Isaiah Chapter 11 Verse-by-Verse Commentary
Isaiah 11:1
But a branch will emerge from the trunk of Yishai, a shoot will grow from his roots.
A "shoot" speaks of a live sprout and that is Yeshua who was from the royal line of David. The prophet does not mention David but instead goes back to his father Jesse. At the time of Yeshua's birth, the royal line of David had basically went back to being peasants and this is a reminder of that as Jesse was a shepherd and Yeshua was the son of a carpenter.
Isaiah 11:2
The Spirit of ADONAI will rest on him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and power, the Spirit of knowledge and fearing ADONAI
This verse describes the sevenfold Spirit of God and, as we remember, the number seven refers to holiness throughout the Bible. This reminds us that Yeshua was fully God yet fully man. We see the first part is the Spirit resting on him and that is what the apostle John described as happening when Yeshua was baptized (see John 1:32). The next two parts are wisdom and understanding and speaks of a God-given heart knowledge of the things of God and the ability to distinguish the things of God from the things of this world. The next two speak to the authority of Yeshua as He gave counsel to many but did not seek advice or permission from anyone to do the work that God had set before him. The final two speak to a head knowledge and awe at the wonder of what God has done and who he is. For us, this knowledge and appreciation comes from a familiarity with the word of God and that happens when we constantly study his word. This is "growing in Him" and the second purpose of this website.
Isaiah 11:3
he will be inspired by fearing ADONAI. He will not judge by what his eyes see or decide by what his ears hear,
In the Hebrew text, the word for smell is used and it says that he will smell the fear of the Lord which speaks of his ability to discern whether people have that fear. The "fear of the Lord" that it speaks of here is awe and it is an appreciation for the nature of God and His work. We see, here, that Yeshua will not judge our salvation based on works or words that we say. Our salvation is based on the grace of God alone. Most people, (even Christians & pastors too), try to add some amount of work to the concept of grace but, once you add any work to grace, you no longer have true grace. This adding a little law to grace is why there are so many denominations and independent groups instead of a united body of Christ as God desires.
Isaiah 11:4
but he will judge the impoverished justly; he will decide fairly for the humble of the land. He will strike the land with a rod from his mouth and slay the wicked with a breath from his lips.
At first glance, we may read this verse and think that it is talking about those that are in physical need but in reality it is speaking about the poor in spirit. This is the same thing that Yeshua said in what has come to be known as the beatitudes when He said: "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven". This verse contains a promise for all that will acknowledge their spiritual neediness. That promise is fulfilled when we accept him as our Lord and Savior. It also contains a promise for Satan which is that the devil will be slain by the very word of God which is Yeshua Messiah. That promise will be fulfilled as we see in Revelation 20.
Isaiah 11:5
Justice will be the belt around his waist, faithfulness the sash around his hips.
Our waist is the balance point for the normal body and balance is critical for our ability to walk on our own. The picture here is of Yeshua and his relationship (as the Son) who is doing the will of the Father. Although this was veiled to the people of Isaiah's time it is made clear to us today. For us to walk with the Lord, we, too, must wear this belt and sash.
Isaiah 11:6
The wolf will live with the lamb; the leopard lie down with the kid; calf, young lion and fattened lamb together, with a little child to lead them.
In this kingdom, there will be true peace even among the animals. This peace will come from a child (speaking of the fact that Yeshua would come to earth and be born of a woman). It seems that there are many who believe that there is another way that peace is going to come to the earth. Although there have been relatively calm periods in the history of man, there has never been a time of this kind of absolute peace and it is only possible through the Prince of Peace who is Yeshua Messiah.
Isaiah 11:7
Cow and bear will feed together, their young will lie down together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox.
The peace of this coming kingdom (which is described in Revelation 20) will be so complete that there will no longer be any killing and death (even animals). You see, death was not intended to be a part of God's creation but it entered through sin. As we see, in Genesis 2, God created plants to sustain us and the animals that he had created. In this new kingdom, we will be going back to the way it was intended to be and even the lion will eat straw instead of meat.
Isaiah 11:8
An infant will play on a cobra's hole, a toddler put his hand in a viper's nest.
Not only will this peace be between two people or two different kinds of animals, there will be total peace between man and all animals. This peace is so complete that the animal does not even guard their den anymore. Some may say: "That's not possible" but the One who created all things can do all things and I have personally seen God stop a mean dog in its tracks and cause it to smile.
Isaiah 11:9
They will not hurt or destroy anywhere on my holy mountain, for the earth will be as full of the knowledge of ADONAI as water covering the sea.
Everyone will be able to see the effect of Yeshua as there will be no more violence or anything else that is contrary to the will of God in this kingdom.
Isaiah 11:10
On that day the root of Yishai, which stands as a banner for the peoples - the Goyim will seek him out, and the place where he rests will be glorious.
During this millennial reign, Yeshua and his people will stand out as a bright beacon to the nations. The people will have one last chance to accept him as their Lord and Savior and this chance is under ideal conditions as Satan has been removed from the earth.
Isaiah 11:11
On that day Adonai will raise his hand again, a second time, to reclaim the remnant of his people who remain from Ashur, Egypt, Patros, Ethiopia, 'Eilam, Shin'ar, Hamat and the islands in the sea.
This verse speaks of the second coming of Messiah to redeem the Jewish people that have made it through the time known as Jacob's Trouble or the Great Tribulation. The remnant of God's people will be drawn to be in his presence and they will all be together again in the holy city.
Isaiah 11:12–13
He will hoist a banner for the Goyim, assemble the dispersed of Isra'el, and gather the scattered of Y'hudah from the four corners of the earth. Efrayim's jealousy will cease - those who harass Y'hudah will be cut off, Efrayim will stop envying Y'hudah, and Y'hudah will stop provoking Efrayim.
There are those who say that these events have already happened as they point to the establishment of the state of Israel. It is possible that this is in the process of happening but it cannot be completely fulfilled yet as there is not total unity within Israel even today. The good news is that Yeshua will bring true peace and gather all of God's people together to reign for the thousand years.
Isaiah 11:14
They will swoop down on the flank of the P'lishtim to the west. Together they will pillage the people to the east - they will put out their hand over Edom and Mo'av, and the people of 'Amon will obey them.
When Yeshua raises the banner for his people, they will be victorious over all the enemies. This millennial reign will be total over all the earth.
Isaiah 11:15–16
ADONAI will dry up the gulf of the Egyptian Sea. He will shake his hand over the River to bring a scorching wind, dividing it into seven streams and enabling people to cross dryshod. There will be a highway for the remnant of his people who are still left from Ashur, just as there was for Isra'el when he came out from the land of Egypt.
This passage speaks of the return from exile of the remnant of the Jews. They were scattered when they rejected Messiah at his first coming and the temple was destroyed but now Messiah has made a way for them to return just as it was in their redemption out of Egypt.