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Isaiah 65:24
It will happen that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear.
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Interpretation

The prophet calls a before they call that is worked out in concrete decisions in Isaiah 65:24—look for "happen" and "before". Give before they call in prayers we actually pray—turn worship into posture.

Context

The setting is Isaiah—prophetic oracle, developing before they call. Read in Isaiah 65, its force becomes clearer. It also intersects prophetic hope & judgment. Listen for “happen” alongside “before”.

Authorship & Historical Background

Early sources associate Isaiah with the prophet Isaiah. Academic consensus for Isaiah tends toward: Many propose layered composition across exilic and post‑exilic periods.. Scholars commonly date Isaiah 8th–5th century BC. Prophetic Hope & Judgment is especially relevant in this line. Judgment and comfort are braided together. Chs 40–55 commonly exilic (Deutero). Chs 56–66 commonly post‑exilic (Trito). A long compositional arc is often proposed (Proto/Deutero/Trito).

More details
Traditional:Isaiah son of Amoz
Modern scholarship:Multiple authors (Proto‑, Deutero‑, Trito‑Isaiah).
Date:8th–5th century BC
  • Chs 40–55 commonly exilic (Deutero).
  • Chs 56–66 commonly post‑exilic (Trito).
Manuscripts & Textual Witnesses
The Masoretic tradition preserves the Hebrew text, standardized c. 6th-10th centuries CE. The Dead Sea Scrolls (discovered 1947-1956) provide manuscripts 1000+ years older than medieval texts, generally confirming the Masoretic Text's reliability with only minor variations. The Septuagint (Greek translation, 3rd-2nd century BCE) offers an independent textual witness. Variations between manuscripts are typically minor: spelling differences, word order, or clarifications that do not change the overall sense. Modern translations compare all available manuscripts to reconstruct the best reflects the earliest recoverable text text.
Sources & witness notes
MT