1 Nephi 20

Lord of Hosts

Lord of Hosts — Jehovah of armies, Lord over the hosts of heaven and earth

Hearken and hear this, O house of Jacob, who are called by the name of Israel, and are come forth out of the waters of Judah, or out of the waters of baptism, who swear by the name of the Lord, and make mention of the God of Israel, yet they swear not in truth nor in righteousness. 1 Nephi 20:1–2

Israel swears by the Lord's name and has entered covenant 'out of the waters of baptism.' Yet they do not truly rely on the God of Israel, whose name is the Lord of Hosts. Latter-day Saints understand Him as Jehovah, the premortal Jesus Christ.

How we know: the verse itself names Him

• a parallel account in Isaiah 48:1-2 — The Isaiah source text.

Jehovah Speaking

Behold, I have declared the former things from the beginning; and they went forth out of my mouth, and I showed them. I did show them suddenly. 1 Nephi 20:3–11

Jehovah speaks in His own voice. He foretold events so stubborn Israel could not credit idols, held back His anger for His name's sake, and refined them in the furnace of affliction. This is the premortal Christ as Israel's patient covenant God.

• a parallel account in Isaiah 48:3-11 — The Isaiah source text.

The First and the Last

The First and the Last — eternal, before all things and after all things (the same idea as Alpha and Omega)

Hearken unto me, O Jacob, and Israel my called, for I am he; I am the first, and I am also the last. 1 Nephi 20:12

Jehovah declares 'I am he; I am the first, and I am also the last.' The resurrected Jesus uses these same words of Himself in Revelation and in the Kirtland Temple.

How we know: the verse itself names Him · a footnote points to Him · a Church study aid lists it

• a parallel account in Isaiah 48:12 — The Isaiah source text.
• the same title in Isaiah 44:6 — 'I am the first, and I am the last.'
• the same title in Revelation 1:17-18 — The risen Christ: 'I am the first and the last: I am he that liveth, and was dead.'
• the same title in D&C 110:4 — Christ in the Kirtland Temple: 'I am the first and the last; I am he who liveth, I am he who was slain.'
• the same title in 3 Nephi 9:18 — Christ to the Nephites: 'I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end.'

Creator of Heaven and Earth

Mine hand hath also laid the foundation of the earth, and my right hand hath spanned the heavens. I call unto them and they stand up together. 1 Nephi 20:13

The One who is the First and the Last also says He laid the foundation of the earth and spread out the heavens. Under the Father's direction, Christ is the Creator.

How we know: a footnote points to Him

• the same event in John 1:3 — All things were made by Him.
• the same event in 3 Nephi 9:15 — Christ: 'I created the heavens and the earth, and all things that in them are.'
• the same title in Mosiah 3:8 — Jesus Christ, the Creator of all things from the beginning.

Sent by the Lord God and His Spirit

Come ye near unto me; I have not spoken in secret; from the beginning, from the time that it was declared have I spoken; and the Lord God, and his Spirit, hath sent me. 1 Nephi 20:16

The speaker has spoken 'from the beginning' and yet says the Lord God and His Spirit have sent Him. Many readers hear the Son here, sent by the Father with the Holy Ghost. It is a glimpse of the Godhead inside Isaiah. Some read the speaker as Isaiah himself.

• a parallel account in Isaiah 48:16 — The Isaiah source text.
• alludes to Isaiah 61:1 — 'The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me... he hath sent me.'
• alludes to John 8:42 — Jesus: 'I proceeded forth and came from God... he sent me.'

Thy Redeemer

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

And thus saith the Lord, thy Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel; I have sent him, the Lord thy God who teacheth thee to profit, who leadeth thee by the way thou shouldst go, hath done it. 1 Nephi 20:17

The Lord names Himself Israel's Redeemer. This is Jesus Christ, who teaches His people what is good for them and leads them in the way they should go.

How we know: the verse itself names Him · a footnote points to Him

• a parallel account in Isaiah 48:17 — The Isaiah source text.
• the same title in Isaiah 54:5 — 'Thy Redeemer the Holy One of Israel.'

Holy One of Israel

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

And thus saith the Lord, thy Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel; I have sent him, the Lord thy God who teacheth thee to profit, who leadeth thee by the way thou shouldst go, hath done it. 1 Nephi 20:17

In the same verse the Redeemer is also the Holy One of Israel, the Book of Mormon's favorite title for Christ.

How we know: the verse itself names Him · a footnote points to Him

• the same title in 1 Nephi 22:21 — Nephi identifies the Holy One of Israel as the prophet like unto Moses.

The Lord Hath Redeemed Jacob

O that thou hadst hearkened to my commandments—then had thy peace been as a river, and thy righteousness as the waves of the sea. 1 Nephi 20:18–20

Jehovah longs for Israel to have obeyed, then promises they will come out of Babylon singing that the Lord has redeemed them. Leaving Babylon points to the greater redemption from sin through Christ.

How we know: Jehovah is the premortal Christ (Abraham 1:16; D&C 110:3–4)

• a parallel account in Isaiah 48:18-20 — The Isaiah source text.
• alludes to D&C 133:14 — 'Go ye out from Babylon' applied to the latter days.

The Smitten Rock

And they thirsted not; he led them through the deserts; he caused the waters to flow out of the rock for them; he clave the rock also and the waters gushed out. 1 Nephi 20:21

The rock struck in the wilderness gave life-saving water to thirsty Israel. Paul teaches 'that Rock was Christ,' who was struck for us and gives living water.

How we know: a Church study aid lists it

• alludes to Exodus 17:6 — Moses smites the rock at Horeb and water comes out.
• alludes to Numbers 20:11 — Moses smites the rock twice at Meribah.
• interpreted by 1 Corinthians 10:4 — 'They drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.'
• the same event in 1 Nephi 17:29 — Nephi recalls Moses smiting the rock.