He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb so he opened not his mouth.
Isaiah prophesies here of Jesus’ being judged before Pilate and Herod. Abinadi’s commentary on this verse is little more than a repetition of Isaiah.
And after all this, after working many mighty miracles among the children of men, he shall be led, yea, even as Isaiah said, as a sheep before the shearer is dumb, so he opened not his mouth.” [Mosiah 15:6]
The New Testament records Jesus’ actual appearance before Pilate and Herod. While Jesus did answer Pilate, he did so only sparingly, and on one occasion he gave him no answer (see John 19:9). When Pilate sent him to Herod, Jesus answered him not a word. Herod could only retaliate by mocking him (see Luke 23:8–11). Peter described the trials this way: “Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously” (1 Peter 2:23). Isaiah’s prophecy was fulfilled. The eunuch that Philip found in Gaza was reading Isaiah 53:7–8, and when Philip testified of Jesus he was baptized (see Acts 8:26–38).