Isaiah11
New Living Translation
1Out of the stump of David’s family will grow a shoot— yes, a new Branch bearing fruit from the old root.
2And the Spirit of the Lord will rest on him— the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord.
3He will delight in obeying the Lord. He will not judge by appearance nor make a decision based on hearsay.
4He will give justice to the poor and make fair decisions for the exploited. The earth will shake at the force of his word, and one breath from his mouth will destroy the wicked.
5He will wear righteousness like a belt and truth like an undergarment.
6In that day the wolf and the lamb will live together; the leopard will lie down with the baby goat. The calf and the yearling will be safe with the lion, and a little child will lead them all.
7The cow will graze near the bear. The cub and the calf will lie down together. The lion will eat hay like a cow.
8The baby will play safely near the hole of a cobra. Yes, a little child will put its hand in a nest of deadly snakes without harm.
9Nothing will hurt or destroy in all my holy mountain, for as the waters fill the sea, so the earth will be filled with people who know the Lord.
10In that day the heir to David’s throne will be a banner of salvation to all the world. The nations will rally to him, and the land where he lives will be a glorious place.
11In that day the Lord will reach out his hand a second time to bring back the remnant of his people— those who remain in Assyria and northern Egypt; in southern Egypt, Ethiopia, and Elam; in Babylonia, Hamath, and all the distant coastlands.
12He will raise a flag among the nations and assemble the exiles of Israel. He will gather the scattered people of Judah from the ends of the earth.
13Then at last the jealousy between Israel and Judah will end. They will not be rivals anymore.
14They will join forces to swoop down on Philistia to the west. Together they will attack and plunder the nations to the east. They will occupy the lands of Edom and Moab, and Ammon will obey them.
15The Lord will make a dry path through the gulf of the Red Sea. He will wave his hand over the Euphrates River, sending a mighty wind to divide it into seven streams so it can easily be crossed on foot.
16He will make a highway for the remnant of his people, the remnant coming from Assyria, just as he did for Israel long ago when they returned from Egypt.
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.
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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'.
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Refers to the coming Messiah under the explicit title of 'my servant the BRANCH'.
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In Christ are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge spoken of in verse 2.
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Contrasts human judgment based on outward appearance with the Lord's perfect heart-searching wisdom.
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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