And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots:
And the spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord;
And shall make him of quick understanding in the fear of the Lord: and he shall not judge after the sight of his eyes, neither reprove after the hearing of his ears:
But with righteousness shall he judge the poor, and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth: and he shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked.
And righteousness shall be the girdle of his loins, and faithfulness the girdle of his reins.
The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them.
And the cow and the bear shall feed; their young ones shall lie down together: and the lion shall eat straw like the ox.
And the sucking child shall play on the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the cockatrice’ den.
They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain: for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea.
And in that day there shall be a root of Jesse, which shall stand for an ensign of the people; to it shall the Gentiles seek: and his rest shall be glorious.
And it shall come to pass in that day, that the Lord shall set his hand again the second time to recover the remnant of his people, which shall be left, from Assyria, and from Egypt, and from Pathros, and from Cush, and from Elam, and from Shinar, and from Hamath, and from the islands of the sea.
And he shall set up an ensign for the nations, and shall assemble the outcasts of Israel, and gather together the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth.
The envy also of Ephraim shall depart, and the adversaries of Judah shall be cut off: Ephraim shall not envy Judah, and Judah shall not vex Ephraim.
But they shall fly upon the shoulders of the Philistines toward the west; they shall spoil them of the east together: they shall lay their hand upon Edom and Moab; and the children of Ammon shall obey them.
And the Lord shall utterly destroy the tongue of the Egyptian sea; and with his mighty wind shall he shake his hand over the river, and shall smite it in the seven streams, and make men go over dryshod.
And there shall be an highway for the remnant of his people, which shall be left, from Assyria; like as it was to Israel in the day that he came up out of the land of Egypt.
Isaiah 11 is a beacon of hope, shining brightly after the pronouncements of judgment in the preceding chapters. Following the promise of the Lord's defeat of the Assyrian Empire (Isaiah 10), this chapter unveils a glorious vision of a future kingdom ruled by a descendant of David, a Messiah who embodies perfect justice, righteousness, and peace. It speaks of a world transformed, where even the natural order reflects God's harmonious design.
The Righteous Ruler (Isaiah 11:1-5)
The prophecy begins with a striking image: "A shoot will spring from the stump of Jesse, and a branch from his roots will bear fruit" (Isaiah 11:1). This imagery is powerful. The "stump of Jesse" represents the seemingly decimated line of Davidic kings. Jesse was David's father, and the dynasty established through David appeared to be nearing its end. Yet, from this unlikely source, God promises a new beginning, a "shoot" and a "branch" that will flourish. Christians recognize this figure as the Messiah, Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who fulfills this prophecy through His lineage and His reign.
This coming King will not rule by human might but by the power of the Spirit: "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" (Isaiah 11:2). He will be uniquely equipped, empowered by God's Spirit with wisdom, understanding, counsel, might, knowledge, and a profound reverence for the Lord. He won't judge superficially, relying on outward appearances or sensory perception. Instead, He will judge with righteousness and fairness, especially for the poor and powerless (Isaiah 11:3-4). His words will carry divine authority, capable of striking the earth and slaying the wicked (Isaiah 11:4). Righteousness and faithfulness will be the very foundation of His reign (Isaiah 11:5). When the Lord Jesus Christ takes the reins of government, integrity will not be a problem as it is with leaders today.
A World Transformed (Isaiah 11:6-9)
The Messiah's reign will bring about a radical transformation, extending even to the animal kingdom. Isaiah paints a picture of unprecedented harmony: "The wolf will live with the lamb, the leopard will lie down with the goat, the calf, the lion, and the yearling together; and a little child will lead them" (Isaiah 11:6). Predators and prey will coexist peacefully, their natural animosity replaced by a new sense of harmony. The earth will be characterized by safety and tranquility.
Interpretations of this passage vary. Some believe it describes a literal change in the nature of animals during the Messiah's millennial kingdom. Others view it metaphorically, suggesting that these animals represent nations that have lost all interest in conflict under the peaceful reign of the Son of God. Regardless of the specific interpretation, the overarching message is clear: the Messiah's reign will bring about a profound and pervasive peace that extends to all creation. This peace is rooted in the widespread knowledge of the Lord: "The earth will be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea" (Isaiah 11:9). When people everywhere understand God and live in submission to His Son, true peace and unity will finally prevail.
The Gathering of Israel (Isaiah 11:10-16)
In 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 (Isaiah 11:10). The Messiah will not only reign over Israel but will also be a beacon of hope for all nations. All will acknowledge the glory of God resting on Mount Zion in Jerusalem.
The Lord will also gather the scattered remnants of Israel from the four corners of the earth (Isaiah 11:11-12). This "second exodus" will involve both the northern ten tribes of Israel (Ephraim) and the southern two tribes of Judah. The divided kingdom will be reunited as one nation, fulfilling a prophecy that must have seemed impossible to Isaiah's original audience, given the historical hostility between Judah and Israel.
This reunited nation will overcome its enemies and establish peace in the land under the Messiah's rule (Isaiah 11:13-14). God will create pathways through the Sea of Egypt (Gulf of Suez) and the Euphrates River (Isaiah 11:15), mirroring His miraculous deliverance of the Israelites from Egypt. He will provide a highway for His people to return to the land He has promised them (Isaiah 11:16).
Isaiah 11 offers a powerful vision of hope and restoration. It speaks of a future kingdom characterized by righteousness, peace, and the knowledge of the Lord. It is a reminder that even in the midst of darkness and despair, God's promises endure, and His plan for redemption will ultimately prevail. We can look forward to the day when the Messiah reigns supreme, and the earth is filled with His glory.
