2 Nephi 19
People in this chapter
Nephi said he quoted Isaiah because my soul delighteth in proving unto my people the truth of the coming of Christ (2 Nephi 11:4). If you read only one of the Isaiah chapters in 2 Nephi, read this one. It begins where the last chapter ended, in darkness and anguish, and almost immediately a light breaks through: The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light. Then comes the Child.
Tap any highlighted phrase to jump to the commentary that unpacks it.
2 Nephi 19:1-5The People That Walked in Darkness Have Seen a Great Light
1Nevertheless, the dimness shall not be such as was in her vexation, when at first he lightly afflicted the land of Zebulun, and the land of Naphtali, and afterwards did more grievously afflict by the way of the Red Sea beyond Jordan in Galilee of the nations. 2The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light; they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined.
Zebulun and Naphtali, in Galilee, were the first lands Assyria struck. Isaiah promises that the place hit first by the darkness will be the first to see the light.
3Thou hast multiplied the nation, and increased the joy—they joy before thee according to the joy in harvest, and as men rejoice when they divide the spoil. 4For thou hast broken the yoke of his burden, and the staff of his shoulder, the rod of his oppressor. 5For every battle of the warrior is with confused noise, and garments rolled in blood; but this shall be with burning and fuel of fire.
The light brings joy like harvest time, and freedom: the oppressor's yoke is broken. Even the gear of war will be burned.
2 Nephi 19:6-7Unto Us a Child Is Born
6For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder; and his name shall be called, Wonderful, Counselor, The Mighty God, The Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. 7Of the increase of government and peace there is no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth, even forever. The zeal of the Lord of Hosts will perform this.
The Child's names tell who He is: Wonderful, Counselor, The Mighty God, The Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
Who will make all this happen? The zeal of the Lord of Hosts will perform this. The promise rests on God's own determination.
2 Nephi 19:8-12We Will Build with Hewn Stones
8The Lord sent his word unto Jacob and it hath lighted upon Israel. 9And all the people shall know, even Ephraim and the inhabitants of Samaria, that say in the pride and stoutness of heart: 10The bricks are fallen down, but we will build with hewn stones; the sycamores are cut down, but we will change them into cedars.
After a disaster, Israel boasts: the bricks fell, so we'll build with better stone. They miss the message and double down on pride.
11Therefore the Lord shall set up the adversaries of Rezin against him, and join his enemies together; 12The Syrians before and the Philistines behind; and they shall devour Israel with open mouth. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still.
Enemies press in from both sides. Then the refrain: his hand is stretched out still. The Lord keeps reaching, in judgment and in invitation.
2 Nephi 19:13-21The People Turneth Not unto Him That Smiteth Them
13For the people turneth not unto him that smiteth them, neither do they seek the Lord of Hosts. 14Therefore will the Lord cut off from Israel head and tail, branch and rush in one day. 15The ancient, he is the head; and the prophet that teacheth lies, he is the tail. 16For the leaders of this people cause them to err; and they that are led of them are destroyed. 17Therefore the Lord shall have no joy in their young men, neither shall have mercy on their fatherless and widows; for every one of them is a hypocrite and an evildoer, and every mouth speaketh folly. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still.
The deepest problem is that the people do not turn back to the Lord, even when He disciplines them. Discipline is meant to turn us.
False prophets and corrupt elders lead the people astray. The leaders of this people cause them to err, and those who follow are destroyed.
18For wickedness burneth as the fire; it shall devour the briers and thorns, and shall kindle in the thickets of the forests, and they shall mount up like the lifting up of smoke. 19Through the wrath of the Lord of Hosts is the land darkened, and the people shall be as the fuel of the fire; no man shall spare his brother. 20And he shall snatch on the right hand and be hungry; and he shall eat on the left hand and they shall not be satisfied; they shall eat every man the flesh of his own arm— 21Manasseh, Ephraim; and Ephraim, Manasseh; they together shall be against Judah. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still.
Research trail
Sources & further study
These references support the historical, linguistic, manuscript, and contextual notes in this chapter. Scripture remains the primary text; external sources are provided so readers can inspect the research directly.
- How Did Isaiah Prophesy of the Savior?Discusses Isaiah 9:6-7 at length, noting that some details may have had a partial application in Isaiah's day while the divine names and endless kingdom most naturally identify the Messiah.
- How Did Nephi Read Isaiah as a Witness of Christ’s Coming?Reads 2 Nephi 16-19 as Nephi did, through the outline of his own vision of Christ, with verse 6 of this chapter as a central witness of the Savior's birth.
- Second Coming of Jesus ChristDescribes the Savior's millennial reign of peace, the full fulfillment of verse 7's promise that of His government and peace there is no end.
Where this echoes in Scripture
The People That Walked in Darkness Have Seen a Great Light
- Matthew 4:15-16The people which sat in darkness saw great light; and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death light is sprung up.
- John 8:12I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness.
- 3 Nephi 11:11And behold, I am the light and the life of the world.
- D&C 45:28A light shall break forth among them that sit in darkness, and it shall be the fulness of my gospel.
- Isaiah 9:3Thou hast multiplied the nation, and not increased the joy.The Bible wording.
Unto Us a Child Is Born
- Luke 2:11For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.
- Luke 1:32-33The Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David... and of his kingdom there shall be no end.
- Mosiah 3:8And he shall be called Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Father of heaven and earth, the Creator of all things from the beginning.
- Mosiah 5:7Ye shall be called the children of Christ, his sons, and his daughters; for behold, this day he hath spiritually begotten you.
- John 14:27Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth.
We Will Build with Hewn Stones
- Jacob 6:4How merciful is our God unto us... he stretches forth his hands unto them all the day long.
- 2 Nephi 28:32For mine arm is lengthened out all the day long, saith the Lord God of Hosts.
- Helaman 12:2At the very time when he doth prosper his people... then is the time that they do harden their hearts.
- Proverbs 16:18Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.
The People Turneth Not unto Him That Smiteth Them
- 2 Nephi 28:14They are led, that in many instances they do err because they are taught by the precepts of men.
- Amos 4:6Yet have ye not returned unto me, saith the LORD.
- Mormon 4:12There never had been so great wickedness among all the children of Lehi.
- Hebrews 12:11Afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.