Isaiah 12

Isaiah 12:1–6 Two Hymns of Salvation

This section consists of two parts—Isaiah 12:1–3 and 12:4–6, both of which focus on the Lord, His salvation, and His exalted name. Each part is introduced with the words “and in that day will you say.” The first song is sung by an individual worshipper, who uses first- person, singular forms: “I,” “me,” and “my”; the second hymn is sung by multiple persons, as indicated by the plural “you”—“in that day will you say.” The second hymn also refers to “O inhabitant of Zion.”

Isaiah 12:1

in that day. This harks back to the previous section (11:11–16), which pertains to the gathering of Israel in the last days as well as to the Millennium. Because of the greatness of the Lord and the blessings of the gathering, Israel will sing the two songs that are presented in this section. The first four lines of the first song may also be a prayer (compare Doctrine and Covenants 25:12), because the individual worshipper opens with “O Lord” and then directly addresses the Lord. You were angry with me, Your anger is turned away. Speaking to the Elders of His Church, the Lord stated, “I . . . was angry with you yesterday, but today mine anger is turned away” (Doctrine and Covenants 61:20).

Isaiah 12:2

my salvation. This constitutes the central theme of the first hymn—“my salvation” is twice repeated and the words, “springs of salvation” conclude the hymn. The Hebrew word for “salvation” (yshu‘ah) is also the name of Jesus in Hebrew. my song. A metaphor expressing that the Lord is the heart and focus of our song and music.

Isaiah 12:3

springs of salvation. The Lord is our “springs of salvation” and “fountain of living waters” (Jeremiah 2:13; 17:13; Ether 8:26; 12:28). As literal water provides us with physical life, so the Lord provides us with water so that we can receive eternal life.

Isaiah 12:4

His name is exalted. The names Jehovah, Jesus Christ, Son of God, and others are the highest, most honorable, and magnificent of all names.

Isaiah 12:4–6

give praise/call/make known/call to remembrance/sing/let this be known/cry out/sing gladly. These terms are command forms, directed to those who worship God.

Isaiah 12:6

The terms “cry out,” “sing gladly,” and “inhabitant” are feminine forms in the Hebrew, which means that the final two lines of the second song are directed to a female (possibly referring to the Lord’s bride, or, Zion? Compare 54:1–6; Revelation 21:2, 9; Doctrine and Covenants 109:73–74). Holy One of Israel. This significant title, found 26 times in Isaiah, demonstrates that God is Holy and that He is Israel’s God. Also, we remind that reader here that Israel is one of Isaiah’s prominent themes.