Isaiah 38:4 — Word Study
WLCוַֽיְהִי֙ דְּבַר־ יְהוָ֔ה אֶֽל־ יְשַׁעְיָ֖הוּ לֵאמֹֽר׃
BSAAnd the worddâbâr [message from God, divine communication] of the LORDYᵉhôvâh [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] camehâyâh▸ [existed, came into being] toʼêl IsaiahYᵉshaʻyâh [Jeshaiah, Jehovah has saved] sayingʼâmar [to speak, to command, to proclaim]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| וַֽיְהִי֙ | and it came | Verb, Qal, sequential imperfect third person masculine singular |
| דְּבַר־ | [the] word of | Noun common, masculine singular construct |
| יְהוָ֔ה | Yahweh | Noun proper |
| אֶֽל־ | to | Preposition |
| יְשַׁעְיָ֖הוּ | Isaiah | Noun proper masculine |
| לֵאמֹֽר׃ | saying | Preposition, verb qal infinitive construct common |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | And the word of the LORD came to Isaiah, saying, |
| KJV | ¶ Then came the word of the LORD to Isaiah, saying, |
| ASV | Then came the word of Jehovah to Isaiah, saying, |
| YLT | And a word of Jehovah is unto Isaiah, saying, |
| WEB | Then Yahweh’s word came to Isaiah, saying, |
| BBE | Then the word of the Lord came to Isaiah, saying, |
The translations agree on the phrase דְּבַר־ — see How Translations Differ.
The main clause presents the action of God's word coming to Isaiah, followed by a subordinate clause indicating the content of that communication.





6 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Trapp, Cambridge & more — read them ›
clause
verbהָיָה
The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
Every word here is used elsewhere in the Old Testament.
Bars are logarithmic — אֵת, the commonest word in the Hebrew Bible, stands about 11,000 times, so a linear scale would leave everything else invisible. Click a row to open that word.
Deep Study — Isaiah 38:4
Sections marked generated are written from the data on this page rather than by a named author. Everything else — the lexicon entries, the cross references, the manuscript readings, the counts — is quoted from its source unchanged.
Context — God's Message to Isaiahgenerated
Isaiah 38:4 captures a moment when the LORD communicates directly with Isaiah, providing a divine message in response to King Hezekiah's plea for remembrance and mercy. This verse emphasizes the relationship between God and His prophets, showing how God engages with His people through His chosen messengers. The surrounding verses detail the context of Hezekiah's prayer and God's assurance of healing and protection, highlighting the significance of divine communication in times of distress.
Cross References
The Key Word — דְּבַר־, de.var-generated
The Hebrew word דָּבָר (dabar) means 'word' or 'speech' and encompasses a range of meanings including discourse, saying, and matter. It is often used to denote a message or command from God, reflecting the importance of divine communication in the Hebrew Bible.
In this verse, דְּבַר־ signifies the message that God is delivering to Isaiah, indicating that it is not merely a casual conversation but a significant proclamation that carries divine authority.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
In the Berean Standard Bible, the phrase is rendered as the word of the LORD, which is consistent across other translations such as the KJV and ASV.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The main verb in this verse is וַֽיְהִי֙, vay.Hi, which governs the entire clause. The structure indicates that the word of the LORD came into being, followed by the prepositional phrase indicating the recipient, Isaiah, and the infinitive phrase that describes the action of speaking.
The sentence structure is straightforward, with the emphasis on the divine communication as the central action, illustrating how God initiates the dialogue with His prophet.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
The Septuagint translates דְּבַר־ as λόγος, which also means 'word' or 'message'. This choice aligns with the Hebrew meaning, emphasizing the significance of God's spoken word.
The use of λόγος in the Septuagint reflects a consistent understanding of divine communication, reinforcing the authority and weight of the message delivered to Isaiah.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Isaiah 38:4 tells us that the word of the LORD came to the prophet Isaiah, conveying a message from God. This moment is part of a larger narrative where God responds to King Hezekiah's heartfelt prayer, showing the importance of divine communication in guiding and comforting His people.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
It signifies that God is directly communicating a message or command to His prophet, Isaiah, indicating the importance of prophetic revelation.
