a. The heading (1:1)

The Hebrew word for vision (ḥazôn) suggests that one has received a direct word from God and carries both a sense of authenticity and authority. The focus of the vision is stated: Judah and Jerusalem. It should be noted that the kingdom under David and Solomon has long since been divided into the North (Israel) and the South (Judah). It is the southern kingdom that is now the object of God’s attention.

Isaiah is the recipient of the vision and the one charged with announcing it. His name means “Yahweh will save” (“Yahweh” is the Hebrew name for God). Isaiah’s name is an important clue for understanding the entire book. Rather than this being one uninterrupted pronouncement of judgment, as some interpreters have suggested, the primary purpose of God is to save his people. Redemption, wholeness, and restoration are the goal of God’s activity. The listing of the kings of Judah provides historical benchmarks for Isaiah’s prophetic activity.