Messianic · The voice in the wilderness; the Shepherd-God

Isaiah 40:1-11

Isaiah · ~700 BC · Status: Fulfilled · Confidence: 65% · Payne §Isa 90
“Comfort ye, comfort ye my people... The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the LORD... And the glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together... Behold your God!... he shall feed his flock like a shepherd.”
King James Version

The opening of Isaiah's Book of Comfort — the herald's voice preparing the way of the LORD, the revelation of God's glory, and the Shepherd-God coming to His people.

Fulfillment References

Mark 1:1-3 Matthew 3:3 Luke 3:4-6 John 1:23

How Traditions Read This Prophecy

Apostolic (Oneness) PentecostalThe 'voice' prepares 'the way of the LORD' (YHWH), and the Gospels make that the way of Jesus (Mark 1:3) — 'Behold your God' revealed in the face of Christ; the one God come as Shepherd (John 10:11).
JewishWords of comfort to exiled Israel — the LORD returning to Zion to shepherd His people; the 'voice' heralding the return from Babylon.
CatholicFulfilled when John the Baptist prepares the way of the LORD for Christ's coming (Mark 1:3); 'Behold your God' realized in the incarnation.
ProtestantAll four Gospels apply the 'voice in the wilderness' to John the Baptist preparing the way for Jesus — and 'the way of the LORD' is the way of Jesus.
OrthodoxThe herald preparing the way of the incarnate Lord, the Shepherd come to His flock.
DispensationalFulfilled in John the Baptist's preparation, with the full revelation of God's glory awaiting the kingdom.
AcademicCritical scholars assign Isaiah 40 to 'Second Isaiah' (exilic); the 'voice in the wilderness' originally heralds the return from Babylon, reread by the Gospels of John the Baptist.
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Bible Prophecy Explorer · based on J. Barton Payne’s Encyclopedia of Biblical Prophecy catalogue · an openly Apostolic (Oneness) Pentecostal study resource — all traditions presented fairly. Pastor: C. Myles Young, PhD · Bishop: Nathaniel J. Wilson, Ed.D.