Yahweh is the covenant name of God, emphasizing His relationship with Israel and His commitment to fulfill His promises.
This verse is part of a larger story where King Hezekiah seeks God's mercy, and God's word through Isaiah assures him of healing and extended life.
Prophets serve as intermediaries between God and His people, delivering messages of guidance, warning, and comfort as directed by God.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- How can I be more attentive to the ways God communicates with me today?
- In what areas of my life do I need to seek God's guidance and listen for His word?
- What does it mean to me personally that God speaks through His prophets?
- How can I apply the lessons from Isaiah's experience in my own prayers and communication with God?
The early church on this verse — how the Fathers read it
The early Church Father Jerome references this verse in his writings, highlighting the significance of God's message to Isaiah and its implications for understanding divine communication.
And the word of the Lord came to Isaiah, saying: Go and tell Hezekiah: Thus says the Lord God of David, your father: I have heard your prayer, I have seen your tears.Early Church Fathers on Isaiah 38 →
Commentators on this verse — 6 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Isaiah 38:4 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleThen came the word of the Lord to Isaiah,.... Before he had got out into the middle court, 2 Kings 20:4: saying, as follows:
Read John Gill on Isaiah 38 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryThen came the word of the LORD to Isaiah, saying, Then came the word of the Lord to Isaiah.
Read Robert Jamieson on Isaiah 38 →
John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New TestamentsIsaiah 38:4 Then came the word of the LORD to Isaiah, saying, Ver. 4. See 2 Kings 20:4
Read John Trapp on Isaiah 38 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges4. In 2 Kings 20:4 we read that “afore Isaiah was gone out into the middle court,” this message came to him. So quickly was the king’s prayer answered. A somewhat similar instance of the revocation of one prophetic communication by another is that of Nathan in the matter of the building of the Temple (2 Samuel 7:3-4 ff.).
Read Cambridge on Isaiah 38 →
Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the BibleThen came the word of the Lord - In the parallel place in 2 Kings 20:4, it is said, ‘And it came to pass, afore Isaiah was gone out into the middle court, that the word of the Lord came unto him.’
Read Albert Barnes on Isaiah 38 →
Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible4, 5. Go… say to Hezekiah — Isaiah lives in holy communion with God.
Read Daniel Denison Whedon on Isaiah 38 →The verse in English, compared — 17 translations, and where they part company
Every translation on this page is a decision someone had to make and commit to. Read down a column and you see one translator's judgement; read across a row and you see the range the Greek actually allows. The BSB is the wording the rest of this page is measured against, so it is listed first.
Modern formal
And the word of the LORD came to Isaiah, saying,
Then Yahweh’s word came to Isaiah, saying,
And the word of the LORD came to Isaiah, saying,
The Lord told Isaiah,
Tyndale line
¶ Then came the word of the LORD to Isaiah, saying,
Then came the word of Jehovah to Isaiah, saying,
Then came the word of the LORD to Isaiah, saying,
Then came the word of the LORD to Isaiah, saying,
Then came the worde of the Lord to Isaiah, saying,
Strictly literal
And the word of Jehovah came to Isaiah, saying,
And a word of Jehovah is unto Isaiah, saying,
And a word of YHWH is to Isaiah, saying,
Then came the word of the Lord to Isaiah, saying,
Then the word of Yahweh came to Isaiah, saying,
From the Latin
And the word of the Lord came to Isaias, saying:
Simplified
Then the Lord sent a message to Isaiah, saying,
Then the word of the Lord came to Isaiah, saying,
Counted from the translations carried on this site, not from a survey of every English Bible. A rendering shared by many versions is usually inherited rather than independently arrived at — the Tyndale line in particular runs through most of them.
The sentence as the grammar sees it — from the MACULA Hebrew treebank
This is not our own analysis: it is the scholarly syntax tree for the verse, showing how the clause actually holds together.
Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.
