Yea, even doth not Isaiah say: Who hath believed our report, and to whom is the arm of the Lord revealed?
Although Abinadi does not comment directly on this verse, the context in which he quotes it makes his interpretation clear. He had just declared that all of the prophets since the world began have testified of Christ. To support this statement, he said, “Yea, even doth not Isaiah say” and proceeded to quote the entirety of Isaiah 53. Clearly Abinadi understands this passage not as a prophesy of suffering Israel, but a prophecy of Jesus Christ, of whom all the prophets have testified. And yet, the people were not receptive to Isaiah’s prophecies of Christ, to Abinadi’s, or witness, to the testimonies of the other prophets. It was the hard hearts of the people and their lack of understanding of the law that brought Isaiah to cry, “Who hath believed our report?”
Other scriptures support Abinadi’s interpretation. For example, Jacob, the brother of Nephi, prophesied “that none of the prophets have written, nor prophesied, save they have spoken concerning this Christ” (Jacob 7:11; see also 4:4–6). The Savior himself, when he ministered in the flesh, showed how the law of Moses, the Prophets, and the Psalms [the three divisions of the Hebrew bible] all foretold of him (Luke 24:27; 44). Paul’s Epistle to the Romans confirmed that many of the people would not accept the testimony of the ancient prophets. He said, “But they would have not all obeyed the gospel” (Romans 10:16), and quoted the first phrase of Isaiah 53:1 to support his statement. Thus, both the Book of Mormon and the Bible give us the correct meaning of Isaiah’s words “who hath believed our report?”
Abinadi also said: “God himself shall come among the children of men, and take upon him the form of a man” (Mosiah 13:34). Isaiah referred to Christ by the title Immanuel, which means “God with us” (see Isaiah 7:14; 8:8). While there is no record of other prophets referring to him by this name, they might have done so because “many plain and precious things were taken away from the [Bible]” (1 Nephi 13:28).
Abinadi does not comment on the last half of Isaiah 53:1, “and to whom is the arm of the Lord revealed?” However, John interprets the many miracles that Jesus did among the Jews during his sojourn in the flesh as a fulfillment of Isaiah’s words that the arm of the Lord would be revealed: “But though he had done so many miracles before them, yet they believed not on him: That the saying of Esaias the prophet might be fulfilled, which he spake, Lord, who hath believed our report? and to whom hath the arm of the Lord been revealed?” (John 12:37–38). The performance of miracles exhibited his power as the Son of God. Thus the people rejected the written testimony of their Redeemer as well as the physical evidence provided by his miracles. Although both testimonies were rejected, the two types of witnesses established the divinity of the Messiah.
The same symbolism is used to show his power in the latter days: “And I would, my brethren, that ye should know that all the kindreds of the earth cannot be blessed unless he shall make bare his arm in the eyes of the nations. Wherefore, the Lord God will proceed to make bare his arm in the eyes of all the nations, in bringing about his covenants and his gospel unto those who are of the house of Israel” (1 Nephi 22:10–11).
It is also used to show his power at the time of his appearance to the Jews.
43 And the remnant shall be gathered unto this place;
44 And then they shall look for me, and, behold, I will come; and they shall see me in the clouds of heaven, clothed with power and great glory; with all the holy angels; and he that watches not for me shall be cut off.
45 But before the arm of the Lord shall fall, an angel shall sound his trump, and the saints that have slept shall come forth to meet me in the cloud.
46 Wherefore, if ye have slept in peace blessed are you; for as you now behold me and know that I am, even so shall ye come unto me and your souls shall live, and your redemption shall be perfected; and the saints shall come forth from the four quarters of the earth.
47 Then shall the arm of the Lord fall upon the nations. [D&C 45:43–47]