Isaiah 11:2-9

2 The spirit of the Lord will give him wisdom and the knowledge and skill to rule his people. He will know the Lord's will and honor him,
3 and find pleasure in obeying him. He will not judge by appearance or hearsay;
4 he will judge the poor fairly 1 and defend the rights of the helpless. At his command the people will be punished, and evil persons will die.
5 He will rule his people with justice and integrity. 2
6 Wolves and sheep will live together in peace, 3 and leopards will lie down with young goats. Calves and lion cubs will feed together, and little children will take care of them.
7 Cows and bears will eat together, and their calves and cubs will lie down in peace. Lions will eat straw as cattle do.
8 Even a baby will not be harmed if it plays near a poisonous snake.
9 On Zion, God's sacred hill, 4 there will be nothing harmful or evil. The land will be as full of knowledge of the Lord as the seas are full of water.

Isaiah 11:2-9 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO ISAIAH 11

This chapter is a prophecy of the Messiah, and gives an account of his descent, as man; of his qualifications for his office, as a Judge and King; of his performance of it; of the peaceableness of his kingdom; of the spread of it among the Gentiles, by the preaching of the Gospel; and of the last and general conversion of the Jews. His original and descent from David the son of Jesse, under the titles of a rod and branch, is described as mean and obscure, expressed by stem and roots, Isa 11:1 his gifts and qualifications for his work, in general and particular, Isa 11:2 the performance of it, both with respect to good men and bad men, in the fear of the Lord, with all equity, righteousness, and readiness, Isa 11:3-5 the peaceableness of his kingdom is figuratively expressed, by the agreement of savage and tame creatures, the former becoming the latter, and so losing their malignant and hurtful nature, through the efficacy of the Gospel, spreading the knowledge of Christ all over the world, Isa 11:6-9 particularly among the Gentiles, comparable to those savage creatures, who, upon the exhibition of Christ in the Gospel; should seek to him, and find rest in him, Isa 11:10 which will be followed or accompanied with a collection of the Jews out of all lands, and the conversion of them, which will be brought about by the power and grace of God, all impediments being by him removed out of the way; the consequences of which will be, peace among themselves, and obedience among the Gentiles, Isa 11:11-16.

Cross References 4

  • 1. 11.42 Thessalonians 2.8.
  • 2. 11.5Ephesians 6.14.
  • 3. 11.6-9Isaiah 65.25.
  • 4. 11.9Hebrews 2.14.

Footnotes 1

  • [a]. [Some ancient translations] will feed; [Hebrew] and well-fed cattle.
Scripture taken from the Good News Translation - Second Edition, Copyright 1992 by American Bible Society. Used by Permission.