The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran
The Masoretic Text, the Septuagint, and the Dead Sea Scrolls all agree on the wording of this verse, with the Masoretic Text stating וַֽיְהִי֙ דְּבַר־ יְהוָ֔ה אֶֽל־ יְשַׁעְיָ֖הוּ לֵאמֹֽר׃. This agreement across different witnesses underscores the reliability of the text.
וַֽיְהִי֙ דְּבַר־ יְהוָ֔ה אֶֽל־ יְשַׁעְיָ֖הוּ לֵאמֹֽר׃
6 of the 6 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.
ויהי דבר יהוה אל ישעיה לאמור
6 words on the leather.
Four traditions, not one. “On the leather” means the letters physically survive on the scroll, as against letters an editor has supplied to fill a hole in it — a restoration is a scholar’s reading, not a reading of the manuscript. Words in [square brackets] are supplied; the notes count them apart from what survives.
The map of this verse — what each word keeps company with
This is a map of two things, both counted rather than judged. Company kept: which words stand within three words of each of these, anywhere in the Hebrew Bible — the thicker the line, the more often the pair meet compared with chance. Built from: the words a word is made out of, taken from its own Strong’s entry. It is not a map of meaning: nothing here claims two words mean the same thing. Click any circle to see the numbers behind it.
Lexicons — every word in Isaiah 38:4
One dossier per word, with every reference work grouped by kind — Hebrew lexicons, morphology, Bible dictionaries, topical chains and the English of the translators themselves. The verse sits at the head of each block with the word under study lit, so you never lose your place. The panel above gives the short answer; this is the long one, and it is the part of the page worth indexing.
Every entry below is the lexicographer's own text. On the Hebrew: Brown-Driver-Briggs entire and its gloss set, Strong's Hebrew Dictionary, and Tyndale House's Translators Brief lexicon. Where a cell says a work has no entry, that work genuinely has none for this word.
The Hebrew word הָיָה (hayah) is a primitive root meaning to exist or become, and it encompasses a range of meanings including to happen, occur, and come to pass. It is often used in narrative contexts, particularly in phrases like "and it came to pass." The word can also denote a state of being or existence, and it appears frequently in various forms throughout the Old Testament.
הָיָה 3570 vb. fall out, come to pass, become, be
Qal
Fall out, happen
occur, take place, come about, come to pass
esp. & very oft., come about, come to pass
וַיְהִי and it came to pass that, most often (c. 292 t.)
rarely also Pf. c. וְ conj. וְהָיָה
less oft. וְהָיָה Pf. consec. and it shall come to pass, or frequentat. came to pass (repeatedly, etc.)
Come into being, become
abs., in lively narrative, arise, appear, come
sq. prep.
become
sq. pred. noun (to be viewed as implicit accus.)
sq. pred. adj.
become like
sq. pred. לְ pers.
sq. לְ pred.
oft. c. לְ pred. לְ pers.
with עַל and לְ
sts. c. לְ pers. only = became the property of, come into the possession of
Be (often with subbordinate idea of becoming)
exist, be in existence
abide, remain, continue
with word of locality, be in or at a place, be situated, stand, lie
as copula, joining subj. & pred.
H1961 הָיָה fall out, come to pass, become, be .. . . Fall out, happen
. occur, take place, come about, come to pass
. esp. & very oft., come about, come to pass . . וַיְהִי and it came to pass that, most often (c. 292 t.)
. rarely also Pf. c. וְ conj. וְהָיָה
. less oft. וְהָיָה Pf. consec. and it shall come to pass, or frequentat. came to pass (repeatedly, etc.)
. Come into being, become . . abs., in lively narrative, arise, appear, come
. sq. prep.
. become . sq. pred. noun (to be viewed as implicit accus.)
. sq. pred. adj.
. become like
. sq. pred. + לְ pers.
. sq. לְ pred.
. oft. c. לְ pred. + לְ pers.
. with עַל and לְ
. sts. c. לְ pers. only = became the property of, come into the possession of
. Be (often with subbordinate idea of becoming) . exist, be in existence
. abide, remain, continue
1961 hayah haw-yaw
a primitive root (compare 1933); to exist, i.e. be or become,
come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or
auxiliary):--beacon, X altogether, be(-come), accomplished,
committed, like), break, cause, come (to pass), do, faint,
fall, + follow, happen, X have, last, pertain, quit
(one-)self, require, X use.
see HEBREW for 01933
הָיָה (ha.yah) — to be.
