3 Nephi 22

Chapter Overview

What happens in 3 Nephi 22

Christ quotes the entirety of Isaiah 54, a triumphant song of Zion's future glory. The barren woman is told to sing because her children will be more than those of the married wife, and God's everlasting covenant of peace is promised.

Scripture

Zion's barrenness turned to rejoicing

Study note

Isaiah's image of a barren woman bursting into song represents scattered Israel, which seemed forsaken but will be gathered in such abundance that her tent must be enlarged. Christ's quoting of these verses assures the Nephites that though Israel has been scattered and seemingly forgotten, her future glory will far exceed her past.

1 And then shall that which is written come to pass: Sing, O barren, thou that didst not bear; break forth into singing, and cry aloud, thou that didst not travail with child; for more are the children of the desolate than the children of the married wife, saith the Lord.

2 Enlarge the place of thy tent, and let them stretch forth the curtains of thy habitations; spare not, lengthen thy cords and strengthen thy stakes;

3 For thou shalt break forth on the right hand and on the left, and thy seed shall inherit the Gentiles and make the desolate cities to be inhabited.

4 Fear not, for thou shalt not be ashamed; neither be thou confounded, for thou shalt not be put to shame; for thou shalt forget the shame of thy youth, and shalt not remember the reproach of thy youth, and shalt not remember the reproach of thy widowhood any more.

5 For thy maker, thy husband, the Lord of Hosts is his name; and thy Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel—the God of the whole earth shall he be called.

God's everlasting mercy and covenant of peace

Study note

The Lord compares His temporary displeasure to a brief moment, while His kindness is everlasting. As He swore that the waters of Noah would no more cover the earth, so He swears His kindness will never depart. The 'covenant of peace' promised here is one of the most tender and reassuring passages in all of Isaiah.

6 For the Lord hath called thee as a woman forsaken and grieved in spirit, and a wife of youth, when thou wast refused, saith thy God.

7 For a small moment have I forsaken thee, but with great mercies will I gather thee.

8 In a little wrath I hid my face from thee for a moment, but with everlasting kindness will I have mercy on thee, saith the Lord thy Redeemer.

9 For this, the waters of Noah unto me, for as I have sworn that the waters of Noah should no more go over the earth, so have I sworn that I would not be wroth with thee.

10 For the mountains shall depart and the hills be removed, but my kindness shall not depart from thee, neither shall the covenant of my peace be removed, saith the Lord that hath mercy on thee.

The future beauty and protection of Zion

Study note

God promises to lay Zion's stones with fair colors and her foundations with sapphires. Her children will be taught of the Lord, and no weapon formed against her will prosper. This vision of a glorious, protected, divinely adorned Zion is the heritage of the servants of the Lord.

11 O thou afflicted, tossed with tempest, and not comforted! Behold, I will lay thy stones with fair colors, and lay thy foundations with sapphires.

12 And I will make thy windows of agates, and thy gates of carbuncles, and all thy borders of pleasant stones.

13 And all thy children shall be taught of the Lord; and great shall be the peace of thy children.

14 In righteousness shalt thou be established; thou shalt be far from oppression for thou shalt not fear, and from terror for it shall not come near thee.

15 Behold, they shall surely gather together against thee, not by me; whosoever shall gather together against thee shall fall for thy sake.

16 Behold, I have created the smith that bloweth the coals in the fire, and that bringeth forth an instrument for his work; and I have created the waster to destroy.

17 No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall revile against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and their righteousness is of me, saith the Lord.

Key Themes

Themes in 3 Nephi 22

Zion's restoration from desolation to gloryGod's everlasting covenant of peaceMercy triumphing after brief afflictionThe protection of God's covenant peopleNo weapon formed against Zion shall prosper

Prophetic Connections

How this chapter points to Christ

3 Nephi 22:1-17 Isaiah 54:1-17

Christ quotes the entire chapter of Isaiah 54, a prophecy of Zion's future glory, directly connecting the Nephites to Isaiah's vision.

3 Nephi 22:1 Galatians 4:27

Paul also quotes Isaiah 54:1 ('Rejoice, thou barren that bearest not') in his allegory of the free woman and the bondwoman.

3 Nephi 22:9-10 Genesis 9:11

God's comparison to the oath of Noah echoes the original covenant made after the flood, linking all of His covenant promises into one continuous chain.

Apply This Today

Living 3 Nephi 22

Isaiah 54, spoken here by the resurrected Christ Himself, is a love letter from God to anyone who feels barren, forsaken, or forgotten. His promise is personal: 'For a small moment have I forsaken thee; but with great mercies will I gather thee.' Every season of desolation is temporary; His covenant of peace is everlasting.

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