The Pragmatics of Peace in Isaiah 32: A Textual and Theological Analysis
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Date
2025
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Department of Religions University of Benin, Benin City, Edo State
Abstract
This paper investigates the pragmatics of peace in Isaiah 32. The study is motivated by the global urgency for peace, as reflected in the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 16, and the biblical vision of shalom as a holistic state of well-being anchored on righteousness and justice. The prophetic corpus of the Old Testament largely presents peace (shalom) as a holistic ideal that is firmly rooted in justice and divine presence. Nevertheless, the practical outworking of this vision remains underexplored in Old Testament scholarship. Therefore, a definite gap in literature is that previous research has focused on Isaiah 32’s eschatological and literary features, but seldom on how the text functions pragmatically to shape ethical behaviour, communal identity, and socio-political imagination. How does Isaiah 32 function as a blueprint for ethical behaviour and communal transformation? The objectives are to analyze the literary structure and theological dynamics of Isaiah 32, interpret its key themes of justice, righteousness, and Spirit outpouring, and assess its function as a prophetic blueprint for communal renewal. Methodologically, the paper employs a combined textual-linguistic and theological-exegetical approach, including historical-grammatical analysis, literary criticism, and theological synthesis. Findings reveal that Isaiah 32 deliberately intertwines prophetic speech, ethical vision, and divine initiative, and constructs peace as both a divine gift and communal responsibility. The study recommends that contemporary faith communities and secular leaders embody this model, integrate ethical leadership and governance, spirit-dependence, and social justice to achieve lasting peace.