1) to be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out
1a) (Qal)
1a1) ---
1a1a) to happen, fall out, occur, take place, come about, come to pass
1a1b) to come about, come to pass
1a2) to come into being, become
1a2a) to arise, appear, come
1a2b) to become
1a2b1) to become
1a2b2) to become like
1a2b3) to be instituted, be established
1a3) to be
1a3a) to exist, be in existence
1a3b) to abide, remain, continue (with word of place or time)
1a3c) to stand, lie, be in, be at, be situated (with word of locality)
1a3d) to accompany, be with
1b) (Niphal)
1b1) to occur, come to pass, be done, be brought about
1b2) to be done, be finished, be gone
Conj | V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3ms — Verb · Qal · sequential imperfect third person masculine singularHc/Vqw3ms
דָּבָר (dabar) means 'word' or 'speech' and encompasses a range of meanings including discourse, saying, and matter. It can refer to anything spoken or a topic of discussion, extending to concepts like business or affairs. The entries consistently highlight its use in various contexts, but do not indicate any significant disagreement among lexicographers.
דָּבָר 1439 n.m. speech, word
sg. speech, discourse, saying, word, as the sum of that which is spoken
sg. saying, utterance, sentence, as a section of a discourse
sg. a word, words
sg. matter, affair, thing about which one speaks
base
H1697 דָּבָר speech, word . sg. speech, discourse, saying, word, as the sum of that which is spoken
. sg. saying, utterance, sentence, as a section of a discourse
. sg. a word, words
. sg. matter, affair, thing about which one speaks
1697 dabar daw-baw'
from 1696; a word; by implication, a matter (as spoken of) or
thing; adverbially, a cause:--act, advice, affair, answer, X
any such (thing), because of, book, business, care, case,
cause, certain rate, + chronicles, commandment, X
commune(-ication), + concern(-ing), + confer, counsel, +
dearth, decree, deed, X disease, due, duty, effect, +
eloquent, errand, (evil favoured-)ness, + glory, + harm, hurt,
+ iniquity, + judgment, language, + lying, manner, matter,
message, (no) thing, oracle, X ought, X parts, + pertaining, +
please, portion, + power, promise, provision, purpose,
question, rate, reason, report, request, X (as hast) said,
sake, saying, sentence, + sign, + so, some (uncleanness),
somewhat to say, + song, speech, X spoken, talk, task, + that,
X there done, thing (concerning), thought, + thus, tidings,
what(-soever), + wherewith, which, word, work.
see HEBREW for 01696
דָּבָר (da.var) — word.
: word/speech/command
1) speech, word, speaking, thing
1a) speech
1b) saying, utterance
1c) word, words
1d) business, occupation, acts, matter, case, something, manner (by extension)
דָּבָר (da.var) — word: speaking.
: speaking
1) speech, word, speaking, thing
1a) speech
1b) saying, utterance
1c) word, words
1d) business, occupation, acts, matter, case, something, manner (by extension)
דָּבָר (da.var) — word: thing.
: thing/matter
1) speech, word, speaking, thing
1a) speech
1b) saying, utterance
1c) word, words
1d) business, occupation, acts, matter, case, something, manner (by extension)
דָּבָר (da.var) — word: promised.
: promised/duty
1) speech, word, speaking, thing
1a) speech
1b) saying, utterance
1c) word, words
1d) business, occupation, acts, matter, case, something, manner (by extension)
דָּבָר (da.var) — word: deed.
: deed
N-ms — Noun common · masculine singular constructHNcmsc
ov:
(1) In Anglo-Saxon, had the meaning "from," "away from" (as the strengthened form "off" has still), and was not used for genitive or possessive relations, these being expressed by special case-forms. In the Norman period, however, "of" was taken to represent the French de (a use well developed by the time of Chaucer), and in the Elizabethan period both senses of "of" were in common use. But after about 1600 the later force of the word became predominant, and in the earlier sense (which is now practically obsolete) it was replaced by other prepositions. In consequence the King James Version (and in some cases the Revised Version (British and American)) contains many uses of "of" that are no longer familiar--most of them, to be sure, causing no difficulty, but there still being a few responsible for real obscurities.
