Isaiah's Call and Consecration as a Prophet
Isaiah, whose name means "the salvation of the Lord" or "the salvation of Jahu," was a significant prophet in ancient Israel [2, 8, 14]. He prophesied concerning Judah and Jerusalem during the reigns of four kings: Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah [1, 2]. His ministry is estimated to have spanned from approximately 758 to 698 B.C., covering a period of over sixty years [2, 4].
The call and consecration of Isaiah to his prophetic office are vividly described in Isaiah chapter 6. While some scholars suggest that chapters 1-5 may have been delivered before this call, and chapter 6 serves as a literary introduction to subsequent prophecies, others view chapter 6 as Isaiah's original and formal commissioning [10, 13]. Matthew Henry suggests that Isaiah may have previously prophesied with a "virtual and tacit commission," and the vision in chapter 6 served as a solemn ordination, perhaps to re-energize him after experiencing limited success [10].
The vision begins in the year of King Uzziah's death, when Isaiah sees the Lord "sitting on a throne, high and lifted up; and the train of his robe filled the temple" (Isaiah 6:1). Seraphim attend the Lord, each with six wings, using two to cover their faces, two to cover their feet, and two for flying. They call out, "Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory!" (Isaiah 6:2-3). This powerful display causes the foundations of the thresholds to shake, and the temple fills with smoke [Isaiah 6:4].
Overwhelmed by this divine encounter, Isaiah exclaims, "Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts!" (Isaiah 6:5). In response, one of the seraphim flies to him, carrying a burning coal taken from the altar with tongs. The seraph touches Isaiah's mouth with the coal, declaring, "Behold, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away, and your sin atoned for" (Isaiah 6:6-7). This act symbolizes his purification and preparation for divine service.
Following this purification, Isaiah hears the voice of the Lord asking, "Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?" Isaiah responds, "Here I am! Send me" (Isaiah 6:8). John Calvin notes that this vision served to "ordain him anew as a prophet" and assure him of his calling, particularly because he was tasked with delivering a challenging message that would lead to the spiritual hardening of the Jewish people [11]. God's commission to Isaiah includes a difficult task: to speak to a people who will hear but not understand, see but not perceive, leading to their hearts becoming calloused, their ears dull, and their eyes blind (Isaiah 6:9-10). This message highlights the judicial hardening of Israel in response to their persistent disobedience.
Isaiah's ministry, as recorded in the book bearing his name, is rich with prophecies concerning both judgment and salvation. He prophesied extensively about the coming Messiah, including His virgin birth (Isaiah 7:14), His role as a light to the nations (Isaiah 42:6), and His ultimate success in His mission (Isaiah 48:15) [5, 7, 9]. The New Testament frequently cites Isaiah's prophecies, affirming their fulfillment in Jesus Christ [3, 6]. For instance, Matthew quotes Isaiah regarding Christ's ministry in Galilee [6].
Rabbinical tradition, though not explicitly stated in the biblical text, suggests that Isaiah met a martyr's death, being sawn asunder under the reign of Manasseh, a tradition some connect to Hebrews 11:37 [2]. Augustine of Hippo recognized Isaiah as one of the "greater prophets" whose writings contained both rebukes of wickedness and predictions of righteousness, particularly concerning Christ and the Church [12].
Sources
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: 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 ”
- Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Isaiah — 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)”
- Matthew “that it might be fulfilled which was spoken through Isaiah the prophet, saying, -- Matthew 12:17”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Isaiah, The Book of — Consists of prophecies delivered (Isa. 1) in the reign of Uzziah (1-5), (2) of Jotham (6), (3) Ahaz (7-14:28), (4) the first half of Hezekiah's reign (14:28-35), (5) the second half of Hezekiah's reign (36-66). Thus, counting from the fourth year before Uzziah's death (B.C. 762) to the last year of Hezekiah (B.C. 698), Isaiah's ministry extended over a period of sixty-four years. He may, however, have survived Hezekiah, and may have perished in the way indicated above. The book, as a whole, has been divided into three main parts: (1.) The first ”
- Isaiah “Isaiah 42:6 (NASB) — "I am the LORD, I have called You in righteousness, I will also hold You by the hand and watch over You, And I will appoint You as a covenant to the people, As a light to the nations,”
- Matthew “that it might be fulfilled which was spoken through Isaiah the prophet, saying, -- Matthew 4:14”
- Isaiah “Isaiah 48:15 (BSB) — I, even I, have spoken; yes, I have called him. I have brought him, and he will succeed in his mission.”
