Did you know that Isaiah is nicknamed the “5th Gospel” because of how much he prophetically mentions Jesus Christ? When you understand Isaiah better it will strengthen your faith, deepen your worship, and draw you closer to God. Bible commentaries on Isaiah can help you understand the prophet’s message so you can see how it speaks to your life. For a full list with helpful reviews see below.
The Bible instructs Christians to seek wisdom (Prov. 1:7, James 1:5), and who better to learn from than pastors, theologians, and professors who have been studying and teaching Isaiah for decades?
10 Best Isaiah Commentaries
The best Isaiah commentaries are listed below. There are exegetical commentaries, scholarly and technical commentaries, and commentaries that are easy to understand. They are not suggested as a replacement for prayer, the Holy Spirit, and the reader’s own diligent study of Scripture. The “Top 10” list is based on aggregate reviews.
The “Top 10” list below is a starting point for learning about Isaiah commentaries. It is not intended as the “final word” because of its limitations. Nevertheless, a list based on aggregate reviews will likely point you in the right direction to find the right resource for your purposes.
#1
Isaiah 1-39 and 40–66
New International Commentary on the Old Testament
by John N. Oswalt
Reviews and Accolades:
• Desiring God: #1 recommended commentary on Isaiah
• Tremper Longman: 4 out 5 stars, “solidly conservative and well researched”
• John H. Walton and Andrew E. Hill: “The best of the conservative commentaries.”
• Keith Mathison: #2 ranked commentary on Isaiah, “The completion of John Oswalt’s commentary on Isaiah in 1998 was a major blessing to the Christian church…It should be on the desk of every student of the Old Testament.”
Approach to Scripture and theology: Evangelical, conservative; this commentary is praised for its theology insight and reflection, especially in regard to God’s holiness and humanity’s sinfulness; he sees the book as a unity.
Oswalt wrote the Isaiah volume in the NIVAC series (see below); he associates with the United Methodist Church; he taught at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School
Best for: expository preachers, Bible college and seminary students, church elders and teachers, experienced Bible readers
Purpose: From the publisher: “All of the NICOT volumes combine superior scholarship, an evangelical view of Scripture as the Word of God, and concern for the life of faith today.
Each volume features an extensive introduction treating the biblical book’s authorship, date, purpose, structure, and theology… The commentary itself carefully balances coverage of technical matters with exposition of the biblical text’s theology and implications.”
See more about the New International Commentary on the Old Testament series.
After browsing the commentaries below, please see Best Bible Commentaries: Top 50. Based on aggregate reviews.
#2
The Book of Isaiah: A Commentary
by Edward J. Young (three volumes)
Reviews and Accolades:
• Tremper Longman: “well worth the money…takes a conservative approach.”
• John H. Walton and Andrew E. Hill: “A conservative classic in three volumes.”
• Keith Mathison: #3 ranked commentary on Isaiah, “[Young’s] massive three-volume commentary on Isaiah is something of a modern classic among Reformed students of Scripture… There is much of value in these volumes.”
Approach to Scripture and theology: Evangelical, conservative; a favorite in the Reformed tradition; over 1,600 pages in length; there is less theological reflection than Oswalt; amillennial
Best for: expository preachers, Bible college and seminary students, church elders and teachers, experienced Bible readers
Purpose: The publisher notes that this is “a classic in conservative Old Testament scholarship, this three-volume commentary concentrates primarily on the meaning of the text of Isaiah rather than on specific textual problems.”
Also see the best one-volume bible commentaries based on aggregate reviews.
#3
The Prophecy of Isaiah:
An Introduction and Commentary
by J. Alec Motyer
Reviews and Accolades:
• Tremper Longman: 4 out 5 stars, “thoroughly researched and thought-out…the best of a conservative evangelical approach”
• Keith Mathison: #1 ranked commentary on Isaiah, “The best commentary on Isaiah, hands down, is Motyer’s stand-alone volume published by InterVarsity Press.”
Approach to Scripture and theology: Evangelical, conservative; this volume is not part of a series; at over 500 pages in length, this is Moyer’s in-depth commentary on Isaiah; his Isaiah volume in the TOTC series (see below) contains the conclusions and summaries of this volume; it’s mid-level, not technical
Motyer also wrote one of the best Exodus commentaries based on aggregate reviews.
Best for: expository preachers, Bible college and seminary students, church elders and teachers, experienced Bible readers
Purpose: From the publisher: “Though based on the Hebrew text, his exposition easily accommodates readers without a working knowledge of biblical Hebrew.
