Jesus as EL, ELOHIM, THEOS Part 2 - Ecclesiastes Through Malachi

Does Isaiah 48:16 Teach the Trinity? A Closer Look at the Text

Isaiah 48:16–17 is often cited by trinitarians as evidence of “three persons in one Godhead.” Some even claim it is one of the clearest Old Testament statements of the Trinity. However, a careful reading of the passage shows that Isaiah 48:16 does not teach the Trinity, nor does it present Jehovah as a multi‑person being.

The Passage

“Come near to me and hear this: From the beginning, I have not spoken in secret; from the time that it was, there am I. And now the Lord Jehovah has sent me, with his Spirit.” — Isaiah 48:16 “Thus says Jehovah, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: ‘I am Jehovah your God, who teaches you to profit, who leads you by the way you should go.’” — Isaiah 48:17 (RLIV)

The Trinitarian Claim

The argument assumes:

• Jesus is one “person” of Jehovah.

• Another “person” of Jehovah sent Jesus.

• The Spirit is a third “person” of Jehovah.

• Therefore, Isaiah 48:16 reveals a tri‑personal God.

But this interpretation relies entirely on reading trinitarian assumptions into the text, not on what the text actually says.

What the Text Actually Shows

Throughout Scripture, Jehovah is consistently presented as one person, not three. Isaiah 48:16 contains:

• No reference to “three persons.”

• No description of a triune God.

• No indication that God’s spirit is a separate divine person.

Instead, the context shows that Isaiah himself is speaking in the latter part of verse 16, identifying himself as the one sent by Jehovah—just as he was earlier commissioned in Isaiah 6:9–10.

Commentaries Agree

Several respected commentaries confirm that the speaker in Isaiah 48:16 is the prophet Isaiah, not a pre‑incarnate Christ, and not a “second person” of a triune deity.

• Benson’s Commentary: Isaiah is the one sent by Jehovah, though he may typologically foreshadow Christ.

• Barnes’ Notes: The passage is best understood as Isaiah asserting his divine commission and inspiration.

• Matthew Poole: The “me” refers to Isaiah, who is a type of Christ but not Christ Himself.

• Cambridge Bible: “His spirit” is not a second divine person but the empowering presence of Jehovah.

Isaiah’s Writing Style Supports This

Isaiah frequently shifts between quoting Jehovah and speaking for himself without explicit markers (e.g., Isaiah 8:1–3). Isaiah 48:16–17 follows this same pattern.

Translations That Support This Reading

Several translations punctuate the passage in a way that clearly separates Isaiah’s words from Jehovah’s quotation:

• Revised Standard Version

• Today’s English Version

• New Century Version

• New World Translation (1971)

• New American Bible

These translations show that the speaker changes in verse 16, confirming that Isaiah—not Jesus—is the one sent by Jehovah.

Even if the verse referred to Jesus…

Even if one insisted that Jesus is the speaker, the verse still would not teach the Trinity. The one who sends Jesus is the only true God (John 17:1,3), and the one sent is not the sender.

Conclusion

Isaiah 48:16 contains:

• No triune Godhead

• No three persons in Jehovah

• No divine personhood of the Spirit

• No identification of Jesus as Jehovah

The doctrine that “Jesus is Jehovah” is not found in Isaiah 48:16—or anywhere else in Scripture.

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.” — 1 Peter 1:3

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