Historical context of Isaiah

Who wrote Isaiah, when, and to whom — and how that shapes the way we read it today.

Author

Isaiah

Date written

c. 740-681 BC

Original audience

Judah under threat.

Genre

Prophecy

Testament

Old Testament

Chapters

66

Background and setting

8th-century BC Judah under Assyrian threat.

Why it matters today

Understanding the world Isaiah was written into helps us read it on its own terms — and apply it faithfully to our lives now. God spoke through real people, in real history, for the lasting good of His people in every generation.

Read the overview of Isaiah or jump into chapter 1.