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The Bible Speaks Today: Old Testament
The Message of Isaiah: On Eagles' Wings
Ever since Jesus read from the scroll of Isaiah in the synagogue of Nazareth, Christians have gravitated to this great prophecy as the interpretive center of the Old Testament. Here the story of Israel, scourged by judgment and exile and hopeful of restoration, is framed by its witnesses, heaven and earth. How will Israel be brought through its school of suffering and be propelled toward its divine destiny as the vanguard of a new heaven and earth? In the visionary world of Isaiah, the varied themes and imagery of the Old Testament converge and blend to transcend their plainest meanings as they project an extraordinary climax of the story of Israel and of the world. Barry Webb calls Isaiah the "Romans" of the Old Testament, where all the threads come together and the big picture of God's purposes for his people and for his world are most clearly set forth. Attuned to the magnificent literary architecture of Isaiah, Webb escorts us through this prophecy and trains our ears and hearts to resonate with its great biblical-theological themes.
252 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1996
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
March 11, 2022
An incredibly helpful guide for the journey through Isaiah. If you want thorough but concise direction as you read this often intimidating prophetic book, I would highly recommend this.
March 3, 2025
There seems to be an implicit assumption with many higher level commentaries of the last 30 years that good writing and thoughtful application is unessential, but that the bare text, and an analysis of its syntactical, grammatical qualities is the chief aim. So, it has happened occasionally that I am sorely disappointed to have purchased a "top rated" commentary that reads like an encyclopedia, and is aimed more for the academy than those who want to understand and delight in the Bible better.
From my own reading, I have found that the commentators who are the best writers, and the most focused on application are often the best exegetes. That has certainly been the case with this "book" (the General Preface states that it is NOT, in fact, a commentary). My goal in reading is to understand and delight in the God who inspired Isaiah, and with those purposes in view, I found this commentary to be magnificent. Webb is a wonderful writer (do not skip the Author’s Preface) who brings theological, typological, grammatical, and application-oriented insights in this commentary. His Introduction, which I will certainly return to, is worth the price of the book, and I found his thoughts on the structure of the book much more helpful and persuasive than a few others I have consulted. I feel I have a much better grasp on Isaiah overall now after having read it, not just the most prominent chapters. I only wish we would have benefited from a longer, full-length treatment of Isaiah from Webb!
From my own reading, I have found that the commentators who are the best writers, and the most focused on application are often the best exegetes. That has certainly been the case with this "book" (the General Preface states that it is NOT, in fact, a commentary). My goal in reading is to understand and delight in the God who inspired Isaiah, and with those purposes in view, I found this commentary to be magnificent. Webb is a wonderful writer (do not skip the Author’s Preface) who brings theological, typological, grammatical, and application-oriented insights in this commentary. His Introduction, which I will certainly return to, is worth the price of the book, and I found his thoughts on the structure of the book much more helpful and persuasive than a few others I have consulted. I feel I have a much better grasp on Isaiah overall now after having read it, not just the most prominent chapters. I only wish we would have benefited from a longer, full-length treatment of Isaiah from Webb!
May 20, 2021
I've chosen Isaiah and John as my books to study at least once a year for the rest of my life and this was the first commentary I walked through for Isaiah. It served as a really good introduction. Nothing crazy writing-wise. This commentary series seeks to have shorter books, so there were a lot places it only skimmed the surface. But even so, it was faithful to the text and served as a good starting point to get my footing for future studies. I just can't wait to start again and press even further into the beautiful depths of Isaiah. There's just so much!
Favorite Passage: Isaiah 51:1-11
Favorite Quote: What they are being asked to respond to is not their circumstances (which will change later), but the Word of God that has come to them.
Favorite Passage: Isaiah 51:1-11
Favorite Quote: What they are being asked to respond to is not their circumstances (which will change later), but the Word of God that has come to them.
November 29, 2024
Another excellent installment in the Bible Speaks Today series. The book of Isaiah is so long, complex, and multilayered that no single exposition could do it justice, and I didn't feel like I grasped it as much as I'd have liked. Still, this read-through brought out for me some important aspects of the book's message and the way it's structured. I appreciated seeing the repeated themes, particularly that of God as the God of history who directs all things for His good purposes -- even things as ostensibly "secular" as the rise of a pagan king like Cyrus. Paired with this is the message that God is the only true God (because He's the only God who saves and the only God who controls historical processes), and that because of this, it is imperative for us to put our trust in Him. Webb early on talks about the paradigmatic role of Isaiah 2:22: "Stop trusting in mere humans // who have but a breath in their nostrils. // Why hold them in esteem?" This is a message woven through the book (with, for instance, Israel trying to make political pacts with Egypt), but it's also one God's people need to hear again and again in every era as we keep aligning ourselves with political powers.
