2 Nephi 16

Premortal Christ

In the year that king Uzziah died, I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple. 2 Nephi 16:1–4

Isaiah sees the Lord enthroned in the temple while seraphim cry 'Holy, holy, holy.' Nephi says Isaiah saw the Redeemer, and John says this is when Isaiah saw Christ's glory, so this is a vision of Jesus Christ before His birth.

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

• interpreted by 2 Nephi 11:2 — Nephi: Isaiah 'verily saw my Redeemer.'
• interpreted by John 12:41 — 'These things said Esaias, when he saw his glory, and spake of him.'
• alluded to by Revelation 4:8 — Living creatures cry 'Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty.'
• a parallel account in Isaiah 6:1-4 — Same vision in Isaiah.

Lord of Hosts

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

Then said I: Wo is unto me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips; and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for mine eyes have seen the King, the Lord of Hosts. 2 Nephi 16:5

Isaiah feels undone because he has seen with his own eyes the King, the Lord of Hosts, the premortal Christ.

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

• a parallel account in Isaiah 6:5 — Same verse in Isaiah.

Atonement

Then flew one of the seraphim unto me, having a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with the tongs from off the altar; 2 Nephi 16:6–7

A coal from the altar of sacrifice touches Isaiah and his sin is taken away. It pictures how cleansing comes from the altar, the place of sacrifice that points to Christ's Atonement.

How we know: the chapter heading names Him

Jehovah

Jehovah — the premortal Christ, God of Israel

Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying: Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then I said: Here am I; send me. 2 Nephi 16:8

The enthroned Lord asks who will go, and Isaiah volunteers. The words echo the premortal council, where the Son of Man answered, 'Here am I, send me.'

How we know: the chapter heading names Him

• alludes to Abraham 3:27 — 'Whom shall I send? And one answered like unto the Son of Man: Here am I, send me.'

Jehovah

Jehovah — the premortal Christ, God of Israel

And he said: Go and tell this people—Hear ye indeed, but they understood not; and see ye indeed, but they perceived not. 2 Nephi 16:9–12

The Lord warns that many will hear and see but refuse to understand and be healed. Jesus quoted these words about people who rejected His teaching, words He first gave through Isaiah.

How we know: the chapter heading names Him

• quoted by Matthew 13:14-15 — Jesus quotes this prophecy to explain why He taught in parables.
• quoted by John 12:40-41 — John quotes it and says Isaiah saw Christ's glory.

Stem of Jesse

But yet there shall be a tenth, and they shall return, and shall be eaten, as a teil tree, and as an oak whose substance is in them when they cast their leaves; so the holy seed shall be the substance thereof. 2 Nephi 16:13

Even when Israel is cut down like a tree, life stays in the stump as a 'holy seed.' The image leads toward Isaiah's later promise of a rod growing from Jesse's stump, the Messiah.

How we know: the chapter heading names Him

• alludes to 2 Nephi 21:1 — A rod out of the stem of Jesse, a Branch out of his roots.