And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots:
And the spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord;
And shall make him of quick understanding in the fear of the Lord: and he shall not judge after the sight of his eyes, neither reprove after the hearing of his ears:
But with righteousness shall he judge the poor, and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth: and he shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked.
And righteousness shall be the girdle of his loins, and faithfulness the girdle of his reins.
The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them.
And the cow and the bear shall feed; their young ones shall lie down together: and the lion shall eat straw like the ox.
And the sucking child shall play on the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the cockatrice’ den.
They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain: for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea.
And in that day there shall be a root of Jesse, which shall stand for an ensign of the people; to it shall the Gentiles seek: and his rest shall be glorious.
And it shall come to pass in that day, that the Lord shall set his hand again the second time to recover the remnant of his people, which shall be left, from Assyria, and from Egypt, and from Pathros, and from Cush, and from Elam, and from Shinar, and from Hamath, and from the islands of the sea.
And he shall set up an ensign for the nations, and shall assemble the outcasts of Israel, and gather together the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth.
The envy also of Ephraim shall depart, and the adversaries of Judah shall be cut off: Ephraim shall not envy Judah, and Judah shall not vex Ephraim.
But they shall fly upon the shoulders of the Philistines toward the west; they shall spoil them of the east together: they shall lay their hand upon Edom and Moab; and the children of Ammon shall obey them.
And the Lord shall utterly destroy the tongue of the Egyptian sea; and with his mighty wind shall he shake his hand over the river, and shall smite it in the seven streams, and make men go over dryshod.
And there shall be an highway for the remnant of his people, which shall be left, from Assyria; like as it was to Israel in the day that he came up out of the land of Egypt.
Isaiah 11 is a beacon of hope, shining brightly after the pronouncements of judgment in the preceding chapters. Following the promise of the Lord's defeat of the Assyrian Empire (Isaiah 10), this chapter unveils a glorious vision of a future kingdom ruled by a descendant of David, a Messiah who embodies perfect justice, righteousness, and peace. It speaks of a world transformed, where even the natural order reflects God's harmonious design.
The Righteous Ruler (Isaiah 11:1-5)
The prophecy begins with a striking image: "A shoot will spring from the stump of Jesse, and a branch from his roots will bear fruit" (Isaiah 11:1). This imagery is powerful. The "stump of Jesse" represents the seemingly decimated line of Davidic kings. Jesse was David's father, and the dynasty established through David appeared to be nearing its end. Yet, from this unlikely source, God promises a new beginning, a "shoot" and a "branch" that will flourish. Christians recognize this figure as the Messiah, Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who fulfills this prophecy through His lineage and His reign.
This coming King will not rule by human might but by the power of the Spirit: "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" (Isaiah 11:2). He will be uniquely equipped, empowered by God's Spirit with wisdom, understanding, counsel, might, knowledge, and a profound reverence for the Lord. He won't judge superficially, relying on outward appearances or sensory perception. Instead, He will judge with righteousness and fairness, especially for the poor and powerless (Isaiah 11:3-4). His words will carry divine authority, capable of striking the earth and slaying the wicked (Isaiah 11:4). Righteousness and faithfulness will be the very foundation of His reign (Isaiah 11:5). When the Lord Jesus Christ takes the reins of government, integrity will not be a problem as it is with leaders today.
A World Transformed (Isaiah 11:6-9)
The Messiah's reign will bring about a radical transformation, extending even to the animal kingdom. Isaiah paints a picture of unprecedented harmony: "The wolf will live with the lamb, the leopard will lie down with the goat, the calf, the lion, and the yearling together; and a little child will lead them" (Isaiah 11:6). Predators and prey will coexist peacefully, their natural animosity replaced by a new sense of harmony. The earth will be characterized by safety and tranquility.
Interpretations of this passage vary. Some believe it describes a literal change in the nature of animals during the Messiah's millennial kingdom. Others view it metaphorically, suggesting that these animals represent nations that have lost all interest in conflict under the peaceful reign of the Son of God. Regardless of the specific interpretation, the overarching message is clear: the Messiah's reign will bring about a profound and pervasive peace that extends to all creation. This peace is rooted in the widespread knowledge of the Lord: "The earth will be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea" (Isaiah 11:9). When people everywhere understand God and live in submission to His Son, true peace and unity will finally prevail.
The Gathering of Israel (Isaiah 11:10-16)
In 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 (Isaiah 11:10). The Messiah will not only reign over Israel but will also be a beacon of hope for all nations. All will acknowledge the glory of God resting on Mount Zion in Jerusalem.
The Lord will also gather the scattered remnants of Israel from the four corners of the earth (Isaiah 11:11-12). This "second exodus" will involve both the northern ten tribes of Israel (Ephraim) and the southern two tribes of Judah. The divided kingdom will be reunited as one nation, fulfilling a prophecy that must have seemed impossible to Isaiah's original audience, given the historical hostility between Judah and Israel.
This reunited nation will overcome its enemies and establish peace in the land under the Messiah's rule (Isaiah 11:13-14). God will create pathways through the Sea of Egypt (Gulf of Suez) and the Euphrates River (Isaiah 11:15), mirroring His miraculous deliverance of the Israelites from Egypt. He will provide a highway for His people to return to the land He has promised them (Isaiah 11:16).
Isaiah 11 offers a powerful vision of hope and restoration. It speaks of a future kingdom characterized by righteousness, peace, and the knowledge of the Lord. It is a reminder that even in the midst of darkness and despair, God's promises endure, and His plan for redemption will ultimately prevail. We can look forward to the day when the Messiah reigns supreme, and the earth is filled with His glory.