NOTES ON ISAIAH

Isaiah 2:9b-11 These verses are supposed to be later additions since they are in the standard Hebrew 

text but not in the Isaiah scroll at Qumran.

Is. 2:22 The scribe of the Qumran Isaiah scroll has appended these words after this verse: “Oh, cease to 

glorify man, who has only a breath in his nostrils. For by what does he merit esteem?”

Isaiah 3:18-21 A 1970's excavation of the Ketef Hinnom tomb area uncovered over 100 pieces of 

jewelry of the types mentioned here.

Isaiah 5:2 Field towers were rare but have been found by archeologists. Their exact use is not entirely 

known but may have provided defense against predators during harvest season, shade for workers, and 

a temporary storage place for juice. See Matthew 21:33 and Mark 12:1.

Is. 5:7 In the Hebrew, the words for justice, righteousness, and outcry sound similar.

Isaiah 6:2-7 See Genesis 3:1.

Is. 6:3 Moses is called the drawer of his people. This is a pun on Moses' name, which means "to draw"

(see Exodus 2:10).

Isaiah 22:16-17 In 1870, a partially destroyed tomb meeting this description was excavated by a 

French archeologist. The inscription was illegible but deciphered in 1953: “This is [the sepulcher of --] 

-yahu who is over the house. There is no silver and gold here but [his bones] and the bones of his slave-

wife with him. Cursed be the man who will open this.” Two bullae (impressions in clay), one found at 

Lachish and one which surfaced on the antiquities market in 2007, have been deciphered as 

“Shebnayahu, [serv]ant of the king.”

Isaiah 34:14 Lilith was a mythical figure known throughout the Near East. She flew at night, seduced 

men and killed pregnant women and babies. Hebrew myths treated her as Adam's first wife.

Isaiah 36-39 A Biblical Archaeology Today article reported that bullae for Hezekiah and Isaiah have 

been found together.

Isaiah 40:7 This verse is missing in both the Greek Septuagint and the Dead Sea scroll of Isaiah.

Isaiah 45:1 Terms in this chapter applied to the anointed one (Messiah) include man of God's choice, 

redemptive purpose, judgment on foes, and dominion over nations. The real agent is Yahweh.

Isaiah 49:15 appears to foretell Christ's crucifixion.

Isaiah 65:17-19  See Rev. 21:1-3.