1 Nephi 19

God of Israel

God of Israel — Jehovah, the covenant God of Israel, the premortal Christ

For the things which some men esteem to be of great worth, both to the body and soul, others set at naught and trample under their feet. Yea, even the very God of Israel do men trample under their feet; I say, trample under their feet but I would speak in other words—they set him at naught, and hearken not to the voice of his counsels. 1 Nephi 19:7

Nephi says the God of Israel is the One men trample and 'set at naught.' The next verses make clear he means Jesus Christ coming in the flesh, so the God of Israel and the rejected Messiah are the same Person.

• alludes to Isaiah 53:3 — He is despised and rejected of men.
• the same event in 1 Nephi 19:9 — The world judges Him 'a thing of naught' and abuses Him.

His Coming in Six Hundred Years

And behold he cometh, according to the words of the angel, in six hundred years from the time my father left Jerusalem. 1 Nephi 19:8

Nephi repeats the angel's timetable: the God of Israel will come to earth 600 years after Lehi left Jerusalem. The Nephites later watch this very prophecy come true.

How we know: a footnote points to Him · a Church study aid lists it

• alludes to 1 Nephi 10:4 — Lehi's prophecy of a Messiah in six hundred years.
• the same event in 2 Nephi 25:19 — Nephi again dates the Messiah's coming at six hundred years.
• fulfilled by 3 Nephi 1:13 — The voice of the Lord announces His birth 'on the morrow.'

His Suffering at the Hands of the World

And the world, because of their iniquity, shall judge him to be a thing of naught; wherefore they scourge him, and he suffereth it; and they smite him, and he suffereth it. Yea, they spit upon him, and he suffereth it, because of his loving kindness and his long-suffering towards the children of men. 1 Nephi 19:9

Nephi foretells that Christ will be scourged, struck, and spat upon. He lets it happen out of love and patience for us. His suffering is freely chosen.

• alludes to Isaiah 50:6 — 'I gave my back to the smiters... I hid not my face from shame and spitting.'
• the same event in Mosiah 3:9 — King Benjamin's angel: they shall scourge Him and crucify Him.
• fulfilled by Matthew 27:26 — Pilate has Jesus scourged.
• fulfilled by Matthew 27:30 — The soldiers spit upon Him and smite Him.

God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob

God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob — Jehovah's covenant title from the burning bush

And the God of our fathers, who were led out of Egypt, out of bondage, and also were preserved in the wilderness by him, yea, the God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, yieldeth himself, according to the words of the angel, as a man, into the hands of wicked men, to be lifted up, according to the words of Zenock, and to be crucified, according to the words of Neum, and to be buried in a sepulchre, according to the words of Zenos, which he spake concerning the three days of darkness, which should be a sign given of his death unto those who should inhabit the isles of the sea, more especially given unto those who are of the house of Israel. 1 Nephi 19:10

Nephi says outright that the God who led Israel out of Egypt, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, gives Himself up as a man to wicked men. It is one of the clearest scriptures showing that Jehovah is Jesus Christ.

How we know: a footnote points to Him · a Church study aid lists it

• the same title in Exodus 3:6 — Jehovah names Himself the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob at the burning bush.
• the same event in Mosiah 13:34 — Abinadi: God Himself shall come down among the children of men.
• interpreted by 3 Nephi 15:5 — The risen Christ: 'I am he that gave the law.'

Lifted Up, Crucified, and Buried

And the God of our fathers, who were led out of Egypt, out of bondage, and also were preserved in the wilderness by him, yea, the God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, yieldeth himself, according to the words of the angel, as a man, into the hands of wicked men, to be lifted up, according to the words of Zenock, and to be crucified, according to the words of Neum, and to be buried in a sepulchre, according to the words of Zenos, which he spake concerning the three days of darkness, which should be a sign given of his death unto those who should inhabit the isles of the sea, more especially given unto those who are of the house of Israel. 1 Nephi 19:10

Nephi quotes three lost Israelite prophets. Zenock foretold Christ would be lifted up, Neum that He would be crucified, and Zenos that He would be buried, with three days of darkness marking His death. All of this happened.

How we know: a footnote points to Him · a Church study aid lists it

• alludes to John 3:14 — The Son of Man must be lifted up.
• the same event in Alma 33:15-17 — Zenock and Zenos testified of the Son of God; Zenock was stoned for it.
• the same event in Helaman 8:19-20 — Zenos, Zenock, and others testified of the coming Messiah.
• the same event in Helaman 14:20 — Samuel: darkness for three days at His death.
• fulfilled by 3 Nephi 8:23 — Darkness covers the land for three days.
• fulfilled by Matthew 27:60 — Jesus is laid in a new sepulchre.