- Hitchcock's Bible Names “Hitchcock's Bible Names: Isaiah — the salvation of the Lord”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Prophecies Respecting Christ — As the Son of God -- Ps 2:7. Fulfilled. -- Lu 1:32,35. As the seed of the woman -- Ge 3:15. Fulfilled. -- Ga 4:4. As the seed of Abraham -- Ge 17:7; 22:18. Fulfilled. -- Ga 3:16. As the seed of Isaac -- Ge 21:12. Fulfilled. -- Heb 11:17-19. As the seed of David -- Ps 132:11; Jer 23:5. Fulfilled. -- Ac 13:23; Ro 1:3. His coming at a set time -- Ge 49:10; Da 9:24,25. Fulfilled. -- Lu 2:1. His being born a virgin -- Isa 7:14. Fulfilled. -- Mt 1:22,23; Lu 2:7. His being called Immanuel -- Isa 7:14. Fulfilled. -- Mt 1:22,23. His being born i”
- Isaiah (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Isaiah 6 (introduction): Hitherto, it should seem, Isaiah had prophesied as a candidate, having only a virtual and tacit commission; but here we have him (if I may so speak) solemnly ordained and set apart to the prophetic office by a more express or explicit commission, as his work grew more upon his hands: or perhaps, having seen little success of his ministry, he began to think of giving it up; and therefore God saw fit to renew his commission here in this chapter, in such a manner as might excite and encourage his zeal and industry in the execution of it, though he seemed ”
- CCEL (Reformed) “Calvin, Commentary on Isaiah, Vol. 1, section 12.17: as God’s representative. 8. Afterwards I heard the voice of the Lord. The Prophet now begins to discourse about the design of this vision, why God appeared to him with such glorious majesty, in order to ordain him anew as a prophet. It was because he was called to deliver an incredible message about blinding the Jews. On this revolting occasion, therefore, he is more fully assured of his calling, that he may lay aside fear and obey the command of God; for nothing gives greater confidence to pious minds than to know that they obey God. He had”
- Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “NPNF1 Vol 2: Augustine — City of God, Christian Doctrine — CHAP. 29.--WHAT THINGS ARE PREDICTED BY ISAIAH CONCERNING CHRIST AND THE CHURCH.: The prophecy of Isaiah is not in the book of the twelve prophets, who are called the minor from the brevity of their writings, as compared with those who are called the greater prophets because they published larger volumes. Isaiah belongs to the latter, yet I connect him with the two above named, because he prophesied at the same time. Isaiah, then, together with his rebukes of wickedness, precepts of righteousness, and predictions of evil, also prophesi”
- Isaiah (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Isaiah 6:1: 6:1-13 Isaiah’s marvelous vision of God as King on his throne served as a pivotal event in the life of the prophet. The historical circumstances surrounding this event can be interpreted in two ways: (1) Some see ch 6 as Isaiah’s original call to ministry, meaning that chs 1–5 and 7–12 fit into the reign of Ahaz, who came to rule after the death of Uzziah (6:1). If this were so, why was Isaiah’s call not at the beginning of the book? Perhaps his call was put in ch 6 for literary reasons, serving as a conclusion to chs 1–5 and an introduction to chs 7–12. The prophe”
- Isaiah (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Isaiah 1:1: Here is, I. The name of the prophet, Isaiah, or Jesahiahu (for so it is in the Hebrew), which, in the New Testament is read Esaias. His name signifies the salvation of the Lord - a proper name for a prophet by whom God gives knowledge of salvation to his people, especially for this prophet, who prophesies so much of Jesus the Saviour and of the great salvation wrought out by him. He is said to be the son of Amoz, not Amos the prophet (the two names in the Hebrew differ more than in the English), but, as the Jews think, of Amoz the brother, or son, of Amaziah king o”