4 Keys to Understanding Isaiah

Avraham Gileadi in his book "Book of Isaiah, New Translation" points to 4 keys given in the Book of Mormon needed to understand the Book of Isaiah.

1. Spirit of Prophecy = A testimony that Jesus is the Christ. Since Isaiah is about Jesus Christ, its not possible to understand Isaiah unless you believe that Jesus is the Messiah.

"For behold, Isaiah spake many things which were hard for many of my people to understand; for they know not concerning the manner of prophesying among the Jews. . . nevertheless they are plain unto all those that are filled with the spirit of prophecy" (2 Ne. 25: 1,4).

2. Letter of Prophecy = Hebrew writing style, devices, figures of speech, grammer, etc. Dr. Gileadi points out that the hebrew word for "things" = "words."

"Yea, and my soul delighteth in the words of Isaiah, for I came out from Jerusalem, and mine eyes hath beheld the things of the Jews, and I know that the Jews do understand the things of the prophets, and there is none other people that understand the things which were spoken unto the Jews like unto them, save it be that they are taught after the manner of the things of the Jews" (2 Ne. 25: 1,4).

3. Search Isaiah = Apply the teachings of Isaiah in your life.

"And now, behold, I say unto you, that ye ought to search these things. Yea, a commandment I give unto you that ye search these things diligently; for great are the words of Isaiah" (3 Ne. 23: 1).
"And now I write some of the words of Isaiah, that whoso of my people shall see these words may lift up their hearts and rejoice for all men. Now these are the words, and ye may liken them unto you and unto all men" (2 Ne. 11:8).

4. Types = All the prophecies in Isaiah apply to Isaiah's time, the time of Jesus Christ, and the Last Days.

"For surely he spake as touching all things concerning my people which are of the house of Israel; therefore it must needs be that he must speak also to the Gentiles. And all things that he spake have been and shall be, even according to the words which he spake" (3 Ne. 23: 1).