The Bible — World English Bible

Isaiah 11

In brief

Isaiah 11 announces a branch that will come out of the cut-down stump of Jesse, the father of David. The Spirit of the Lord rests on this king, who judges with fairness and defends the poor. The chapter then describes a peace in which the wolf lives with the lamb, and announces a second exodus: God gathers his scattered people and opens a road for them as at the exodus from Egypt. Christians recognize in it the promise of the Messiah, fulfilled in Jesus and awaited in its fullness.

The chapter in 4 parts

  1. v. 1-5The branch of Jesse: a king on whom the Spirit rests
  2. v. 6-9The announced peace: the wolf with the lamb
  3. v. 10-12The banner for the peoples and the gathering of the exiles
  4. v. 13-16A second exodus: a highway for the remnant of the people

1A shoot will come out of the stock of Jesse, and a branch out of his roots will bear fruit.

2Yahweh’s Spirit will rest on him: the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of Yahweh.

3His delight will be in the fear of Yahweh. He will not judge by the sight of his eyes, neither decide by the hearing of his ears;

4but he will judge the poor with righteousness, and decide with equity for the humble of the earth. He will strike the earth with the rod of his mouth; and with the breath of his lips he will kill the wicked.

5Righteousness will be the belt of his waist, and faithfulness the belt of his waist.

6The wolf will live with the lamb, and the leopard will lie down with the young goat, the calf, the young lion, and the fattened calf together; and a little child will lead them.

7The cow and the bear will graze. Their young ones will lie down together. The lion will eat straw like the ox.

8The nursing child will play near a cobra’s hole, and the weaned child will put his hand on the viper’s den.

9They will not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain; for the earth will be full of the knowledge of Yahweh, as the waters cover the sea.

10It will happen in that day that the nations will seek the root of Jesse, who stands as a banner of the peoples; and his resting place will be glorious.

11It will happen in that day that the Lord will set his hand again the second time to recover the remnant that is left of his people from Assyria, from Egypt, from Pathros, from Cush, from Elam, from Shinar, from Hamath, and from the islands of the sea.

12He will set up a banner for the nations, and will assemble the outcasts of Israel, and gather together the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth.

13The envy also of Ephraim will depart, and those who persecute Judah will be cut off. Ephraim won’t envy Judah, and Judah won’t persecute Ephraim.

14They will fly down on the shoulders of the Philistines on the west. Together they will plunder the children of the east. They will extend their power over Edom and Moab, and the children of Ammon will obey them.

15Yahweh will utterly destroy the tongue of the Egyptian sea; and with his scorching wind he will wave his hand over the River, and will split it into seven streams, and cause men to march over in sandals.

16There will be a highway for the remnant that is left of his people from Assyria, like there was for Israel in the day that he came up out of the land of Egypt.

Key verses

Verse 1-2
A shoot will come out of the stock of Jesse, and a branch out of his roots will bear fruit. Yahweh’s Spirit will rest on him: the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of Yahweh.

A shoot comes out of a stump that seemed dead. The Spirit of the Lord rests on him in seven aspects: wisdom, understanding, counsel, might, knowledge and the fear of the Lord.

Verse 4
but he will judge the poor with righteousness, and decide with equity for the humble of the earth. He will strike the earth with the rod of his mouth; and with the breath of his lips he will kill the wicked.

This king defends the poor with fairness. His judgment is given by the word of his mouth, not by force of arms.

Verse 6
The wolf will live with the lamb, and the leopard will lie down with the young goat, the calf, the young lion, and the fattened calf together; and a little child will lead them.

The image of the wolf with the lamb describes messianic peace. Interpretations differ: some see figurative language, others a literal vision for the reign to come.

Verse 9
They will not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain; for the earth will be full of the knowledge of Yahweh, as the waters cover the sea.

The knowledge of the Lord will fill the earth as the waters cover the sea. Peace comes from knowing God.

Verse 11
It will happen in that day that the Lord will set his hand again the second time to recover the remnant that is left of his people from Assyria, from Egypt, from Pathros, from Cush, from Elam, from Shinar, from Hamath, and from the islands of the sea.

God will stretch out his hand a second time to redeem his scattered people. The first exodus points to a greater gathering.

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Frequently asked questions about Isaiah 11

Who is the branch of Jesse in Isaiah 11?

Jesse is the father of King David. The branch is a royal descendant coming out of that line, which appeared to be cut down like a stump. Christians see in it the Messiah, Jesus Christ, a descendant of David, on whom the Spirit of God rests. Jewish tradition also reads a messianic promise here.

What does “The wolf will live with the lamb” mean?

It is the image of the peace of the Messiah's reign, where even natural enemies live together. Some see poetic language about reconciliation, others a reality to come during Christ's reign. In every case, verse 9 gives the reason: the earth will be full of the knowledge of the Lord.

What is the second exodus in Isaiah 11?

In verses 11 to 16, God promises to redeem his people a second time, scattered in Assyria, in Egypt and as far as the islands. A road opens as at the exodus from Egypt. It is a theme of return from exile that announces the final gathering of the people of God.

Articles quoting Isaiah 11

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World English Bible translation — public domain.