Isaiah11
English Standard Version
1There shall come a the of , and a his shall .
2And the of the Lord shall him, the of and , the of and , the of and the of the Lord.
3And his shall be in the of the Lord. He shall by what his , by what his ,
4but with he shall the , and with for the of the ; and he shall the with the of his , and with the of his he shall the .
5 shall be the of his , and the of his .
6The shall with the , and the shall with the , and the and the and the ; and a shall them.
7The and the shall ; their shall ; and the shall like the .
8The shall the of the , and the shall his on the .
9They shall in my ; the shall be of the of the Lord as the the .
10In that the of , shall as a for the —of him shall the , and his shall be .
11In that the will his yet a to the of his , , , , , , , , and the of the .
12He will a for the and will the of , and the of the of the .
13The of shall , and those who shall be ; shall be of , and shall .
14But they shall on the of the in the , and they shall the of the . They shall their against and , and the shall them.
15And the Lord will the of the of , and will his the with his , and it into , and he will people across in .
16And there will be a for the of his , there was for they came the of .
Study Guide
Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Isaiah 11.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: The peaceful character of Christ's kingdom and subjects. (1-9). The conversion of the Gentiles and Jews. (10-16).
vv1-9
The Messiah is called a Rod, and a Branch. The words signify a small, tender product; a shoot, such as is easily broken off. He comes forth out of the stem of Jesse; when the royal family was cut down and almost levelled with the ground, it would sprout again. The house of David was brought very low at the time of Christ's birth. The Messiah thus gave early notice that his kingdom was not of this world. But the Holy Spirit, in all his gifts and graces, shall rest and abide upon him; he shall have the fulness of the Godhead dwelling in him, Col. 1:19; 2:9. Many consider that seven gifts of the Holy Spirit are here mentioned. And the doctrine of the influences of the Holy Spirit is here clearly taught. The Messiah would be just and righteous in all his government. His threatening shall be executed by the working of his Spirit according to his word. There shall be great peace and quiet under his government. The gospel changes the nature, and makes those who trampled on the meek of the earth, meek like them, and kind to them. But it shall be more fully shown in the latter days. Also Christ, the great Shepherd, shall take care of his flock, that the nature of troubles, and of death itself, shall be so changed, that they shall not do any real hurt. God's people shall be delivered, not only from evil, but from the fear of it. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? The better we know the God of love, the more shall we be changed into the same likeness, and the better disposed to all who have any likeness to him. This knowledge shall extend as the sea, so far shall it spread. And this blessed power there have been witnesses in every age of Christianity, though its most glorious time, here foretold, is not yet arrived. Meanwhile let us aim that our example and endeavours may help to promote the honour of Christ and his kingdom of peace.
vv10-16
When the gospel should be publicly preached, the Gentiles would seek Christ Jesus as their Lord and Saviour, and find rest of soul. When God's time is come for the deliverance of his people, mountains of opposition shall become plains before him. God can soon turn gloomy days into glorious ones. And while we expect the Lord to gather his ancient people, and bring them home to his church, also to bring in the fulness of the Gentiles, when all will be united in holy love, let us tread the highway of holiness he has made for his redeemed. Let us wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life, looking to him to prepare our way through death, that river which separates this world from the eternal world.
Key Words
יָצָא: to go (causatively, bring) out, in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively, direct and proxim.
חֹטֵר: a twig
מִן: properly, a part of; hence (prepositionally), from or out of in many senses
גֶּזַע: the trunk or stump of atree (as felled or as planted)
יִשַׁי: Jishai, David's father
נֵצֶר: a shoot; figuratively, a descendant
שֶׁרֶשׁ: a root (literally or figuratively)
פָּרָה: to bear fruit (literally or figuratively)
רוּחַ: wind; by resemblance breath, i.e. a sensible (or even violent) exhalation; figuratively, life, anger, unsubstantiality; by extension, a region of the sky; by resemblance spirit, but only of a rational being (including its expression and functions)
נוּחַ: to rest, i.e. settle down; used in a great variety of applications, literal and figurative, intransitive, transitive and causative (to dwell, stay, let fall, place, let alone, withdraw, give comfort, etc.)
Cross References
Isaiah 11Explicitly quotes Isaiah 11:10 (the Root of Jesse rising to reign over the Gentiles) in the NT.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Jesus directly identifies Himself as the 'Root and the Offspring of David' echoing the Isaianic branch.
Supported by JFB
The Messiah grows up as a tender plant/root out of dry ground, reflecting David's depressed line.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Parallels the promise of raising up a righteous 'Branch' unto David to execute judgment and justice.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Historical fulfillment of the Spirit resting upon the Messiah, whom God anointed with the Holy Ghost.
Supported by Matthew Poole
The Lord shall consume the wicked with the 'spirit of his mouth' and brightness of his coming.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Out of His mouth goes a sharp sword to smite nations, fulfilling the 'rod of his mouth'.
Supported by JFB
Echoes the Messianic attire of righteousness and truth as girdles for spiritual warfare.
Supported by JFB
Repeats the precise prophetic imagery of the wolf and the lamb feeding together in peace.
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Echoes the verbal formula that the earth will be filled with the glory/knowledge of God.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Prophesies the end of division between Israel/Ephraim and Judah, making them one nation again.
Supported by Matthew Henry
The historical parting of the Red Sea serves as the archetype for drying up the streams.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Jesus is designated as 'the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David'.
Supported by JFB
Refers to the coming Messiah under the explicit title of 'my servant the BRANCH'.
Supported by JFB
In Christ are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge spoken of in verse 2.
Supported by JFB
Contrasts human judgment based on outward appearance with the Lord's perfect heart-searching wisdom.
Supported by JFB
God promises to make a covenant with the beasts of the field to ensure safety.
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Drying up of the great river Euphrates to prepare the way for the kings of the East.
Supported by Matthew Henry