The God of Nature Suffers

The God of nature — the Creator, whose own creation groans at His death

For thus spake the prophet: The Lord God surely shall visit all the house of Israel at that day, some with his voice, because of their righteousness, unto their great joy and salvation, and others with the thunderings and the lightnings of his power, by tempest, by fire, and by smoke, and vapor of darkness, and by the opening of the earth, and by mountains which shall be carried up. 1 Nephi 19:11–12

Zenos foretold that when Christ died, the earth would convulse and some would hear His voice. People would cry out that the God of nature, the Creator Himself, was suffering. The Nephites saw this fulfilled in 3 Nephi.

• fulfilled by 3 Nephi 8:5-19 — Tempest, fire, earthquakes, and rending rocks at His death.
• fulfilled by 3 Nephi 9:1-2 — His voice is heard among all the people.
• fulfilled by 3 Nephi 10:3-4 — The voice speaks again to the survivors of the house of Israel.
• the same event in Matthew 27:51 — The earth quakes and the rocks rend at the Crucifixion.

They Crucify the God of Israel

And as for those who are at Jerusalem, saith the prophet, they shall be scourged by all people, because they crucify the God of Israel, and turn their hearts aside, rejecting signs and wonders, and the power and glory of the God of Israel. 1 Nephi 19:13

Zenos says the God of Israel would be crucified at Jerusalem. The Book of Mormon plainly identifies the crucified Jesus as Israel's God.

• the same event in 2 Nephi 10:3 — Jacob: those at Jerusalem shall crucify Christ.
• the same event in 2 Nephi 6:9 — The Lord God shall manifest Himself to them in the flesh, and they shall crucify Him.

Holy One of Israel

Holy One of Israel — the Lord set apart in holiness who belongs to and redeems Israel

And because they turn their hearts aside, saith the prophet, and have despised the Holy One of Israel, they shall wander in the flesh, and perish, and become a hiss and a byword, and be hated among all nations. 1 Nephi 19:14–15

The same One who is crucified is called the Holy One of Israel. Rejecting Him leads to scattering. When Israel stops hardening their hearts against Him, He remembers His covenants with their fathers.

How we know: the verse itself names Him

• alludes to Isaiah 53:3 — He was despised.
• fulfilled by 3 Nephi 20:29 — The risen Christ: 'I will remember the covenant which I have made with my people.'

The Lord Who Gathers Israel

Yea, then will he remember the isles of the sea; yea, and all the people who are of the house of Israel, will I gather in, saith the Lord, according to the words of the prophet Zenos, from the four quarters of the earth. 1 Nephi 19:16

In Zenos's words the Lord speaks for Himself: He will gather all Israel from the four quarters of the earth. The speaker is the Holy One of Israel of the verses just before.

• the same event in 1 Nephi 10:14 — Lehi: Israel gathered to come to the knowledge of the true Messiah.
• the same event in 3 Nephi 16:5 — Christ promises to remember and gather the house of Israel.

The Salvation of the Lord

Yea, and all the earth shall see the salvation of the Lord, saith the prophet; every nation, kindred, tongue and people shall be blessed. 1 Nephi 19:17

Zenos foretells that every nation will see the Lord's salvation. That salvation comes through Christ, the Savior of all people.

• alludes to Isaiah 52:10 — All the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God.
• alludes to Mosiah 15:31 — Abinadi applies the same words to the Redeemer.

The Lord Their Redeemer

Redeemer — one who buys back, freeing from bondage by paying the price

And I, Nephi, have written these things unto my people, that perhaps I might persuade them that they would remember the Lord their Redeemer. 1 Nephi 19:18

Nephi says his whole reason for writing is to help his people remember the Lord their Redeemer, Jesus Christ.

How we know: the verse itself names Him

• the same title in 1 Nephi 19:23 — Nephi reads Isaiah so his brothers will believe in the Lord their Redeemer.

The Lord Their Redeemer

Redeemer — one who buys back, freeing from bondage by paying the price

And I did read many things unto them which were written in the books of Moses; but that I might more fully persuade them to believe in the Lord their Redeemer I did read unto them that which was written by the prophet Isaiah; for I did liken all scriptures unto us, that it might be for our profit and learning. 1 Nephi 19:23

Nephi picks Isaiah because Isaiah testifies so powerfully of the Redeemer. Likening scripture to ourselves is meant to build faith in Christ.

How we know: the verse itself names Him

• the same title in 2 Nephi 11:2 — Nephi: Isaiah 'verily saw my Redeemer.'
• alludes to 3 Nephi 23:1 — Christ commands the people to search Isaiah's words.