(c) Images Courtesy of the Leon Levy Dead Sea Scrolls Digital Library. Photo, Shai Halevi. www.deadseascrolls.org.il

Isaiah’s prophetic voice resonated powerfully with ancient readers. Twenty-one copies discovered in the Qumran caves—plus one from Murabba’at—make Isaiah the fourth most frequently copied text among the Dead Sea Scrolls. The most celebrated is the Great Isaiah Scroll from Cave 1, which preserves the entire book and stands as the longest complete biblical manuscript ever discovered. Other Isaiah manuscripts span nearly 185 years of scribal activity, with the earliest dating to 125 BCE. This particular scroll represents one of the latest copies, written in the first century CE. Scribes didn’t copy mechanically. This manuscript reveals subtle textual differences from both the Great Isaiah Scroll and the later Hebrew Bible. The scribe employed shorthand techniques, frequently omitting vowel letters like vav—a practice that streamlined writing without sacrificing meaning for ancient readers familiar with the text. 

Isaiah’s influence extended far beyond these manuscript copies. Scribes quoted the prophet in numerous non-biblical texts, including at least five separate commentaries. Why such attention? Isaiah’s predictions about the end of times struck a chord with Second Temple Jewish communities preoccupied with eschatological hope. Groups across the ancient world—from the Qumran community to the Gospel writers—saw their own turbulent era reflected in Isaiah’s ancient prophecies, finding meaning by reading contemporary events as fulfillments of the prophet’s words.  

Detail Translation

Col. VII: Frg. 11i (= Isaiah 52:4-7)

19 … into E]gyp[t to sojourn …

20 … what am I doing] here, says [the Lord, …

21 … continually all the ]day (long) [my] name[ is blasphemed. …

22 … they will know that it is I who s]peaks; here am I.

23 … … who announces s]alvation, who says

24 to Zion …]

Col. VIII: Frg. 11ii (= Isaiah 53:8-54:2)

17 … for the transgressio]ns of my people he was afflicted: Then he made [ his grave with the wicked, …]

18 … although ]he had done [no violen]ce, nor was any deceit in [his] mouth: [ Yet the Lord was willing]

19 to [cru]sh him, he made (him) suffer. Although you make [a sin-offering] of his [s]oul, he [will] see (his) offspring and he will prolong his days, and the wil[l of the Lord in his hands]

20 will triumph: From the toil of his soul he will see li[ght], and be satisfied. And through his knowledge, he will make righteous my righteous servant for the m[any, and their iniquities]

21 he will bear: The[ref]ore I will allot him a portion with the many and among the strong he will divide the spoils; because h[e poured out up to death]

22 his soul, and with transgressors (he) was numbered; yet he bore the sins of many and for their transgression[s he interceded: ]

23 Sing, O barren woman and who never bore a child; burst into song,
and shout for joy you who were never in labor! For (there will be) many (more) of the children [of the desolate woman than the children]

24 of the married woman says the Lord: Enlarge the place of your tent and the curtains of your dwellings [will be stretched, do not hold back,]

Col. IX: Frg. 12 (= Isaiah 54:2-11)

1 … l]engthe]n your …

2 … and] de[serted] cities [ …

3 for the disgrace of [your] you[th …

4 the Lord of hos[t]s is [his] name […

5 deserted and grieved in s[pirit …

6 In a brief moment I abandon[ed you …

7 for a moment from you and in kindne[ss everlasting …

8 to me, as I have sworn [. ..

9 [and] will not rebuke you: […

10 [will not] depart, and the cove[nant of my peace …

Col. XI: Frg. 13 (=Isaiah 57:9-17)

14 …] you sent your ambassadors f[ar away …

15 you grew wea]ry, but you would not say, “It is useless.” New strength [you found for your desire, and so you felt] no regre[t: Whom did

16 you dread and fear that you lied and you did not remember me, did no[t l]ay upon your heart. Have I not

17 kept silent for a long time, and so that you do not fear me? I will declare your justice and your

18 works they will not benefit you: When you cry out, let your contingents deliver you! And all off them will be carried

19 by the wind and a me]re breath [will take them away]. But whoever takes refuge in me will possess the land, and inherit my holy mountain.

20 “Build up, bu]ild up pr[epare the road! Remove every obstacle from my peoples way:” For thus says

21 the high and lofty One who inhabits eternity,] whose name is Holy: he will dwell in the high and holy (place) and also with (the one who is of) a contrite

22 and humble spirit, to revi]ve the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite: For I will not

23 accuse forever], nor will I always be angry; for then the spirit would grow faint before me — and the sou[ls] that I

24 have created: By his wicked] covetousness I was angry and I struck him, and I hid (my face) and was angry

Col. XII: Frgs. 13ii, 14, 15 (= Isaiah 57:18-58:3, 5-7)

1 …] I have se[e]n his ways but I will [hea]l him

2 …] to him and to those who mourn for him: I create the fruit of the lips, (saying),

3 … to the one who is f]ar and the one who is near, says the [L]ord, and I will heal him.

4 … are tos]sed for it cannot keep still, and [its waters] toss up

5 … there is no] peace, says my God,

6 for the wicked:]

7 Shout aloud, do not hold back! Like a trump]et lift up your voice and declare

8 … ] their sins: And me day after day

9 they seek … like a nat]ion that [practices] righteousness

10 … ] they as[k] me for ju[st

11 rulings,] for the nearness [ of God they are eager …

12 … w]e humbled our[selves …

13 …] you will fi[nd …

14- 16 [ … ]

17 the kind of f[ast I have chosen …

18 for bowing down like a bu[lrush one’s head …

19 you call [a fast …

20 I will choos[e, …

21 and set the opp[ressed free …

22 share with [the hungry your bread …

23 when you s[ee the naked …