"and they became a sign"

Today's post will outline an interesting new idea I recently had about this promise in Isaiah:

26 ¶ And he will lift up an ensign to the nations from far, and will hiss unto them from the end of the earth... (Isaiah 5)

I've always thought of this "ensign" as a positive thing -- a banner or a beacon to which the honest in heart will flock. And I still think that is a perfectly valid way to think about this verse.

What I offer below is an alternative suggestion for what this "ensign" might be. In this post, every time you see a word highlighted in blue, it comes from the same Hebrew root.

The company of Korah

In the book of Numbers, we read about a challenge to the authority of Moses and Aaron.  Descendants of Reuben (the eldest son of Jacob) dispute over who should have the right to lead the people.

Moses prevails in a pretty miraculous way, and then we read this:

10 And the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed them up together with Korah, when that company died, what time the fire devoured two hundred and fifty men: and they became a sign. (Numbers 26)

The NRSV translates this word as "warning." Although I'm only a novice when it comes to Hebrew, I get curious as I read the Old Testament about what the original Hebrew words are for certain phrases. I read this and really wanted to know what word was translated into "sign" in this verse. Here is is:

nes (נֵס): a standard, ensign, signal, sign

This same word is used to describe the brazen serpent that Moses raises in the wilderness to heal the people from the fiery serpents (see Numbers 21:8-9).

Isaiah uses the word several times in a similar context as the verse quoted above from Isaiah 5.  A few key examples are presented below:

Isaiah 11

10 ¶ And in that day there shall be a root of Jesse, which shall stand for an ensign of the people; to it shall the Gentiles seek: and his rest shall be glorious.

11 And it shall come to pass in that day, that the Lord shall set his hand again the second time to recover the remnant of his people, which shall be left, from Assyria, and from Egypt, and from Pathros, and from Cush, and from Elam, and from Shinar, and from Hamath, and from the islands of the sea.

12 And he shall set up an ensign for the nations, and shall assemble the outcasts of Israel, and gather together the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth.

Interestingly, Doctrine & Covenants 113:3-4 seems to indicate that the "root of Jesse" is Joseph Smith. Furthermore, in verse 11, flanked by two references to the latter-day "ensign for the nations," we get the prophecy that the Lord "shall set his hand again to recover the remnant of his people." The Hebrew of this phrase includes yō·w·sîp̄, from which the name Joseph derives. Very interesting and clever, if you ask me.

Isaiah 13

2 Lift ye up a banner upon the high mountain, exalt the voice unto them, shake the hand, that they may go into the gates of the nobles.

This verse is also very interesting.  It's presented in a clear military context.  Bible commentaries outline how this verse essentially describes the Lord declaring war on Babylon and calling His people to gather to the standard to prepare for the coming war.

Isaiah 18

3 All ye inhabitants of the world, and dwellers on the earth, see ye, when he lifteth up an ensign on the mountains; and when he bloweth a trumpet, hear ye.

In this verse we see much of the same imagery as in Isaiah 13:2, with the addition of the trumpet.  I'll get to that symbol as I attempt to tie all of these symbols together below.

Connecting to the Book of Mormon

With all of this in mind, what is the latter-day 'ensign' spoken of in these verses? I can't help but see the Book of Mormon itself as the best fit.  Of course it connects to the restoration of the Gospel, the priesthood, the temple, covenants, etc.  But the Book of Mormon itself is the voice of warning to the world. What better way to warn than to give us the record of a civilization of Israelites who collapsed as a result of rejecting the covenant? The voice of warning "[cries] from the dust" (2 Nephi 33:13) and admonishes us to "give thanks unto God that he hath made manifest unto you our imperfections, that ye may learn to be more wise than we have been." (Mormon 9:31).

Moroni, the same being who is depicted with a trumpet on so many of our temples, sounds this voice of warning to the world and reminds us that the coming forth of the Book of Mormon is the sign that the Lord has set His hand again to recover the remnant of his people.

16 ... Remember, when ye see these things, ye shall know that the time is at hand that they shall be made manifest in very deed.

17 Therefore, when ye shall receive this record ye may know that the work of the Father has commenced upon all the face of the land. (Ether 4)

The company of Korah "became a sign" for the ancient Israelites to remember by what power they had been delivered from Egypt.  Similarly, the Nephites have become a sign for us in the latter days to remember that the way of life comes through hearkening the voice of the Lord.

Achaz (אָחַז): to grasp, take hold, take possession -- part 1

One way I use to discover meanings and make new connections in the scriptures involves studying Hebrew root words and thinking about how their various meanings relate to Book of Mormon passages. I've come to learn that the Book of Mormon makes more sense in many cases when studied through the lens of the ancient Semitic worldview.

My most recent topic of study is the Hebrew root 'achaz' meaning 'to grasp, take hold, or take possession.'

We encounter this root in many different contexts throughout the Old Testament ('achaz' appears in some form 68 times).  Here is a sampling (the words translated from 'achaz' are in bold italics):

13 And Abraham lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold behind him a ram caught in a thicket by his horns: and Abraham went and took the ram, and offered him up for a burnt offering in the stead of his son. (Genesis 22)

26 And after that came his brother out, and his hand took hold on Esau’s heel; and his name was called Jacob: and Isaac was threescore years old when she bare them. (Genesis 25)

27 ¶ And Israel dwelt in the land of Egypt, in the country of Goshen; and they had possessions therein, and grew, and multiplied exceedingly. (Genesis 47)

2 And the Lord said unto him, What is that in thine hand? And he said, A rod. 3 And he said, Cast it on the ground. And he cast it on the ground, and it became a serpent; and Moses fled from before it. 4 And the Lord said unto Moses, Put forth thine hand, and take it by the tail. And he put forth his hand, and caught it, and it became a rod in his hand: 5 That they may believe that the Lord God of their fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, hath appeared unto thee. (Exodus 4)

9 The righteous also shall hold on his way, and he that hath clean hands shall be stronger and stronger. (Job 17)

11 My foot hath held his steps, his way have I kept, and not declined. (Job 23)

22 So foolish was I, and ignorant: I was as a beast before thee. 23 Nevertheless I am continually with thee: thou hast holden me by my right hand. 24 Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel, and afterward receive me to glory. (Psalm 73)

10 Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me. (Psalm 139)

8 And they shall be afraid: pangs and sorrows shall take hold of them; they shall be in pain as a woman that travaileth: (Isaiah 13)

14 The sinners in Zion are afraid; fearfulness hath surprised the hypocrites. Who among us shall dwell with the devouring fire? who among us shall dwell with everlasting burnings? (Isaiah 33)

I'm especially intrigued by several examples on this list.  The account in Exodus 4 where Moses is commanded to take the serpent by the tail and it become a rod in his hand is noteworthy.  It is also very intriguing that Jacob was born while holding his brother's heel. More to come on these grand topics in future posts.

Hopefully this set of examples helps you see the broad range of uses 'achaz' has in the Old Testament.  I created the following list to help me in my search for related terms in the Book of Mormon:

• grasp
• take hold
• possess/take possession
• hold
• seize

I'm sure I'll find additional terms that fit this same pattern as I search. In part 2, we'll look at the passages I find in the Book of Mormon, and focus on patterns related to the duality of covenant-keeping or covenant rebellion.  In other words, we must hold fast to the word of God lest the devil grasp us with his awful chains.