How to Read Isaiah

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In the eighth century B.C., about the time Homer was writing The lliad and The Odyssey, Isaiah wrote the book that bears his name. It is arguably the most eloquent book in the Old Testament, and you will likely recognize many verses and phrases.

Isaiah is full of profound insights into the nature of God and his plan for the earth. Due to its length and its peculiar organization, however, the book may seem hard to grasp.

Remember that Isaiah consists of a collection of many messages on various topics, pulled together into groupings. To understand Isaiah, it helps to think of “road markers” that set off the major groupings. Here is a summary of them:

Isaiah 1-12: Isaiah’s call and messages of warning to Judah during the prosperous days of the kingdom. (These came mostly in the reigns of Jotham and Ahaz.

Isaiah 13-23: Isaiah's messages to all the nations around Judah-including enemies and close allies.

Isaiah 24-35: A view of the earth’s future (24-27) and specific messages to the people of Judah as they faced Assyria’s imminent invasion.

Isaiah 36-39: An interlude telling of great crises faced by King Hezekiah. The focus of the book moves from Assyria to Babylon.

Isaiah 40-48: Prophesies addressed to a very different situation, 200 years into the future. Now Babylon, not Assyria, is the great enemy.

Isaiah 49-55: A word of hope about final deliverance through the “suffering servant.”

Isaiah 56-66: General warnings to Judah, and a view of the future.

People You'll Meet in Isaiah

  • Isaiah 
  • Cyrus

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