OF, preposition ov. [Gr.]
1. From or out of; proceeding from, as the cause, source, means, author or agent bestowing.
I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered to you. 1 Corinthians 11:1.
For it was of the Lord to harden their hearts. Joshua 11:1.
It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed.
Lamentations 3:1.
The whole disposing thereof is of the Lord. Proverbs 16:1.
Go, inquire of the Lord for me. 2 Chronicles 34:2.
That holy thing that shall be born of thee. Luke 1:1.
Hence of is the sign of the genitive case, the case that denotes production; as the son of man, the son proceeding from man, produced from man. This is the primary sense, although we now say, produced by man. 'Part of these were slain; ' that is, a number separate, for part denotes a division; the sense then is, a number from or out of the whole were slain. So also, 'some of these were slain; ' that is…
יְהֹוָה (ye.ho.vah) is the proper name of the God of Israel, often rendered as Jehovah or the Lord. It signifies the self-existent or eternal nature of God. The name is closely associated with the revelation to Moses in Exodus 3:12-15 and is used in conjunction with other terms to denote sacred places. Some scholars suggest it derives from a root meaning 'to bring into being.'
יהוה c. 6823 i.e. יַהְוֶה n.pr.dei Yahweh, the proper name of the God of Israel—(1. MT יְהֹוָה 6518 (Qr אֲדֹנָי), or יֱהֹוִה 305 (Qr אֱלֹהִים) 2. Many recent scholars explain יַהְוֶה as Hiph. of הוה (= היה) the one bringing into being, life-giver)
יהוה is not used by E in Gn, but is given Ex 3:12-15 as the name of the God who revealed Himself to Moses at Horeb
יהוה is used with אלהים and suffixes, especially in D
the phrase † אֲנִי יהוה is noteworthy
יהוה is also used with several predicates, to form sacred names of holy places of Yahweh
base
H3068 יהוה i.e. יַהְוֶה n. pr. dei Yahweh, the proper name of the God of Israel
3068 Yhovah yeh-ho-vaw'
from 1961; (the) self-Existent or Eternal; Jehovah, Jewish
national name of God:--Jehovah, the Lord. Compare 3050, 3069.
see HEBREW for 01961
see HEBREW for 03050
see HEBREW for 03069
יְהֹוָה (ye.ho.vah) — LORD.
Jehovah = "the existing One"
1) the proper name of the one true God
1a) unpronounced except with the vowel pointings of a.do.na (אֲדֹנָי "Lord" H0136)
יְהֹוָה (ye.ho.vah) — The Lord.
Another name of ye.ru.sha.laim (יְרוּשָׁלִַ֫ם, יְרוּשְׁלֵם "Jerusalem" H3389)
יְהֹוָה (ye.ho.vah) — (Jerusalem of) the Lord.
Combined with ye.ru.sha.laim (יְרוּשָׁלִַ֫ם, יְרוּשְׁלֵם "Jerusalem" H3389)
N-proper — Noun properHNpt
The Hebrew word אֶל (el) is primarily a preposition indicating motion towards or direction to a person or place. It can also imply entering a limit, presence at a location, or a hostile direction (against). Additionally, it may express concepts such as concerning, in addition to, or according to. The entries highlight its versatility in both physical and metaphorical contexts.
