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Who is the Author?
The authorship of the book of Isaiah has been historically attributed to the Old Testament prophet Isaiah. Isaiah was the son of Amoz (Isa. 1:1). The name “Isaiah” means “Yahweh is salvation.”1 Isaiah apparently came from an influential upperclass family in Jerusalem. He was well-educated and was gifted as a poet and prophet. He was also acquainted with royalty and was a prophetic adviser to kings concerning Judah’s foreign affairs. Isaiah is usually regarded as the most well-known, highly educated, and influential of the writing prophets. He was married to a woman who also was gifted as a prophetess2 and they had two sons: Shear-Jashub, “A Remnant will Return” (7:3) and Maher Shalal-Hash-Baz, “Speed the Spoil; Hasten the Prey” (8:3).3 Their sons’ names contained asymbolic message for the nation.4 Isaiah ministered primarily to the southern kingdom of Judah, although he was also interested in the affairs of the northern kingdom of Israel during its time of demise and ultimate fall. According to Isaiah 1:1, the prophet ministered under the Judahite kings of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah. Neither the beginning nor the closing dates of Isaiah’s prophesying can be discerned with certainty.5 According to Hebrew tradition, the prophet Isaiah was martyred by being sawn in half by Hezekiah’s wicked son and successor to the throne, King Manasseh (c. 680 BC).
In the late eighteenth century, different theories about the authorship of Isaiah began to emerge. The issue of authorship is directly related to the division of the book into sections (Isaiah chapters 1–39 and 40–66), as well as the different sections of Isaiah containing different emphases, issues, vocabulary, style, and even historical perspectives. However, whether these differences demand different authors for the book is debated. In spite of the evidence, many Bible scholars continue to support the view that Isaiah wrote the entire book that bears his name. Cumulative evidence suggests the one-author view, along with textual evidence and the witness of the New Testament writers.6