And he writes with an interest in Isaiah’s meaning for Christians today… Preachers, teachers and serious Bible students of all types will find this commentary a wise, winsome and welcome guide to the prophecy of Isaiah. It may easily be the best one-volume evangelical commentary on Isaiah available today.”
#4
Isaiah
NIV Application Commentary
by John N. Oswalt
Reviews and Accolades:
• Tremper Longman: 5 out 5 stars, “commendable scholarly study…[Oswalt] is a sensitive exegete but also a sensitive pastor.”
Approach to Scripture and theology: Evangelical, conservative; Oswalt’s NICOT volume is the culmination of decades of work, and his NIVAC volume condenses the research and focuses on application; this commentary is over 700 pages
Best for: expository preachers, Bible college and seminary students, church elders and teachers, experienced Bible readers
Purpose: From the General Editor: The primary goal of the NIVAC series is to help with the difficult but vital task of bringing an ancient message into a modern context.
The series not only focuses on application as a finished product but also helps readers think through the process of moving from the original meaning of a passage to its contemporary significance.”
See more about the NIV Application Commentary series.
#5
Isaiah
Tyndale Old Testament Commentary
by J. Alec Motyer
Reviews and Accolades:
• Tremper Longman: 4 out 5 stars, “accessible to laypeople”
Approach to Scripture and theology: Evangelical, conservative; this volume condenses Motyer’s 500-page stand-alone volume on Isaiah (see above) and is less academic
Best for: expository preachers, Bible college and seminary students, church elders and teachers, experienced Bible readers
Purpose: From the publisher: This series is “designed to help readers understand what the Bible actually says and what it means…[each commentary] examines the text section by section, drawing out its main themes.
It also comments on individual verses and deals with problems of interpretation. The aim throughout is to get at the true meaning of the Bible and to make its message plain to readers today.”
See more about the Tyndale Old Testament Commentary series.
#6
Isaiah
Evangelical Press Study Commentary
by John L MacKay
Reviews and Accolades:
• Keith Mathison: #4 ranked commentary on Isaiah, “Mackay works through each section of the book, verse by verse, and concludes with practical reflections.”
Approach to Scripture and theology: Evangelical, conservative, Presbyterian; mid-level, not technical; U.K. publisher
Best for: individual study, devotional reading, Bible studies, adult Sunday school classes
Purpose: From the publisher “EP Study Commentaries are invaluable tools for the minister, theologian and serious students of the Scriptures. This series is both readable and user- friendly.”
#7
The Message of Isaiah
The Bible Speaks Today
by Barry G. Webb
Reviews and Accolades:
• Keith Mathison: #5 ranked commentary on Isaiah “offers very illuminating insight into the text.“
Approach to Scripture and theology: Evangelical, conservative; this commentary is praised for its theological reflection and devotional insights; Webb is Reformed
Best for: expository preachers, Bible college and seminary students, church elders and teachers, experienced Bible readers
Purpose: From the publisher: The “the three distinctives of The Bible Speaks Today series are (1) “BST authors are committed to a serious study of the text in its own integrity,” (2) that “expositors should not be antiquarians, living only in the remote past” but suggest application for living, and (3) “each book is intended to be both readable in style and manageable in size.”
See more about the Bible Speaks Today commentary series.
#8
Isaiah
Expositor’s Bible Commentary Revised
by Geoffrey Grogan
Reviews and Accolades:
• Tremper Longman: 4.5 out of 5 stars, “one of the best short commentaries on the prophet Isaiah… adept at bringing out the theological meaning of the book”
Approach to Scripture and theology: Evangelical, conservative; Grogan wrote the Isaiah volume in the original EBC series, then updated in 2008 for the revised update of the set; over 400 pages; praised for its friendliness to pastors
Best for: expository preachers, Bible college and seminary students, church elders and teachers, experienced Bible readers
Purpose: From the publisher: “Written primarily by expositors for expositors… its stance is that of a scholarly evangelicalism committed to the divine inspiration, complete trustworthiness, and full authority of the Bible.
The chief principle followed in this commentary is the grammatico-historical – namely, that the primary aim of the exegete is to make clear the meaning of the text at the time and in the circumstances of its writing.”
See more about the Expositor’s Bible Commentary series.
#9
Isaiah
The Old Testament Library
by Brevard S. Childs
Reviews and Accolades:
• Tremper Longman: 4 out 5 stars, “well worth getting”
Approach to Scripture and theology: Childs, well-known for his Exodus commentary in the OTL series, takes a critical approach to Scripture; Motyer and other conservatives are critical of this volume; it’s well-reviewed for its summaries on the history of interpretation of Isaiah
Purpose: From the publisher: “The Old Testament Library provides fresh and authoritative treatments of important aspects of Old Testament study through commentaries and general surveys. The contributors are scholars of international standing.”
