Isaiah 11:5

5 And righteousness shall be the girdle of his loins, and faith the girdle of his kidneys.

Isaiah 11:5 Meaning and Commentary

Isaiah 11:5

And righteousness shall be the girdle of his loins
He shall be adorned with it, strengthened by it, and ready at all times to perform it; he loved righteousness, and did acts of righteousness throughout the whole course of his life; and, by his active and passive obedience, wrought out an everlasting righteousness for his people; he is a King that reigns in righteousness, righteousness is the sceptre of his kingdom; all his administrations of government are righteous; just and true are all his ways:

and faithfulness the girdle of his reins;
he was faithful to God, that appointed him as King and Head of the church; faithful as a Prophet, in declaring his mind and will; and is a faithful High Priest, as well as a merciful one. The Targum, interprets this of righteous and faithful men, thus,

``and the righteous shall be round about him, and they that work (the work) of faith shall draw nigh unto him;''

but it is said of a single person, of the Messiah only, to whom it properly belongs.

Isaiah 11:5 In-Context

3 and shall make him of quick olfaction in the fear of the LORD; and he shall not judge according to the sight of his eyes, neither reprove according to the hearing of his ears:
4 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 spirit of his lips he shall slay the wicked.
5 And righteousness shall be the girdle of his loins, and faith the girdle of his kidneys.
6 The wolf 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 child shall shepherd them.
7 The cow and the bear shall feed; their young ones shall lie down together: and the lion shall eat straw like the ox.
The Jubilee Bible (from the Scriptures of the Reformation), edited by Russell M. Stendal, Copyright © 2000, 2001, 2010