Yeshayahu

Yeshayahu is the Hebrew form of Isaiah, the name of a major prophetic figure in the Hebrew Bible. The given name derives from the Hebrew Yeshayahu (ישעיהו), commonly translated as “Yahweh is salvation” or “Yahweh saves.” In English-language Bibles the prophet is known as Isaiah; the book bearing his name is usually titled Isaiah.

Traditionally, Yeshayahu prophesied in the Kingdom of Judah during the 8th century BCE, in times of crisis as the Assyrian empire rose in power. His messages address idolatry, social injustice, and the political peril facing Judah. The call narrative is told in Isaiah 6, where the prophet volunteers after a vision of the divine throne and seraphs.

The Book of Isaiah is a complex collection of prophecies attributed to the prophet, and modern scholarship often divides it into three parts: First Isaiah (chapters 1–39), Deutero-Isaiah (40–55), and Trito-Isaiah (56–66), reflecting different historical contexts and literary layers. Central themes include the sovereignty of Yahweh, judgments against nations, and visions of redemption, including the suffering servant passages and expectations of a future messianic deliverer. The book has had a profound influence in both Jewish and Christian traditions.

Yeshayahu remains a common given name in Hebrew-speaking communities. Notable bearers include Yeshayahu Leibowitz, the 20th-century Israeli philosopher and public intellectual, among others who preserve the traditional form in religious and scholarly contexts.