Isaiah’s Astounding Prophecies

The book of Isaiah is miraculous. Although Isaiah lived seven centuries before Christ, through the Spirit he records details of the life, suffering, death, and even resurrection of Christ. Even critical scholars acknowledge that Isaiah lived long before Christ. The Isaiah Scroll found among the Dead Sea Scrolls dates to at least 100 BC.

Many of the passages below were used by New Testament authors to show how Isaiah’s prophecies are fulfilled in Christ. I understand that many may object to interpreting these passages as references to Jesus, but, instead of making this a technical post, I will simply let the passages stand as is.

A Vision of the Messiah in his Heavenly Glory

In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord, high and exalted, seated on a throne; and the train of his robe filled the temple. (6:1 NIV; cf. Jn 12:39-41)

A Prophecy about the Messiah’s Birth and Reign

Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel. (7:14-15; cf. Matt 1:22-23)

For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given,
and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Of the greatness of his government and peace
there will be no end.
He will reign on David’s throne
and over his kingdom,
establishing and upholding it
with justice and righteousness
from that time on and forever.
The zeal of the LORD Almighty
will accomplish this. (9:6-7; the first two verses of Isaiah 9 are quoted in Matt 4:15-16)

A Prophecy about the Voice in the Wilderness Preceding the Messiah’s Arrival

A voice of one calling:
“In the wilderness prepare
the way for the LORD;
make straight in the desert
a highway for our God. (40:3; Matt 3:3)

A Prophecy about the Messiah’s Ministry in Galilee

Nevertheless, there will be no more gloom for those who were in distress. In the past he humbled the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the future he will honor Galilee of the nations, by the Way of the Sea, beyond the Jordan—
The people walking in darkness
have seen a great light;
on those living in the land of deep darkness
a light has dawned. (9:1-2; cf. Matt 4:15-16)

A Prophecy about the Messiah’s Lineage from David

A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse;
from his roots a Branch will bear fruit. (11:1; Jesse was David’s father and David is mentioned several times in Jesus’ birth narratives in Matthew and Luke)

A Prophecy about the Messiah’s Spirit-Empowered Ministry to the Poor

The Spirit of the LORD will rest on him—
the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding,
the Spirit of counsel and of might,
the Spirit of the knowledge and fear of the LORD—
and he will delight in the fear of the LORD.
He will not judge by what he sees with his eyes,
or decide by what he hears with his ears;
but with righteousness he will judge the needy,
with justice he will give decisions for the poor of the earth.
He will strike the earth with the rod of his mouth;
with the breath of his lips he will slay the wicked.
Righteousness will be his belt
and faithfulness the sash around his waist. (11:1-5; cf. Matt 3:16-17)

The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me,
because the LORD has anointed me
to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim freedom for the captives
and release from darkness for the prisoners,
to proclaim the year of the LORD’s favor (61:1-2a; cf. Lk 4:18-19)

A Prophecy about the Messiah’s Humble Ministry

“Here is my servant, whom I uphold,
my chosen one in whom I delight;
I will put my Spirit on him,
and he will bring justice to the nations.
He will not shout or cry out,
or raise his voice in the streets.
A bruised reed he will not break,
and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out.
In faithfulness he will bring forth justice;
he will not falter or be discouraged
till he establishes justice on earth.
In his teaching the islands will put their hope.” (42:1-4; cf. Matt 12:18-21)

Prophecies about the Messiah’s Suffering

See, my servant will act wisely;
he will be raised and lifted up and highly exalted.
Just as there were many who were appalled at him—
his appearance was so disfigured beyond that of any human being
and his form marred beyond human likeness—
so he will sprinkle many nations,
and kings will shut their mouths because of him.
For what they were not told, they will see,
and what they have not heard, they will understand. (52:13-15; see passion narratives in Gospels)

He was despised and rejected by mankind,
a man of suffering, and familiar with pain.
Like one from whom people hide their faces
he was despised, and we held him in low esteem.
Surely he took up our pain
and bore our suffering,
yet we considered him punished by God,
stricken by him, and afflicted.
But he was pierced for our transgressions,
he was crushed for our iniquities;
the punishment that brought us peace was on him,
and by his wounds we are healed.
We all, like sheep, have gone astray,
each of us has turned to our own way;
and the LORD has laid on him
the iniquity of us all.
He was oppressed and afflicted,
yet he did not open his mouth;
he was led like a lamb to the slaughter,
and as a sheep before its shearers is silent,
so he did not open his mouth.
By oppression and judgment he was taken away.
Yet who of his generation protested?
For he was cut off from the land of the living;
for the transgression of my people he was punished.
He was assigned a grave with the wicked,
and with the rich in his death,
though he had done no violence,
nor was any deceit in his mouth.
Yet it was the LORD’s will to crush him and cause him to suffer,
and though the LORD makes his life an offering for sin,
he will see his offspring and prolong his days,
and the will of the LORD will prosper in his hand. (53:1-10; cf. Matt 8:17 and passion narratives)

A Prophecy about the Messiah’s Success after His Suffering and Death

After he has suffered,
he will see the light of life and be satisfied;
by his knowledge my righteous servant will justify many,
and he will bear their iniquities.
Therefore I will give him a portion among the great,
and he will divide the spoils with the strong,
because he poured out his life unto death,
and was numbered with the transgressors.
For he bore the sin of many,
and made intercession for the transgressors. (53:11-12; see Christ’s resurrection appearances in Gospels)

How? 

How did Isaiah see all of this? Peter writes:

Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet’s own interpretation of things. For prophecy never had its origin in the human will, but prophets, though human, spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit. (2 Pet 1:20-21)

Les Bridgeman

After graduating from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, I served as a high school Bible teacher in Asia. I enjoy traveling, writing, and playing the drums. My latest book focuses on Paul’s work as a tentmaker and what it means for today.