e., repeatedly chastise. ^bJer. 9:7 Therefore thus saith the Lord of hosts, Behold, I will melt them, and try them; for how shall I do for the daughter of my people? Mal. 3:3 And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the Lord an offering in righteousness.
26 And I will ^arestore thy judges as at the first, and thy ^bcounsellors as at the beginning: afterward thou shalt be called, The ^ccity of righteousness, the faithful city.	^a Jer. 33:7 And I will cause the captivity of Judah and the captivity of Israel to return, and will build them, as at the first. (see also verse 8). ^bTG Counselor. ^cTG Jerusalem.
27 ^aZion shall be redeemed with ^bjudgment, and her ^cconverts with righteousness	^a TG Zion. ^bHEB justice^cconverts
28 ¶ And the destruction of the transgressors and of the sinners ~~shall be~~ together, and they that forsake the LORD shall be consumed.
29 For they shall be ashamed of the ^aoaks which ye have desired, and ye shall be confounded for the gardens that ye have chosen.	^aIE terebinth trees and gardens used in idol worship.
30 For ye shall be as an oak whose leaf fadeth, and as a garden that hath no water.
31 And the strong shall be ^a as tow, and the maker of it as a spark, and they shall both ^bburn together, and none shall quench ~~them.~~	^aIE as a tuft of inflammable fibers. ^b^b Isa. 9:16 For the leaders of this people cause them to err; and they that are led of them are destroyed. (see also verses 16–21).

With the expanded footnotes and all, still feel like this is just not getting me anywhere anymore, maybe I need a new approach. I have an idea I will share in the next post.