Isaiah 1:1 NIV

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 1:1

The vision - The first verse evidently is a title, but whether to the whole book or only to a part of it has been questioned. As it stands here, however, it seems clearly intended to include the entire book, because it embraces all that was seen during the reigns of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah; that is, during the whole prophetic life of the prophet. The same title is also given to his prophecies in 2 Chronicles 32:32 : ‘Now the rest of the acts of Hezekiah, and his goodness, behold they... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Isaiah 1:1

Isaiah 1:1. The vision of Isaiah “It seems doubtful,” says Bishop Lowth, “whether this title belongs to the whole book, or only to the prophecy contained in this chapter. The former part of the title seems properly to belong to this particular prophecy: the latter part, which enumerates the kings of Judah, under whom Isaiah exercised his prophetical office, seems to appropriate it to the whole collection of prophecies delivered in the course of his ministry. Vitringa, to whom the world is... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Isaiah 1:1-9

1:1-6:13JUDAH AN UNCLEAN PEOPLEGod judges Judah (1:1-9)The opening chapter introduces most of the main issues that the prophet is to deal with, and therefore is a summary of the overall message of the book. The scene is one of judgment. God is the judge, his people the accused, heaven and earth the witnesses. The charge is that Judah has rebelled against God. Even animals are grateful for what their masters do for them, but the people of Judah show no gratitude to their heavenly Father... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Isaiah 1:1

The vision of Isaiah. This is the title of the whole book. he saw = he saw in vision. Hebrew. chaza , to gaze on, as in Isaiah 2:1 ; Isaiah 13:1 . Not the same word as in Isaiah 6:1 , Isaiah 6:6 ; Isaiah 21:6 , Isaiah 21:7 ; but Jehovah was the speaker. Isaiah's voice and pen, but Jehovah's words (Isaiah 1:2 ). concerning Judah and Jerusalem. This is the subject of the book. It is not concerning the or the: nor to other nations, except as they come in contact with "Judah and Jerusalem". Its... read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Isaiah 1:1

DIVISION I (Isaiah 1-12)This division has prophecies concerning Judah and Jerusalem, closing with promises of restoration and a psalm of thanksgiving.This chapter has the title for the whole prophecy (Isaiah 1:1), God's complaint against Israel (Isaiah 1:2-9), the statement that Israel has no excuse (Isaiah 1:10-15), a summary of God's requirements (Isaiah 1:16-20), the prophet's lament over Jerusalem (Isaiah 1:21-23), and a declaration of God's judgment upon the apostate people (Isaiah... read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Isaiah 1:1

Isaiah 1:1. The vision of Isaiah, &c.— I divide the book of Isaiah, says Vitringa, into the title prefixed to the book, and the matter contained in it. The matter is twofold, prophetical and historical, which are interwoven together. The prophetical is divided into five parts; the first of which, from the 1st chapter to the 13th contains five prophetic sermons or harangues, immediately directed to the Jews, and also to the Ephraimites; whom the prophet variously reproves, exhorts, and... read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 1:1

1. THE GENERAL TITLE OR PROGRAM applying to the entire book: this discountenances the Talmud tradition, that he was sawn asunder by Manasseh. Isaiah—equivalent to "The Lord shall save"; significant of the subject of his prophecies. On "vision," see 1 Samuel 9:9; Numbers 12:6; and see my Numbers 12:6- : Judah and Jerusalem—Other nations also are the subjects of his prophecies; but only in their relation to the Jews (Numbers 12:6- :); so also the ten tribes of Israel are introduced only in the... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Isaiah 1:1

1. The title of the book 1:1The book claims Isaiah as its author. His name summarizes the revelation of the book, namely, that it is Yahweh who saves. Obadiah was the only other writing prophet who described his book as a vision. This unusual title stresses that what Isaiah wrote reflects reality accurately; he saw it. This word does not mean that everything that Isaiah wrote is what he saw in one or more visions. Though unstated, this vision (the prophecies that constitute this book) came from... read more

John Dummelow

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - Isaiah 1:1-31

Jehovah’s Arraignment of His PeopleThis chapter is general in character, and much of it (e.g. Isaiah 1:10-17) might refer to almost any period. This general character of the prophecy renders it especially suitable as an introduction, and may account for its position at the beginning of the book. It gives us a picture of the internal condition of Judah in Isaiah’s age, and not only brings out his characteristic teaching, but more than any other OT. passage indicates the general line of prophetic... read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Isaiah 1:1

(1) The vision of Isaiah the son of Amoz . . .—The term “vision,” as descriptive of a prophet’s work (1 Samuel 3:1), is the correlative of the old term “seer,” as applied to the prophet himself (1 Samuel 9:9). The latter fell into disuse, probably because the pretenders to the clairvoyance which it implied brought it into discredit. The prophet, however, did not cease to be a “seer;” and to see visions was still one of the highest forms of the gift of the spirit of Jehovah (Joel 2:28). It... read more