3 Nephi 22

Jehovah

And then shall that which is written come to pass: Sing, O barren, thou that didst not bear; break forth into singing, and cry aloud, thou that didst not travail with child; for more are the children of the desolate than the children of the married wife, saith the Lord. 3 Nephi 22:1

"The Lord" who speaks this promise to barren Israel is Jehovah, and here the resurrected Jesus Christ says the words Himself. He is the one who will make desolate Israel fruitful again through the gathering.

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

• a parallel account in Isaiah 54:1 — The same passage in Isaiah.
• quoted by Galatians 4:27 — Paul quotes this verse about the children of promise.
• alludes to 3 Nephi 20:11 — Jesus tells the Nephites the words of Isaiah must be fulfilled.

Lord of Hosts

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

For thy maker, thy husband, the Lord of Hosts is his name; and thy Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel—the God of the whole earth shall he be called. 3 Nephi 22:5

Lord of Hosts is a title of Jehovah, the premortal Christ. Jesus applies this name to Himself as He recites Isaiah.

How we know: the verse itself names Him

• a parallel account in Isaiah 54:5 — The same verse in Isaiah.
• the same title in D&C 29:9 — The Lord of Hosts in a revelation in Christ's voice.

Redeemer

Redeemer — one who buys back what was lost or enslaved

For thy maker, thy husband, the Lord of Hosts is his name; and thy Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel—the God of the whole earth shall he be called. 3 Nephi 22:5

Jesus Christ is Israel's Redeemer, who pays the price to free His people from sin and captivity. The verse also says He will be called the God of the whole earth, not only of Israel.

How we know: the verse itself names Him

• a parallel account in Isaiah 54:5 — The same verse in Isaiah.
• the same title in 1 Nephi 21:26 — The Lord thy Savior and thy Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob.

Holy One of Israel

Holy One of Israel — the holy God who belongs to Israel by covenant

For thy maker, thy husband, the Lord of Hosts is his name; and thy Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel—the God of the whole earth shall he be called. 3 Nephi 22:5

The Holy One of Israel is one of the Book of Mormon's favorite titles for Jesus Christ. The one who is perfectly holy chooses to be Israel's own God.

How we know: the verse itself names Him

• a parallel account in Isaiah 54:5 — The same verse in Isaiah.
• the same title in 2 Nephi 9:41 — The keeper of the gate is the Holy One of Israel.

Creator (Maker)

Maker — the one who formed Israel and the earth

For thy maker, thy husband, the Lord of Hosts is his name; and thy Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel—the God of the whole earth shall he be called. 3 Nephi 22:5

Israel's Maker is Jehovah, who created the earth under the Father's direction. Jesus, reciting this, names Himself the one who made His people.

How we know: the verse itself names Him

• a parallel account in Isaiah 54:5 — The same verse in Isaiah.
• the same title in John 1:3 — All things were made by Him.
• the same title in Mosiah 3:8 — Jesus Christ, the Creator of all things from the beginning.

Bridegroom (Husband of Israel)

Husband — the covenant partner bound to His people

For thy maker, thy husband, the Lord of Hosts is his name; and thy Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel—the God of the whole earth shall he be called. 3 Nephi 22:5

The covenant between the Lord and Israel is pictured as a marriage, and He is the faithful husband who takes back a wife who strayed. The New Testament calls Christ the Bridegroom of His Church.

How we know: the verse itself names Him

• a parallel account in Isaiah 54:5 — The same verse in Isaiah.
• the same title in Matthew 25:1-13 — Christ as the Bridegroom in the parable of the ten virgins.
• alludes to Hosea 2:19-20 — The Lord betroths Israel to Himself forever.

Redeemer

Redeemer — one who buys back what was lost or enslaved

For the Lord hath called thee as a woman forsaken and grieved in spirit, and a wife of youth, when thou wast refused, saith thy God. 3 Nephi 22:6–8

The Redeemer speaks in the first person, promising that Israel's time of being cast off is short and His mercy is everlasting. It is Christ's own promise to gather His scattered people.

How we know: the verse itself names Him

• a parallel account in Isaiah 54:7-8 — The same verses in Isaiah.
• alludes to 1 Nephi 21:14-16 — Zion thinks she is forsaken, but the Lord has graven her on the palms of His hands.

Jehovah

For this, the waters of Noah unto me, for as I have sworn that the waters of Noah should no more go over the earth, so have I sworn that I would not be wroth with thee. 3 Nephi 22:9–10

Jehovah, who made the covenant with Noah, swears an equally sure covenant of peace with His people. Christ, speaking these words, is the God who keeps both covenants.

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

• a parallel account in Isaiah 54:9-10 — The same verses in Isaiah.
• alludes to Genesis 9:11 — The covenant that the waters would no more become a flood.

Jehovah

And all thy children shall be taught of the Lord; and great shall be the peace of thy children. 3 Nephi 22:13

The children of Zion will be taught by the Lord Himself. Jesus quoted this verse in John 6 to explain that those taught of God come to Him, and here He is literally teaching the Nephites and their children.

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

• a parallel account in Isaiah 54:13 — The same verse in Isaiah.
• quoted by John 6:45 — Jesus: 'they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard... cometh unto me.'

Creation by Christ

Behold, I have created the smith that bloweth the coals in the fire, and that bringeth forth an instrument for his work; and I have created the waster to destroy. 3 Nephi 22:16

The Lord reminds Israel that He created even the weapon-maker and the destroyer, so no enemy is beyond His power. Jehovah the Creator is the premortal Christ.

• a parallel account in Isaiah 54:16 — The same verse in Isaiah.

Grace — righteousness from Him

No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall revile against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and their righteousness is of me, saith the Lord. 3 Nephi 22:17

The Lord declares that His servants' righteousness comes from Him, not from themselves. Latter-day Saints see this as the Savior's grace: we are made righteous through Christ.

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

• a parallel account in Isaiah 54:17 — The same verse in Isaiah.
• alludes to 2 Nephi 2:8 — No flesh can dwell in God's presence save it be through the merits, mercy, and grace of the Holy Messiah.