Isaiah 52

Isaiah 52 has to be one of the most oft-quoted chapters in Isaiah by other scripture.  We have many famous phrases from this short chapter such as “Put on thy strength, O Zion,” “How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings,” “The Lord hath made bare his holy arm in the eyes of all the nations,” and “Be ye clean, that bear the vessels of the Lord.”  In 3 Nephi 20:32, 34-45 the Savior quoted all of the verses to the Nephites (in a different order) except for 4 and 5.  The first two verses are quoted by Jacob in 2 Nephi 8:24-25, and these are referred to and explained by the Lord in D&C 113:8-10.  Moroni paraphrased these verses in his concluding words of the Book of Mormon in Moroni 10:31.  The priests of Noah tried to accuse Abinadi by quoting verses 7-10 in Mosiah 12:21-24, and Abinadi quoted verse 7 again in Mosiah 15:14-17 as he powerfully responded to the priests.  He likewise quoted verses 8-10 as he finished his testimony in Mosiah 15:29-31.  Nephi quoted some of verse 7 as well in 1 Nephi 13:37 as part of his testimony of the latter-day work, and Joseph Smith quoted verse 7 in D&C 128:19.  The Savior quoted verses 8-10 in 3 Nephi 16:18-20, which he would then recite again as part of the whole chapter in 3 Nephi 20.  The phrase “be ye clean that bear the vessels of the Lord” from verse 11 is used twice in the Doctrine and Covenants (D&C 38:42, 133:5).  All of these references to Isaiah 52 attest to the very important and powerful nature of this short chapter in Isaiah.  

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