Best for: expository preachers, Bible college and seminary students, church elders and teachers, experienced Bible readers
#10
Isaiah
Understanding the Bible Commentary Series
by John Goldingay
Reviews and Accolades:
• Tremper Longman: 4 out 5 stars, “very readable and insightful interpretation…important commentary”
Approach to Scripture: Evangelical but critical in regards to textual criticism, authorship, and date of the book
Goldingay also wrote one of the best Daniel commentaries based on aggregate reviews.
Best for: expository preachers, Bible college and seminary students, church elders and teachers, experienced Bible readers
Purpose: From the publisher: “Each volume in the Understanding the Bible Commentary Series breaks down the barriers between the ancient and modern worlds so that the power and meaning of the biblical texts become transparent to contemporary readers.
They present a careful section-by-section exposition of the biblical books with key terms and phrases highlighted and all Hebrew transliterated.”
See more about the Understanding the Bible Commentary Series.
More Book of Isaiah Commentaries for Christian Ministry
Please read: Why are the Isaiah commentaries below not in the “Top 10”? It’s not because they have received poor reviews or because people haven’t found them helpful. The reasons vary:
- Some are relatively new and haven’t been widely reviewed, read, or used yet.
- Others haven’t been widely distributed, so it is difficult to get enough information to aggregate.
- Still, others may be outdated in relation to biblical scholarship or out of print and difficult to acquire.
The “Top 10” list is reviewed annually. Readers are encouraged to consider the volumes in this section before making a purchase. These 10 are not in any particular order.
Isaiah 1-39
Interpretation:
A Bible Commentary for Teaching and Preaching
by Christopher R. Seitz
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Reviews and Accolades:
• Tremper Longman: 4 out of 5 stars, “very readable commentary”
Approach to Scripture: This volume includes critical approaches to Isaiah; the partner volume (see below) take a liberal approach to the book as a whole
Best for: expository preachers, Bible college and seminary students, church elders and teachers, experienced Bible readers
Purpose: From the publisher: “This series of commentaries offers an interpretation of the books of the Bible. It is designed to meet the need of students, teachers, ministers, and priests for a contemporary expository commentary.
These volumes will not replace the historical critical commentary or homiletical aids to preaching.
The purpose of this series is rather to provide a third kind of resource, a commentary which presents the integrated result of historical and theological work with the biblical text.”
Isaiah 40-66
Interpretation:
A Bible Commentary for Teaching and Preaching
by Paul D. Hanson
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Reviews and Accolades:
• Tremper Longman: 4 out 5 stars, “fine theological analysis”
Approach to Scripture: This volume takes a liberal approach to the book as a whole
Best for: expository preachers, Bible college and seminary students, church elders and teachers, experienced Bible readers
Purpose: From the publisher: “This series of commentaries offers an interpretation of the books of the Bible. It is designed to meet the need of students, teachers, ministers, and priests for a contemporary expository commentary.
These volumes will not replace the historical critical commentary or homiletical aids to preaching.
The purpose of this series is rather to provide a third kind of resource, a commentary which presents the integrated result of historical and theological work with the biblical text.”
Isaiah
The Forms of the Old Testament Literature
by Marvin A. Sweeney
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Reviews and Accolades:
• Tremper Longman: 4 out of 5 stars, “an excellent piece of work”
Best for: students, pastors, teachers, professors, and scholars with training in Hebrew who can follow a technical commentary
Purpose: From the publisher: “The Forms of the Old Testament Literature (FOTL) is a series of volumes that seeks to present, according to a standard outline and methodology, a form-critical analysis of every book or unit of the Old Testament (Hebrew Bible).
Fundamentally exegetical, each volume examines the structure, genre, setting, and intention of the biblical literature in question.”
Isaiah
The Old Testament Library
by Claus Westermann
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Reviews and Accolades:
• Tremper Longman: 4 out of 5 stars, “this commentary should not be ignored because of its critical basis”
Best for: expository preachers, Bible college and seminary students, church elders and teachers, experienced Bible readers
Purpose: From the publisher: “The Old Testament Library provides fresh and authoritative treatments of important aspects of Old Testament study through commentaries and general surveys. The contributors are scholars of international standing.”
