c. 8th century BCE·Divided Kingdom·Artifact
The 'Isaiah the Prophet' Seal?
Scripture: 2 Kings 19–20; Isaiah 1:1
The claim
The prophet Isaiah advises King Hezekiah during the Assyrian crisis.
What archaeology found
A bulla found near Hezekiah's seal impression in the Ophel excavations reads 'Belonging to Yesha'yahu', followed by the letters 'nvy'. Eilat Mazar suggested 'nvy' is part of 'navi' (prophet), but the impression is damaged right where the final letter would be. It could also be a place name or a personal name.
Sources
- Eilat Mazar, Is This the Prophet Isaiah's Signature?, Biblical Archaeology Review 44:2 (2018)
Verdict history
- DebatedInitial verdict.