אֶל (nearly always followed by Makkeph),
prep. denoting motion to or direction towards (whether physical or mental).of motion to or unto a person or place
Where the limit is actually entered, into
Of direction towards anything
Where the motion or direction implied appears from the context to be of a hostile character, אֶל = against
Unto sometimes acquires from the context the sense of in addition to
Metaph. in regard to, concerning, on account of
Of rule or standard according to (rare)
Expressing presence at a spot, against, at, by, not merely after verbs implying motion
Prefixed to other preps. it combines with them the idea of motion or direction to
base
H413 אֶל (nearly always followed by Makkeph), . of motion to or unto a person or place
. Where the limit is actually entered, into
. Of direction towards anything
. Where the motion or direction implied appears from the context to be of a hostile character, אֶל = against
. Unto sometimes acquires from the context the sense of in addition to
. Metaph. in regard to, concerning, on account of
. Of rule or standard according to (rare)
. Expressing presence at a spot, against, at, by, not merely after verbs implying motion
. Prefixed to other preps. it combines with them the idea of motion or direction to
413 'el ale
(but only used in the shortened constructive form sel {el});
a primitive particle; properly, denoting motion towards, but
occasionally used of a quiescent position, i.e. near, with or
among; often in general, to:--about, according to ,after,
against, among, as for, at, because(-fore, -side), both...and,
by, concerning, for, from, X hath, in(- to), near, (out) of,
over, through, to(-ward), under, unto, upon, whether,
with(-in).
אֶל (el) — to(wards).
1) to, toward, unto (of motion)
2) into (limit is actually entered)
2a) in among
3) toward (of direction, not necessarily physical motion)
4) against (motion or direction of a hostile character)
5) in addition to, to
6) concerning, in regard to, in reference to, on account of
7) according to (rule or standard)
8) at, by, against (of one's presence)
9) in between, in within, to within, unto (idea of motion to)
Prep — PrepositionHR
The Hebrew word יְשַׁעְיָ֫הוּ (*Ysha'yah*) means 'salvation of Yah' and refers primarily to Isaiah, the prophet, son of Amoz. It also denotes several other individuals, including Levites and descendants of Zerubbabel, who lived during the time of the Divided Monarchy. The name emphasizes the theme of divine salvation.
יְשַׁעְיָ֫הוּ n.pr.m. (salvation of Yah)
Isaiah, son of ’Amôṣ, the prophet
one of the children of Jeduthun
a Levite ancestor of one of David's treasurers
base
יְשַׁעְיָה n.pr.m. (salvation of Yah)
grandson of Zerubbabel
chief of the sons of Elam, who went up with Ezra
chief of sons of Merari in time of Ezra
a Benjamite
base
H3470a יְשַׁעְיָ֫הוּ(salvation of Yah) . Isaiah, son of ’Amôṣ, the prophet
. one of the children of Jeduthun
. a Levite ancestor of one of David's treasurers
H3470b יְשַׁעְיָה(salvation of Yah) . grandson of Zerubbabel
. chief of the sons of Elam, who went up with Ezra
. chief of sons of Merari in time of Ezra
. a Benjamite
3470 Ysha`yah yesh-ah-yaw'
or Yshayahuw {yesh-ah-yaw'-hoo}; from 3467 and 3050; Jah has
saved; Jeshajah, the name of seven Israelites:--Isaiah,
Jesaiah, Jeshaiah.
see HEBREW for 03467
see HEBREW for 03050
יְשַׁעְיָ֫הוּ (ye.sha.yah) — Isaiah.
A prophet living at the time of Divided Monarchy, first mentioned at 2Ki.19.2;
son of: Amoz (H0531);
father of: Shear-jashub (H7610), Maher-shalal-hash-baz (H4122)
Also named: Hēsaias (Ἡσαΐας "Isaiah" G2268)
§ Isaiah or Jesaiah or Jeshaiah = "Jehovah has saved"
1) the major prophet, son of Amoz, who prophesied concerning Judah and Jerusalem during the days of kings Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah of Judah; author of the prophetic book by his name; tradition has it that he was sawn asunder in the trunk of a carob tree by king Manasseh and that this is the incident referred to in Heb 11:37
2) one of the 6 sons of Jeduthun
3) son of Rehabiah, a descendant of Moses through Gershom, and an ancestor of a Levite treasurer in the time of David
N-proper — Noun proper masculineHNpm
i-za'-ya, i-zi'-a:
1. Name
2. Personal History
3. Call
4. Literary Genius and Style
5. Traditions concerning His Martyrdom
6. Period
7. Analysis and Contents
8. Isaiah's Prophecies Chronologically Arranged
9. The Critical Problem
(1) The History of Criticism
(2) The Disintegration of "Deutero-Isaiah"
(3) Recent Views
(4) The Present State of the Question
(5) Reasons for Dissecting the Book
(6) Arguments for One Isaiah
(a) The Circle of Ideas
(b) The Literary Style
(c) Historical References
(d) The Predictire Element
(e) Cyrus a Subject of Prediction
LITERATURE
Of all Israel's celebrated prophets, Isaiah is the king. The writings which bear his name are among the profoundest in all literature. One great theme--salvation by faith--stamps them all. Isaiah is the Paul of the Old Testament.
