![]() ![]() Nyman’s explanation of why this may be so is important: Isaiah 49:2–3may refer, therefore, to latter-day Israel. Commissioned by the Lord and placed under covenant to bless all nations with the gospel and its priesthood power (see Abraham 2:11), most of Israel refused even to live the teachings of the Lord. It is double-edged because it cuts regardless of the direction it is moved.īut ancient Israel did not spread the word of God as they might have done. In many places God’s message is likened to a sword with a keen edge (see Ephesians 6:17 Revelation 1:16 2:12 D&C 6:2 33:1). Her mouth was “like a sharp sword” ( v. 2) because she possessed the word of God to give to the nations. Moreover it is made clear that the person speaking in these verses, the “me” of Isaiah 49:1–2, was Israel herself. Nephi wrote that by his time “the more part of all the tribes” of Israel had been “scattered to and fro upon the isles of the sea” ( 1 Nephi 22:4). Those on the isles who are invited to hearken are the broken-off or scattered branches of the house of Israel. What was lost from the Bible is the statement that the scattering of Israel was a direct result of the wickedness of the religious leaders. Half of verse one is missing from the King James text. The entire chapter of Isaiah 49is quoted in 1 Nephi 21. ![]() “Thou Art My Servant, O Israel, in Whom I Will Be Glorified” Chapter 49 is of such importance that it ought to be studied diligently by every member of the Church.” ( “Great Are the Words of Isaiah,” pp. 173–74.) (17-5) Isaiah 49:1–3. Nephi interpreted the chapter as foretelling that the land of America would receive some of scattered Israel, while his brother Jacob applied it both to the Jews in Jerusalem and to the Gentiles. Nyman observed that “chapter 49 is one of the most important chapters in the whole book of Isaiah, because it also clearly foretells the mission of the Latter-day Saints and the destiny of the land of America in connection with the house of Israel. Thus the Lord’s purpose for revealing the future unto man is partly made clear: it is the solid proof that He is truly God, for no mute idol could possibly duplicate such a feat. This He had done, He said, lest the apostates should say, “Mine idol hath done them” ( v. 5), or “Behold, I knew them” ( v. 7), that is to say, “I already knew that.” The Lord then promised to defer His anger but utterly refused to give His glory to false gods or to suffer His name to be polluted (compare v. 11 with 1 Nephi 20:11). He had, He told them, “declared … things from the beginning,” that is, He spoke of them before their occurrence, and then “shewed them … suddenly” by bringing them to pass ( Isaiah 48:3). For this reason, the Lord elected to demonstrate His powers of omniscience. While these chosen people of the Lord have “come forth out of the waters of … baptism” ( 1 Nephi 20:1 compare Isaiah 48:1–2with 1 Nephi 20:1–2), “they do not stay themselves upon the … Lord” ( 1 Nephi 20:2). Isaiah 48:1–2describes Israel’s apostasy from God’s revealed ways. Carefully compare verses 1–2, 6–7, 11, 14, 16–17, and 22 in both versions to see the significant changes. It can be assumed that the Book of Mormon text is more correct than the King James Version because Nephi lived just a little more than one hundred years after Isaiah’s time and most likely possessed a purer text than the one the King James translators worked from. Every verse in the Book of Mormon reads differently from the way it reads in the King James text, and many of the differences are significant. ![]() Isaiah 48is the first chapter of Isaiah quoted in the Book of Mormon and is found there as 1 Nephi 20. (Individual-study students should complete all of this section.) Enrichment F will provide an overview of the historical setting of the prophet Isaiah’s ministry.Ĭomplete Points to Ponder as directed by your teacher. Refer to Enrichment E throughout your study of the book of Isaiah. Use Notes and Commentary below to help you as you read and study Isaiah 48–54. The Book of Mormon is, therefore, our greatest help in understanding this part of Isaiah’s written work. Six of the seven chapters, slightly changed in some instances, are found in the Book of Mormon the other chapter, chapter 52, is scattered throughout the sacred record. Isaiah 48–54includes some of Isaiah’s greatest work. He explained that he read Isaiah to his people so that he “might more fully persuade them to believe in the Lord their Redeemer” ( 1 Nephi 19:23). Small wonder, then, that Nephi, rather than always mentioning Isaiah by name, referred to him simply as “the prophet” (see 1 Nephi 19:24 22:1–2 2 Nephi 6:12, 14). Of the fifty-five chapters in his books, nineteen are from Isaiah, and he quoted parts of other chapters of Isaiah as well. ![]()
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