The latter chapters of Isaiah are especially epic, from the Servant Songs to the vision of the new heavens and the new earth, and so it's not surprising that Webb's treatment of this section really sings. I deeply appreciate that he both discusses the book of Isaiah in its original historical context, and also brings it back to the outworking of these things in Christ. He is thankfully not dispensational (though on the other extreme he seemingly embraces more of a replacement theology than I do [the church wholly replacing Israel as the people of God], and doesn't deal with the challenge of Romans 11 in that regard), and therefore tracks the unfolding redemptive plan of God through scripture without making artificial divisions in it. The result is not only a helpful exposition of a very theological book of the Bible, but an uplifting vision of God's redemptive work as a whole, as well.
The latter chapters of Isaiah are especially epic, from the Servant Songs to the vision of the new heavens and the new earth, and so it's not surprising that Webb's treatment of this section really sings. I deeply appreciate that he both discusses the book of Isaiah in its original historical context, and also brings it back to the outworking of these things in Christ. He is thankfully not dispensational (though on the other extreme he seemingly embraces more of a replacement theology than I do [the church wholly replacing Israel as the people of God], and doesn't deal with the challenge of Romans 11 in that regard), and therefore tracks the unfolding redemptive plan of God through scripture without making artificial divisions in it. The result is not only a helpful exposition of a very theological book of the Bible, but an uplifting vision of God's redemptive work as a whole, as well.
December 31, 2023
A helpful guide to give historical perspective on Isaiah. (I’m not really qualified to review commentaries… I appreciated this one for being accessible to a lay reader.)
August 17, 2012
For larger books, such as Isaiah, a brief commentary that orients the reader to the big ideas of the book as well as its basic structure and flow of thought is very helpful. Webb's commentary is of this sort. He is readable and insightful throughout. My only criticism is his tendency to spiritualize the eternal state. Why must the nations streaming to Zion simply be a picture of people from all nations being added to the church? If redemption truly extends as far as the Fall, the eternal state will be physical and earthly. And if the eternal state is physical and earthly, why may the nations not stream to Jerusalem? This compliant, however, is minor when compared with the great value of Webb's comments overall.
October 15, 2024
In the time I've spent studying Isaiah, this became my favorite commentary. Mr. Webb writes concisely, doesn't get bogged down in minutiae, and has a knack for grasping the overarching point of a passage.
Mr. Webb's summary at the very end of the book is a good example of his writing:
"At its most fundamental level, this closing paragraph brings us back to the basic truth that God is creator, and therefore ruler, of his world. The book of Isaiah, like the Bible itself, moves from the heavens and the earth (1:2) to the new heavens and new earth (66:22). God’s mission is simply the outworking of the intentions he had at the beginning, expressed in the blessing he pronounced on the first pair and confirmed in the promises he made to Abraham. And Isaiah leaves us in no doubt that the key to it all is God’s perfect Servant, our Lord Jesus Christ. How eloquently and simply the apostle John put it! Isaiah, he says, ‘saw Jesus’ glory and spoke about him."
Mr. Webb's summary at the very end of the book is a good example of his writing:
"At its most fundamental level, this closing paragraph brings us back to the basic truth that God is creator, and therefore ruler, of his world. The book of Isaiah, like the Bible itself, moves from the heavens and the earth (1:2) to the new heavens and new earth (66:22). God’s mission is simply the outworking of the intentions he had at the beginning, expressed in the blessing he pronounced on the first pair and confirmed in the promises he made to Abraham. And Isaiah leaves us in no doubt that the key to it all is God’s perfect Servant, our Lord Jesus Christ. How eloquently and simply the apostle John put it! Isaiah, he says, ‘saw Jesus’ glory and spoke about him."
November 11, 2020
I used a few commentaries for studying/teaching through Isaiah recently, but this one was my favourite for its integration to the NT and for its usefulness in making the text accessible to those you are teaching. I highly recommend this volume. I have read several other volumes in the BST series and they have all been good for the same reasons. They are based on solid scholarship but are accessible and devotionally rich.
March 1, 2017
A nice summarization. It does not go line by line like many traditional commentaries. It takes everything is context and writes about them a passage at a time. I enjoyed that it gives a clear explanation but also sets the foundation for further research. There are some parts that I wish it went into deeper (which is why I gave it 4 instead of 5) but that is not the tone of the book.
