Isaiah the Prophet

Isaiah, whose name means “Salvation of the Lord,” stands as one of the greatest prophets of the Old Testament. His prophecies about the coming Messiah are so detailed and clear that he is often called the “Fifth Evangelist.” His book contains some of the most beautiful and profound passages in all of Scripture.

Isaiah prophesied during the reigns of Kings Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah of Judah (approximately 740-681 BC). He was called to his prophetic ministry through a dramatic vision in the Temple, where he saw the Lord seated on a throne, high and lifted up, surrounded by seraphim crying “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts.”

Overwhelmed by God’s holiness and his own sinfulness, Isaiah cried out, “Woe is me, for I am undone! Because I am a man of unclean lips.” A seraph touched his lips with a coal from the altar, purifying him, and God asked, “Whom shall I send?” Isaiah responded, “Here am I! Send me.”

Isaiah’s prophecies addressed both the immediate crises facing Judah and the distant future of God’s redemptive plan. He warned of coming judgment for sin and idolatry, but also proclaimed hope and restoration. His messages combined calls to repentance with promises of God’s faithfulness to His covenant.

The prophet’s Messianic prophecies are remarkably specific. He foretold that the Messiah would be born of a virgin (7:14), would be called “Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace” (9:6), and would establish an everlasting kingdom. He described the Suffering Servant who would bear our griefs and carry our sorrows, be wounded for our transgressions, and by whose stripes we would be healed (chapter 53).

Isaiah prophesied during times of great political turmoil, when Assyria threatened Judah. He counseled King Hezekiah to trust in God rather than foreign alliances. When the Assyrian army besieged Jerusalem, Isaiah assured Hezekiah that God would deliver the city, and indeed, an angel of the Lord struck down 185,000 Assyrian soldiers in one night.

The prophet’s vision extended beyond Israel to encompass all nations. He foresaw a time when peoples from all nations would stream to the mountain of the Lord’s house, when swords would be beaten into plowshares, and when the knowledge of the Lord would cover the earth as the waters cover the sea.

According to tradition, Isaiah was martyred during the reign of the wicked King Manasseh, sawn in two inside a hollow tree. The Epistle to the Hebrews may refer to this when it speaks of those who “were sawn in two” (11:37).

The Orthodox Church reads extensively from Isaiah during Great Lent and Holy Week, recognizing how perfectly his prophecies describe Christ’s passion and resurrection. His words “He was led as a sheep to the slaughter” are sung during the Divine Liturgy, connecting the Old Testament prophecy directly to Christ’s sacrifice.

Isaiah’s message remains powerfully relevant: God is holy and demands righteousness, yet He is also merciful and provides salvation. Through faith in the promised Messiah, all people can find forgiveness and restoration. The prophet’s vision of universal peace and knowledge of God continues to inspire hope for God’s ultimate victory over sin and death.