Isaiah 1:1

¶ The vision of Isaiah the son of Amoz, which he saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, [and] Hezekiah, kings of Judah.

The vision {H2377} of Isaiah {H3470} the son {H1121} of Amoz {H531}, which he saw {H2372} concerning Judah {H3063} and Jerusalem {H3389} in the days {H3117} of Uzziah {H5818}, Jotham {H3147}, Ahaz {H271}, and Hezekiah {H3169}, kings {H4428} of Judah {H3063}.

This is the vision of Yesha'yahu the son of Amotz, which he saw concerning Y'hudah and Yerushalayim during the days of 'Uziyahu, Yotam, Achaz and Y'chizkiyahu, kings of Y'hudah:

This is the vision concerning Judah and Jerusalem that Isaiah son of Amoz saw during the reigns of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah.

The vision of Isaiah the son of Amoz, which he saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem, in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah.

Commentary on Isaiah 1:1 KJV

Isaiah 1:1 serves as the foundational opening for one of the Bible's most significant prophetic books, immediately establishing the author, the source of his message, and the historical context of his ministry.

Context

This verse introduces the prophet Isaiah, whose ministry spanned several decades during a turbulent period for the ancient Kingdom of Judah. The mention of specific kings—Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah—provides a crucial historical anchor. These reigns cover a period from approximately 792 BC to 687 BC, during which Judah faced significant political and spiritual challenges, including the rise of the Assyrian Empire and internal moral decay. The prophecy is explicitly "concerning Judah and Jerusalem," indicating its primary focus on God's chosen people and their capital city, the center of their religious and national life.

Key Themes

  • Divine Revelation: The phrase "The vision of Isaiah" immediately signals that the content of this book is not merely human opinion or political analysis, but a direct communication from God. It emphasizes the supernatural origin and authority of Isaiah's message.
  • Prophetic Authority: Isaiah is presented as a divinely appointed messenger, "the son of Amoz," establishing his lineage and grounding his prophetic role within the community.
  • Historical Anchoring: By naming the kings, the verse firmly places Isaiah's prophecies within specific historical events and periods, underscoring their relevance to contemporary issues faced by Judah and Jerusalem. This also helps readers understand the specific sins, warnings, and promises that follow in the book.
  • Focus on Judah and Jerusalem: The primary audience and subject of the prophecy are clearly defined. Isaiah's burden is for the spiritual and national well-being of God's people, particularly as they strayed from His covenant, as further elaborated in Isaiah 1:4 and subsequent verses.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew word for "vision" here is chazon (חָזוֹן), which denotes more than just a dream or an ordinary sight. It signifies a divine revelation, an oracle, or a prophetic burden that the prophet "sees" in a spiritual sense, often involving direct communication from God. The name "Isaiah" itself, Yesha'yahu (יְשַׁעְיָהוּ), is profoundly significant, meaning "The Lord is salvation" or "Salvation of Yahweh." This meaning encapsulates the overarching message of his book, which, despite its strong warnings of judgment, ultimately points to God's plan of salvation and restoration for His people.

Practical Application

Isaiah 1:1 reminds us that God's word is always rooted in real history and addresses real-life situations. Just as Isaiah's message was relevant to the people of Judah in their specific time of moral decline and political instability, God's timeless truths continue to speak to contemporary societies and individuals. This verse encourages us to seek understanding of God's perspective on our own times, recognizing that His divine insight transcends human understanding and offers both warning and hope. It invites us to consider the source of truth and to heed the divine wisdom offered through His inspired word.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • 2 Chronicles 26:1

    ¶ Then all the people of Judah took Uzziah, who [was] sixteen years old, and made him king in the room of his father Amaziah.

  • 2 Chronicles 32:33

    And Hezekiah slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the chiefest of the sepulchres of the sons of David: and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem did him honour at his death. And Manasseh his son reigned in his stead.

  • 2 Kings 18:1

    ¶ Now it came to pass in the third year of Hoshea son of Elah king of Israel, [that] Hezekiah the son of Ahaz king of Judah began to reign.

  • 2 Kings 20:21

    And Hezekiah slept with his fathers: and Manasseh his son reigned in his stead.

  • Psalms 89:19

    ¶ Then thou spakest in vision to thy holy one, and saidst, I have laid help upon [one that is] mighty; I have exalted [one] chosen out of the people.

  • Numbers 24:16

    He hath said, which heard the words of God, and knew the knowledge of the most High, [which] saw the vision of the Almighty, falling [into a trance], but having his eyes open:

  • Isaiah 2:1

    ¶ The word that Isaiah the son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem.

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