1. Name:
Isaiah
(Heb. Yesh’yahu, i.e., “the salvation of Jehovah”). (1.) The son of Amoz (Isa. 1:1; 2:1), who was apparently a man of humble rank. His wife was called “the prophetess” (8:3), either because she was endowed with the prophetic gift, like Deborah (Judg. 4:4) and Huldah (2 Kings 22:14-20), or simply because she was the wife of “the prophet” (Isa. 38:1). He had two sons, who bore symbolical names.
He exercised the functions of his office during the reigns of Uzziah (or Azariah), Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah (1:1). Uzziah reigned fifty-two years (B.C. 810-759), and Isaiah must have begun his career a few years before Uzziah’s death, probably B.C. 762. He lived till…
the prophet, son of Amoz. The Hebrew name signifies Salvation of Jahu (a shortened form of Jehovah), He prophesied concerning Judah and Jerusalem in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz and Hezekiah, kings of Judah, (Isaiah 1:1) covering probably 758 to 698 B.C. He was married and had two sons. Rabbinical tradition says that Isaiah, when 90 years old, was sawn asunder in the trunk of a carob tree by order of Manasseh, to which it is supposed that reference is made in (Hebrews 11:37)
The son of Amoz, (not Amos,) one of the most distinguished of the Hebrew prophets. He began to prophesy at Jerusalem towards the close of the reign of Uzziah, about the year 759 B. C., and exercised the prophetical office some sixty years, under the three following monarchs, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, Isa 1:1. Compare 2Ki 15:1-20:21 2Ch 26:1-32:33. The first twelve chapters of his prophecies refer to the kingdom of Judah; then Isa 13:1-23:18, directed against foreign nations, except Isa 22:1-23, against Jerusalem. In Isa 24:1-35:10, which would seem to belong to the…
אָמַר (amar) is a Hebrew verb meaning 'to say' or 'to utter,' with a broad range of uses including to promise, command, or even boast. It appears in various forms, such as in the Qal (to say), Niphal (to be told), and Hiphil (to avow). The entries highlight its versatility in both spoken and internal contexts, though no specific verse is noted.
אָמַר 5287 vb. utter, say
Qal
Say
Say in the heart (= think)
Promise
Command (esp. late)
Niph. be said, told
Hiph. avow, avouch (lit. cause to declare)
Hithp. act proudly, boast
base
H559 אָמַר utter, say .. Say
. Say in the heart (= think)
. Promise
. Command (esp. late)
. be said, told
. avow, avouch (lit. cause to declare)
. act proudly, boast
559 'amar aw-mar'
a primitive root; to say (used with great
latitude):--answer, appoint, avouch, bid, boast self, call,
certify, challenge, charge, + (at the, give) command(-ment),
commune, consider, declare, demand, X desire, determine, X
expressly, X indeed, X intend, name, X plainly, promise,
publish, report, require, say, speak (against, of), X still, X
suppose, talk, tell, term, X that is, X think, use (speech),
utter, X verily, X yet.
אָמַר (a.mar) — to say.
1) to say, speak, utter
1a) (Qal) to say, to answer, to say in one's heart, to think, to command, to promise, to intend
1b) (Niphal) to be told, to be said, to be called
1c) (Hithpael) to boast, to act proudly
1d) (Hiphil) to avow, to avouch
Aramaic equivalent: a.mar (אֲמַר "to say" H0560)
Prep | V-Qal-Inf-a — Preposition · verb qal infinitive construct commonHR/Vqcc
