Isaiah 11NIV
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Isaiah11

New International Version

1A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots a Branch will bear fruit.

2The Spirit of the Lord will rest on him— the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the Spirit of counsel and of might, the Spirit of the knowledge and fear of the Lord—

3and he will delight in the fear of the Lord. He will not judge by what he sees with his eyes, or decide by what he hears with his ears;

4but with righteousness he will judge the needy, with justice he will give decisions for the poor of the earth. He will strike the earth with the rod of his mouth; with the breath of his lips he will slay the wicked.

5Righteousness will be his belt and faithfulness the sash around his waist.

6The wolf will live with the lamb, the leopard will lie down with the goat, the calf and the lion and the yearling together; and a little child will lead them.

7The cow will feed with the bear, their young will lie down together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox.

8The infant will play near the cobra’s den, and the young child will put its hand into the viper’s nest.

9They will neither harm nor destroy on all my holy mountain, for the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea.

10In that day the Root of Jesse will stand as a banner for the peoples; the nations will rally to him, and his resting place will be glorious.

11In that day the Lord will reach out his hand a second time to reclaim the surviving remnant of his people from Assyria, from Lower Egypt, from Upper Egypt, from Cush, from Elam, from Babylonia, from Hamath and from the islands of the Mediterranean.

12He will raise a banner for the nations and gather the exiles of Israel; he will assemble the scattered people of Judah from the four quarters of the earth.

13Ephraim’s jealousy will vanish, and Judah’s enemies will be destroyed; Ephraim will not be jealous of Judah, nor Judah hostile toward Ephraim.

14They will swoop down on the slopes of Philistia to the west; together they will plunder the people to the east. They will subdue Edom and Moab, and the Ammonites will be subject to them.

15The Lord will dry up the gulf of the Egyptian sea; with a scorching wind he will sweep his hand over the Euphrates River. He will break it up into seven streams so that anyone can cross over in sandals.

16There will be a highway for the remnant of his people that is left from Assyria, as there was for Israel when they came up from Egypt.

Study Guide

Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Isaiah 11.

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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.

Cross References

Isaiah 11
v10Romans 15:12quotation

Explicitly 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

v1Isaiah 53:2allusion

The Messiah grows up as a tender plant/root out of dry ground, reflecting David's depressed line.

Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB

v1Jeremiah 23:5thematic

Parallels the promise of raising up a righteous 'Branch' unto David to execute judgment and justice.

Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB

v2Acts 10:38fulfillment

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

v5Ephesians 6:14allusion

Echoes the Messianic attire of righteousness and truth as girdles for spiritual warfare.

Supported by JFB

v6Isaiah 65:25thematic

Repeats the precise prophetic imagery of the wolf and the lamb feeding together in peace.

Supported by JFB

v9Habakkuk 2:14thematic

Echoes the verbal formula that the earth will be filled with the glory/knowledge of God.

Supported by Matthew Henry

v13Ezekiel 37:22thematic

Prophesies the end of division between Israel/Ephraim and Judah, making them one nation again.

Supported by Matthew Henry

v15Exodus 14:21typology

The historical parting of the Red Sea serves as the archetype for drying up the streams.

Supported by Matthew Henry

v1Revelation 5:5allusion

Jesus is designated as 'the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David'.

Supported by JFB

v1Zechariah 3:8thematic

Refers to the coming Messiah under the explicit title of 'my servant the BRANCH'.

Supported by JFB

v2Colossians 2:3thematic

In Christ are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge spoken of in verse 2.

Supported by JFB

v31 Samuel 16:7contrast

Contrasts human judgment based on outward appearance with the Lord's perfect heart-searching wisdom.

Supported by JFB

v6Hosea 2:18thematic

God promises to make a covenant with the beasts of the field to ensure safety.

Supported by JFB

v15Revelation 16:12typology

Drying up of the great river Euphrates to prepare the way for the kings of the East.

Supported by Matthew Henry