Isaiah 11

Isaiah 11 is the eleventh chapter of the Book of Isaiah in the Hebrew Bible or the Old Testament of the Christian Bible.^[1][2] This book contains the prophecies spoken by the prophet Isaiah, and is a part of the Book of the Prophets.^[3][4]

Text

• The original text is written in Hebrew language.
• This chapter is divided into 16 verses.

Textual versions

Some most ancient manuscripts containing this chapter in Hebrew language:

• Masoretic Text (10th century)
• Dead Sea Scrolls: (2nd century BC)^[5][6]
  • 1QIsa^a: complete^[5]
  • 4QIsa^a (4Q55): extant: verses 12-15^[5]
  • 4QIsa^b (4Q56): extant: verses 7-9^[5]
  • 4QIsa^c (4Q57): extant: verses 4-11^[5]
  • 4QIsa^l (4Q65): extant: verses 14-15^[5]

Ancient translations in Koine Greek:

• Septuagint (3rd century BC)
• Theodotion version (~AD 180)

Structure

This chapter can be grouped:

• Isaiah 11:1-10 = The Reign of Jesse’s Offspring
• Isaiah 11:11-16 = The Returning Remnant of Israel

Verse 1

There shall come forth a Rod from the stem of Jesse,

And a Branch shall grow out of his roots.^[7]

Cross reference: Isaiah 11:10

• "Rod" (חטר choṭı̂r; also in Proverbs 14:3: a branch, a twig, a shoot, such as starts up from the roots of a decayed tree, and is synonymous with the word rendered "branch" (צמח tsemach) in Isaiah 4:2.^[8]
• "Stem"(מגזע mı̂geza‛) also in Job 14:8 and in Isaiah 40:24 where it is rendered "stock".^[8] It means, therefore, the stock or stump of a tree that has been cut down, however, which may not be quite dead, but where it may send up a branch or shoot from its roots. It is beautifully applied to an ancient family that is fallen into decay, yet where there may be a descendant that shall rise and flourish; as a tree may fall and decay, but still there may be vitality in the root, and it shall send up a tender germ or sprout.^[8]
• Jesse: the father of king David. It means, that he who is here spoken of should be of the family of Jesse, or David. Though Jesse had died, and though the ancient family of David would fall into decay, yet there would arise from that family an illustrious descendant. The beauty of this description is apparent, if we bear in recollection that, when the Messiah was born, the ancient and much honored family of David had fallen into decay; that the mother of Jesus, though pertaining to that family, was poor, obscure, and unknown; and that, to all appearance, the glory of the family had departed. Yet from that, as from a long-decayed root in the ground, he should spring who would restore the family to more than its ancient glory, and shed additional luster on the honored name of Jesse.^[8]
• "Branch" - (נצר nêtser). A twig, branch, or shoot; a slip, scion, or young sucker of a tree, that is selected for transplanting, and that requires to be watched with special care. The word occurs but four times; Isaiah 60:21 : 'They shall inherit the land forever, the branch of my planting;' Isaiah 14:19 : 'But thou art cast out of thy grave as an abominable branch;' Daniel 11:7. The word rendered branch in Jeremiah 23:5; Jeremiah 33:15, is a different word in the original (צמח tsemach), though meaning substantially the same thing. The word "branch" is also used by our translators, in rendering several other Hebrew words; "see" Taylor's "Concordance." Here the word is synonymous with that which is rendered "rod" in the previous part of the verse - a shoot, or twig, from the root of a decayed tree.^[8] The word "netser" or "netzer" is the name of the city of Nazareth;^[9] which perhaps was so called, from the trees, plants, and grass, which grew here. Jesus Christ's dwelling here fulfilled a prophecy, that he should be called a "Nazarene"; or an inhabitant of Netzer (Matthew 2:23). The Jews speak of one Ben Netzer, who they say was a robber, took cities, and reigned over them, and became the head of robbers;^[10] and make him to be the little horn in Daniel 7:8,^[11] which some implied that he was Jesus;,^[12] but at the same time tacitly acknowledges that Jesus of Nazareth is the Netzer this prophecy speaks of: to show the meanness of Christ's descent as man, and that he should be as a root out of a dry ground, Isaiah 53:2 or rather as a rod and branch out of a dry root.^[13]
• "Roots": As a shoot starts up from the roots of a decayed tree. The Septuagint renders this, 'And a flower (ἄνθος anthos) shall arise from the root.' The Chaldee, 'And a king shall proceed from the sons of Jesse, and the Messiah from his sons' sons shall arise;' showing conclusively that the ancient Jews referred this to the Messiah. In the Book of Revelation it is applied to Jesus Christ (Revelation 22:16).^[8]

Verse 6

“The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb,

The leopard shall lie down with the young goat,

The calf and the young lion and the fatling together;

And a little child shall lead them.^[14]

• "The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb": This, and the three following verses Isaiah 11:7, describe the peaceableness of the Messiah's kingdom; and which the Targum introduces in this manner,^[13]

"in the days of the Messiah of Israel, peace shall be multiplied in the earth.

• "a little child shall lead them": Bohlius interprets this little child of Jesus Christ himself,^[15] by whom the believers should be led and directed, see Isaiah 9:6 and the following passages are referred to the times of the Messiah by the Jewish writers (b);^[16] and Maimonides^[17] in particular observes, that they are not to be understood literally, as if the custom and order of things in the world would cease, or that things would be renewed as at the creation, but in a parabolical and enigmatical sense; and interprets them of the Israelites dwelling safely among the wicked of the nations of the world, comparable to the wild beasts of the field.^[13]

This verse may apply to the future state when all things will be restored to their original state before man fell. By Adam's sin, death and bloodshed were introduced into the creation. Romans 5:12. In the final state these will be removed and the wild nature of animals become tame.^[13]

Verse 10

“And in that day there shall be a Root of Jesse,

Who shall stand as a banner to the people;

For the Gentiles shall seek Him,

And His resting place shall be glorious.”^[18]

Cross reference: Isaiah 11:1
Cited by Apostle Paul in Romans 15:12

• "root of Jesse": a sprout, shoot, or scion of the ancient and decayed family of Jesse; see Isaiah 5:1. Chaldee, 'There shall be a son of the sons of Jesse.' The word "root" here - שׁרשׁ shoresh - is evidently used in the sense of a root that, is alive when the tree is dead; a root that sends up a shoot or sprout; and is thus applied to him who should proceed from the ancient and decayed family of Jesse; see Isaiah 53:2. In Revelation 5:5, the Messiah is called 'the" root" of David,' and in Revelation 22:16, 'the root and the offspring of David.'^[8]

See also

• Related Bible parts: Isaiah 4, Isaiah 9, Isaiah 53, Matthew 2, Romans 5, Romans 15, Revelation 5, Revelation 22

Notes and references

External links

Jewish

• Isaiah 11:Original Hebrew with Parallel English

Christian

• Isaiah 11 English Translation with Parallel Latin Vulgate