Isaiah 11:4-14

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.
10 A day is coming when the new king from the royal line of David will be a symbol to the nations. They will gather in his royal city and give him honor. 5
11 When that day comes, the Lord will once again use his power and bring back home those of his people who are left in Assyria and Egypt, in the lands of Pathros, Ethiopia, Elam, Babylonia, and Hamath, and in the coastlands and on the islands of the sea.
12 The Lord will raise a signal flag to show the nations that he is gathering together again the scattered people of Israel and Judah and bringing them back from the four corners of the earth.
13 The kingdom of Israel will not be jealous of Judah any more, and Judah will not be the enemy of Israel.
14 Together they will attack the Philistines on the west and plunder the people who live to the east. They will conquer the people of Edom and Moab, and the people of Ammon will obey them.

Isaiah 11:4-14 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 5

  • 1. 11.42 Thessalonians 2.8.
  • 2. 11.5Ephesians 6.14.
  • 3. 11.6-9Isaiah 65.25.
  • 4. 11.9Hebrews 2.14.
  • 5. 11.10Romans 15.12.

Footnotes 2

  • [a]. [Some ancient translations] will feed; [Hebrew] and well-fed cattle.
  • [b]. [Hebrew] Cush: [Cush is the ancient name of the extensive territory south of the First Cataract of the Nile River. This region was called Ethiopia in Graeco-Roman times, and included within its borders most of modern Sudan and some of present-day Ethiopia (Abyssinia).]
Scripture taken from the Good News Translation - Second Edition, Copyright 1992 by American Bible Society. Used by Permission.