July 10, 2022
3.5 stars. Webb's description of context in terms of the conflicts with the surrounding nations of Israel was the clearest & most understandable of any Isaiah commentary I've read yet. I wish I'd read this one first to have that background. His exegesis and application were just meh. But worth reading for the context.
April 29, 2023
Helpful commentary to read alongside Isaiah - been using this in my quiet times and it’s taken me a whole year (!) to get through Isaiah, but the bit sized chunks of commentary in this were accessible and enough to accompany my reading helpfully without being too much! A good series to read if looking for something to read alongside your Bible to grow in understanding and love of God’s Word!
June 1, 2025
This was a really helpful guide to a prophecy with a lot going on in the background. Because Isaiah's ministry took place over the span of really critical Old Testament history (that isn't addressed in the text), it was so helpful to have the benchmarks pointed out so I could orient myself in each passage. The narrator also switches a lot and I needed that pointed out. Kinda dry, really useful.
February 11, 2018
Another good book to share the Isaiah journey with. After the journey through the beauty and terror of this world, the prophecies of Jesus and finally the recreation of all, it ends with a simple question: what can we do but worship? Nuff said.
March 24, 2019
A wonderfully insightful commentary that is easy to read but has a depth of theological content that will be beneficial for any studying Christian.
May 31, 2019
Pretty good overall. Strange view on 7:14
July 21, 2023
“But to ponder (as we shall for all eternity) the greatness of our redemption and the terrible fate from which we have been saved. What can we do but worship?”
February 15, 2016
Reading Challenge book? Yes. This is a commentary on a book of the Bible. For more information on the VT Reading Challenge, you can check here.
When I saw that reading a commentary was one of our tasks for the VT Reading Challenge, I immediately knew which book of the Bible I wanted to cover. The book of Isaiah contains so much meaty material and the prediction of Christ’s coming contained therein is only the tip of the iceberg. However, as I’ve read it on my own and studied it in church over the years, I have to admit that this is also one of the more confusing books of the Bible for me.
This may be because prophecy doesn’t read like a history. There is more symbolism, more foreshadowing of events to come rather than recitation of what has been.
At any rate, my pastor had recommended several commentary series to our church, one of them being InterVarsity Press’ The Bible Speaks Today . When I picked up Dr. Webb’s volume on Isaiah, I was not at all disappointed. I read this book side by side with my Bible, and the result not only helped me understand more, but also has enriched my spiritual life immensely.
This is a partial review. You can find the complete review at Building Life's Library - https://buildinglifeslibrary.wordpres...
When I saw that reading a commentary was one of our tasks for the VT Reading Challenge, I immediately knew which book of the Bible I wanted to cover. The book of Isaiah contains so much meaty material and the prediction of Christ’s coming contained therein is only the tip of the iceberg. However, as I’ve read it on my own and studied it in church over the years, I have to admit that this is also one of the more confusing books of the Bible for me.
This may be because prophecy doesn’t read like a history. There is more symbolism, more foreshadowing of events to come rather than recitation of what has been.
At any rate, my pastor had recommended several commentary series to our church, one of them being InterVarsity Press’ The Bible Speaks Today . When I picked up Dr. Webb’s volume on Isaiah, I was not at all disappointed. I read this book side by side with my Bible, and the result not only helped me understand more, but also has enriched my spiritual life immensely.
This is a partial review. You can find the complete review at Building Life's Library - https://buildinglifeslibrary.wordpres...
October 26, 2020
A while back I started reading through Isaiah again--one chapter a day. I wanted to supplement to my reading with a commentary that would give me historical background and help me better understand this wonderful book in Scripture. I wanted something that would help me apply the inspiration and insights of Isaiah to my own life. I found this book well suited to the purpose of personal devotional study. It is a fine exposition of Isaiah. It provides enough material to clarify its message and put it in context without getting the reader bogged down in technical details. It treats the book of Isaiah as a unified whole rather than a fragmented collection of writings from 2 or 3 sources. It is written from the conviction that God speaks to us through Isaiah today as well as He did to the prophet's primary audience.
May 5, 2015
95% of the chapters are really great. But then every once in awhile I feel like Webb has a swing and a miss and misses the point of the passage entirely. Still, read in conjunction with other commentaries, this is a valuable resource.
October 5, 2015
Excellent commentary on the book of Isaiah. This commentary provides an overview of the book and does so in a grounded and winsome fashion. I especially appreciate his defense of the unity of Isaiah. Great book!
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September 6, 2013Good succinct commentary with Christ centered biblical worldview
August 5, 2015
A very good summary of Isaiah's message. Obviously not long enough to deal with everything, but it gives the overall structure of the book clearly and helpfully.
February 15, 2009
Really good commentary on Isaiah.
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews