Archaeologists Uncover Possible Signature of the Prophet Isaiah

Archaeologists working at the southern wall of the Temple Mount in Jerusalem believe they have found a seal stamp that might bear the signature of the biblical Prophet Isaiah.  The clay artifact is said to be 2,700 years old.  Dr. Eilat Mazar whose team found the clay seal mark believed to be tied to the Biblical prophet released a statement on his team’s findings.

“We found the eighth-century B.C.E. seal mark that may have been made by the prophet Isaiah himself only 10 feet away from where we earlier discovered the highly-publicized bulla of King Hezekiah of Judah,” Mazar said.

The clay seal is inscribed with the Hebrew name Yesha’yahu (Isaiah) and is followed by the world nvy. However the last word is slightly damaged and experts can’t determine whether the Hebrew word is intended to mean prophet, so Dr. Mazar says they must be open to the possibility that it could just be the name Navi. Dr. Mazar did say though that Isaiah is clearly written on the seal.

The clay seal was found near artifacts that belonged to King Hezekiah, who had a close relationship with the Biblical prophet. Second Kings book in the bible details their close relationship, so it would make sense that something belonging to Isaiah would be found among King Hezekiah artifacts.

Isaiah is best known in the Christian belief system for his prophecies about the birth and death of the Messiah. Isaiah was one of the main prophets to record the sorrow that is included in the Christian scriptures. The seal, if it is determined to be Isaiah’s, proves that he worked during the eighth century in Jerusalem’s society, as having a seal meant you were very important.  The Bible presented Isaiah as a court prophet, who provided insight to King Hezekiah.