God is invested in our happiness. Isaiah dramatizes this point by comparing Him with a disappointed keeper of a vineyard, whose vines bring forth wild grapes despite His efforts. Isaiah then warns us against six kinds of behavior that will not serve us well. Finally, he prophesies that, in the last days, God will gather His people from all nations of the earth.
Chapter Outline
- The song of the vineyard (v. 1-7)
- Six woes or warnings of the consequences of Israel’s behavior (v. 8-25)
- God will lift up an ensign to the nations (v. 26-30). (See also 2 Nephi 21:10-12.)
My Takeaways
- God feels sorrow when we fall short of our potential.
- We need to avoid distractions and prioritize good things.
- We should share the gospel continuously and naturally.
Featured Blog Posts
❖ The Vineyard – 2 Nephi 15:1-7
In a Very Fruitful Hill – 2 Nephi 15:1-4
1 And then will I sing to my well-beloved a song of my beloved, touching his vineyard. My well-beloved hath a vineyard in a very fruitful hill. 2 And he fenced it, and gathered out the stones thereof, and planted it with the choicest vine, and built a tower in the midst of it, and…
Tzedakah/Tze’akah
One of the hard things about being a parent or a teacher is when your children or students fall short of their potential. You can give them guidance, you can help them find opportunities, and you can provide encouragement and support. But the decision of whether to follow that guidance, take advantage of those opportunities,…
❖ Six Woes – 2 Nephi 15:8-25
Isaiah’s Six Woes – 2 Nephi 15:8-23
After sharing a discouraging parable about an unresponsive vineyard, Isaiah delivered six warnings to his readers, each beginning with the word “wo.” He must have observed these imprudent behaviors among his own people, but they are just as relevant in our day. Here are the six warnings: Don’t prioritize things over people (2 Nephi 15:8-10).…
Wo Unto Them that Join House to House – 2 Nephi 15:8-10
8 Wo unto them that join house to house, till there can be no place, that they may be placed alone in the midst of the earth! 9 In mine ears, said the Lord of Hosts, of a truth many houses shall be desolate, and great and fair cities without inhabitant. 10 Yea, ten acres…
“Wise in Their Own Eyes”
Isaiah said, “Wo unto the wise in their own eyes.” God wants us to be wise, but it’s apparently dangerous to think we’re wise. This is probably because a fundamental characteristic of wisdom is a willingness to listen and learn, particularly from God.
Old Testament Foundations
“From Darkness to Light”
Jesus came to bring light to those who walk in darkness. No wonder He told Paul that his mission was “to turn [people] from darkness to light.” We all pass through periods of darkness, but we will receive the Savior’s perfect light as we follow Him.
That Turn Aside the Just for a Thing of Naught – 2 Nephi 28:16-17
16 Wo unto them that turn aside the just for a thing of naught and revile against that which is good, and say that it is of no worth! For the day shall come that the Lord God will speedily visit the inhabitants of the earth; and in that day that they are fully ripe…
Church History Connections
“None Shall Slumber”
In 1837, Thomas B. Marsh was concerned about the state of the Church. In Missouri, church members had been driven from their homes. In Ohio, many members and even church leaders were becoming disaffected. As president of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, Thomas must have felt a deep desire to help curb the chaos…
An Ensign to the Nations – 2 Nephi 15:26, 2 Nephi 21:12
26 And he will lift up an ensign to the nations from far, and will hiss unto them from the end of the earth; and behold, they shall come with speed swiftly; none shall be weary nor stumble among them. (2 Nephi 15:26, Isaiah 5:26) 12 And he shall set up an ensign for the…
All Posts Referencing 2 Nephi 15
- Contents of the Brass Plates (1/3/2026)
- Contributing to the Hastening (8/16/2025)
- Relentless (4/9/2024)
- “Wise in Their Own Eyes” (2/29/2024)
- “From Darkness to Light” (8/5/2023)
- Tzedakah/Tze’akah (9/8/2022)
- “None Shall Slumber” (10/10/2021)
- Loftiness, Haughtiness (2 Nephi 12:11, 17, 2 Nephi 15:15-16) (2/23/2020)
- Isaiah’s Six Woes – 2 Nephi 15:8-23 (2/21/2020)
- How Can the Words of Isaiah Bring Us Joy? (2/19/2020)
- “Thine Anger Is Turned Away” – 2 Nephi 22:1 (2/18/2020)
- What Is Wisdom? (12/13/2019)
- Which of Isaiah’s Writings Are Quoted in the Book of Mormon? (5/31/2019)
- What Does the Book of Mormon Teach About Anger? (5/9/2019)
- An Ensign to the Nations – 2 Nephi 15:26, 2 Nephi 21:12 (10/7/2018)
- Wo Unto Them that Join House to House – 2 Nephi 15:8-10 (10/6/2018)
- In a Very Fruitful Hill – 2 Nephi 15:1-4 (9/14/2017)
- What Could Have Been Done More? – 2 Nephi 15:4 (2/27/2015)