Isaiah
A Continental Commentary
by Hans Wildberger
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Reviews and Accolades:
• Tremper Longman: 4 out of 5 stars, “covers most of the main avenues of research”
Best for: students, pastors, teachers, professors, and scholars with training in Hebrew who can follow a technical commentary
Purpose: From the publisher: This series “makes leading critical biblical scholarship from German and French scholars available to the English-speaking world.
This series combines scholarly excellence with academic rigor to benefit pastors, students, and scholars of both the Old and New Testament…
Each book in the Continental Commentary Series includes comprehensive introductory material, including an explanation of narrative themes, an overview of the historical and cultural context, an analysis of textual traditions, and an evaluation of recent literature.”
Isaiah 1-39 and 40-66
New American Commentary
by Gary V. Smith
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Approach to Scripture: Evangelical
Best for: expository preachers, Bible college and seminary students, church elders and teachers, experienced Bible readers
Purpose: From the publisher: “The New American Commentary is introduced to bridge the twentieth and twenty-first centuries.”
See more about the New American Commentary series.
Isaiah 1-33 and 34-66
Word Biblical Commentary
by John D.W. Watts
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Best for: expository preachers, Bible college and seminary students, church elders and teachers, experienced Bible readers
Purpose: From the publisher: “WBC series delivers the best in biblical scholarship, from the leading scholars who share a commitment to Scripture as divine revelation.
It emphasizes a thorough analysis of textual, linguistic, structural, and theological evidence.
The result is judicious and balanced insight into the meanings of the text in the framework of biblical theology.”
See more about the Word Biblical Commentary series.
Isaiah
Mentor Bible Commentary
by Paul R. House
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Approach to Scripture: Evangelical
Best for: expository preachers, Bible college and seminary students, church elders and teachers, experienced Bible readers
Purpose: From the publisher: “Mentor books are written at a level suitable for Bible College and seminary students, pastors, and other serious readers.”
Isaiah
Concordia Commentary
by R. Reed Lessing
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Please also see Isaiah 40-55 by Dr. Lessing.
Best for: expository preachers, Bible college and seminary students, church elders and teachers, experienced Bible readers
Purpose: From the publisher: “A Theological Exposition of Sacred Scripture is written to enable pastors and teachers of the Word to proclaim the Gospel with greater insight, clarity, and faithfulness to the divine intent of the biblical text.”
Technical Commentaries
Isaiah
Hermeneia
by J.J.M. Roberts
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Best for: students, pastors, teachers, professors, and scholars with training in Hebrew who can follow a technical commentary
Purpose: From the publisher: “The Hermeneia commentary series seeks to offer authoritative interpretation of the earliest texts of the biblical books…
The name Hermeneia, from the Greek, has a rich background in the history of biblical interpretation as a term for the detailed, systematic exposition of a scriptural work. Hermeneia is designed for the serious student of the Bible…
The editors of Hermeneia impose no systematic-theological perspective upon the series (directly, or indirectly by selection of authors).”
Isaiah
International Critical Commentary
by H.G.M. Williamson
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Best for: expository preachers, Bible college and seminary students, church elders and teachers, experienced Bible readers
Purpose: The ICC series has “sought to bring together all the relevant aids to exegesis, linguistic and textual no less than archaeological, historical, literary and theological to help the reader understand the meaning of the books of the Old and New Testaments.
No attempt has been made to secure a uniform theological or critical approach to the biblical text: contributors have been invited for their scholarly distinction, not for their adherence to any one school of thought.”
Classic Isaiah Commentaries
Isaiah
Ancient Christian Commentary on Scripture
by Steven A. McKinion
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Best for: expository preachers, Bible college and seminary students, church elders and teachers, experienced Bible readers
Purpose: From the publisher: “The ACCS is a post-critical revival of the early commentary tradition known as the glossa ordinaria, a text artfully elaborated with ancient and authoritative reflections and insights.
The vast array of writings from the church fathers—including much that is available only in the ancient languages—have been combed for their comment on Scripture.”
Isaiah
by H.A. Ironside
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Best for: individual study, devotional reading, Bible studies, adult Sunday school classes
Purpose: H.A. Ironside (1876-1951) was an internationally acclaimed Bible teacher and preacher, as well as the author of more than sixty books.
His writings include addresses or commentaries on the entire New Testament, all of the Old Testament prophetic books, and a great many volumes on other biblical topics.
For eighteen of his fifty years of ministry, Dr. Ironside was pastor of the historic Moody Memorial Church in Chicago, Ill.
Also see:
Bible Commentary Series Comparison Chart
References: