Isaiah scroll

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June 29, 2026

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The Isaiah scroll is an ancient manuscript discovered near the Dead Sea, dating back to the 3rd century BCE. It is a significant find because it is one of the oldest surviving copies of the biblical Book of Isaiah. This scroll, along with others found in the Judaean desert, has been crucial for understanding the history of the Hebrew Bible and its textual variations.12

The prophet Isaiah, after whom the book is named, was active in the 8th century BCE. His prophecies addressed the people of Judah and Jerusalem, warning them of divine judgment due to social injustices and unfaithfulness, but also offering hope for future redemption. The Isaiah scroll found at Qumran is a nearly complete copy of the book and provides valuable insights into the text as it existed around 100-75 BCE.342

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biblical literature
The Qumrān texts and other scrolls
…Qumrān are a practically complete Isaiah scroll (1QIsa^a), dated about 100–75 bce, and another very fragmentary manuscript (1QIsa^b) of the same book. The first contains many variants from the Masoretic text in both orthography and text, and the second is very close to the Masoretic type and contains few genuine…
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…Qumrān are a practically complete Isaiah scroll (1QIsa^a), dated about 100–75 bce, and another very fragmentary manuscript (1QIsa^b) of the same book. The first contains many variants from the Masoretic text in both orthography and text, and the second is very close to the Masoretic type and contains few genuine…
Read More