2 Nephi 15

Lord of the Vineyard

And then will I sing to my well-beloved a song of my beloved, touching his vineyard. My well-beloved hath a vineyard in a very fruitful hill. 2 Nephi 15:1–7

In this song the Lord of Hosts plants, fences, and tends a vineyard, His people Israel, and it gives only wild grapes. 'What could have been done more?' shows how much the Lord pours into His people, the same Lord of the vineyard found in Jacob 5 and in Jesus' parable.

How we know: the verse itself names Him

• a parallel account in Isaiah 5:1-7 — Same song in Isaiah.
• alluded to by Matthew 21:33 — Jesus' parable of the householder who planted a vineyard, hedged it, dug a winepress, and built a tower.
• alluded to by Jacob 5:41 — The Lord of the vineyard weeps: 'What could I have done more for my vineyard?'

Lord of Hosts

Lord of Hosts — Jehovah, commander of the armies of heaven

But the Lord of Hosts shall be exalted in judgment, and God that is holy shall be sanctified in righteousness. 2 Nephi 15:16

As the proud fall, the Lord of Hosts is lifted up through His righteous judgments.

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

Holy One of Israel

Holy One of Israel — the sacred, set-apart God of Israel's covenant

That say: Let him make speed, hasten his work, that we may see it; and let the counsel of the Holy One of Israel draw nigh and come, that we may know it. 2 Nephi 15:19

Scoffers mock the Holy One of Israel and dare Him to hurry up and prove Himself. Nephi and Jacob have just identified the Holy One of Israel as Christ.

How we know: the verse itself names Him

• the same title in 2 Nephi 9:41 — The Holy One of Israel is the keeper of the gate.

Holy One of Israel

Holy One of Israel — the sacred, set-apart God of Israel's covenant

Therefore, as the fire devoureth the stubble, and the flame consumeth the chaff, their root shall be rottenness, and their blossoms shall go up as dust; because they have cast away the law of the Lord of Hosts, and despised the word of the Holy One of Israel. 2 Nephi 15:24

The wicked burn like stubble because they rejected the law of the Lord of Hosts and despised the word of the Holy One of Israel. Both titles name Christ.

How we know: the verse itself names Him

Jehovah

Jehovah — the premortal Christ, God of Israel

Therefore, is the anger of the Lord kindled against his people, and he hath stretched forth his hand against them, and hath smitten them; and the hills did tremble, and their carcasses were torn in the midst of the streets. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still. 2 Nephi 15:25

Here the stretched-out hand is a hand of judgment on a rebellious people. Latter-day Saint teachers often also hear in the phrase that the Lord's hand of mercy is still reaching out to anyone who will return.

• alludes to Jacob 6:4 — The Lord stretches forth His hands to His people all the day long.

Jehovah

Jehovah — the premortal Christ, God of Israel

And he will lift up an ensign to the nations from far, and will hiss unto them from the end of the earth; and behold, they shall come with speed swiftly; none shall be weary nor stumble among them. 2 Nephi 15:26

The Lord raises a banner and calls the nations from the ends of the earth. Latter-day Saints read this as the latter-day gathering, which Christ Himself leads.

• alludes to 2 Nephi 21:10-12 — The root of Jesse stands for an ensign, and the Lord gathers Israel.