Bible Commentaries
Isaiah 11

Verse 1

And = But. Note the same order of events in Revelation 19:0 and Revelation 20:0 , as in Isaiah 10:0 and Isaiah 11:0 .

a rod = a sprout: occurs again only in Proverbs 14:3 . Note the sublime contrast with Isaiah 10:33 , Isaiah 10:34 .

stem = stump, Appropriate for Jesse, not David.

Branch = Shoot or Scion. Hebrew. nezer . Nothing to do with "Nazareth". See note on Matthew 2:23 . Not the same word as in Isaiah 4:2 ; see note there.

Verse 2

spirit. Hebrew. App-9 . Same word as Isaiah 11:4 , " breath" and Isaiah 11:15 "wind".

the LORD. Hebrew. Jehovah. App-4 .

rest upon Him. Compare Isaiah 61:1 . A prophecy which is appropriated by Christ (Luke 4:16-21 ).

of. Genitive of Origin and Efficient Cause. App-17 .

understanding = discernment.

Verse 3

shall make Him of quick understanding. Or, His delight shall be; or, the reverence of Jehovah shall be fragrance to Him. Compare Genesis 8:21 .Leviticus 26:31 .

and. Some codices, with two early printed editions, Aramaean, Septuagint, and Vulgate, omit this "and".

not judge, &c. Compare 1 Samuel 16:7 .

reprove = administer judgment.

Verse 4

poor = impoverished, reduced. Hebrew. dal. See note on "poverty" (Proverbs 6:11 ).

reprove = set right, or righten.

smite. Same word as in Isaiah 11:15 .

the earth. Some codices read 'driz, "the oppressor", for erez

, "the earth". This reading is confirmed by the Structure of the clause (which is an Introversion): He shall smite the oppressor with the rod of His mouth and with the blast of His lips shall He slay the lawless one . This reading ("oppressor", for "the earth ") depends on whether the first letter is Aleph (= ') or Ayin (= '). If with the word is ' erez , earth; and if with it is 'ariz, oppression. These two letters are often interchanged. See notes on Psalms 28:8 (their); Isa 35:15 (tear me). Micah 1:10 (at all). Hosea 7:6 (baker sleepeth). The word ga'al (to redeem) is spelled with Aleph ('), but it has been mistaken for ga'al (to pollute), and is actually so rendered in Ezra 2:62 .Nehemiah 7:64 . Neh 59:3 ; Neh 63:3 .Lamentations 4:14 .Daniel 1:8 . Zephaniah 3:1 . Mai. Isaiah 1:7 ; while ga'al is properly so rendered in Leviticus 26:11 , Leviticus 26:15 , Leviticus 26:30 , Leviticus 26:43 , Lev 26:44 ; 2 Samuel 1:21 (vilely = as polluted). Job 21:10 (faileth), Jeremiah 14:19 (lothed), Ezekiel 16:45 . The word "power" is spelled 'a (with Aleph) in Psalms 76:7 , but 'oz (with Ayin (') in Isa 90:11 . See further note on Hosea 7:6 ("in their lying in wait"). The Massorah contains several lists of words in which these letters are interchanged. See Ginsburg's Massorah (Vol. I, p. 57, letter, 514 b, and Vol. II, p. 390, letter, 352-360, &c).

breath. Hebrew. ruach = blast, as in Exodus 15:8 ; Exodus 25:4 ; Exo 37:7 . 2 Kings 19:7 .

the wicked = the lawless one. Hebrew. rasha'. App-44 . (sing, not plural) Compare 2 Thessalonians 2:8 .

Verse 6

wolf. Figure of speech Ampliatio. App-6 .

little child = youth.

Verse 8

cockatrice'

= viper's. Hebrew. zepha'. Occurs only here in "former" portion; and in Isaiah 59:5 in "latter". App-79 .

Verse 9

in all My holy mountain. This expression occurs in the "former" portion only here and Isaiah 27:13 , and in the "latter "portion in Isaiah 56:7 ; Isaiah 57:13 ; Isaiah 65:25 . It is to be distinguished from other expressions in which the word "mountain" occurs.

shall be = shall assuredly become.

the knowledge. This is the sign of the fulness of blessing. See note on Isaiah 1:3 ; Compare Isaiah 6:3 . Reference to Pentateuch (Numbers 14:21 ). App-92 .

Verse 10

shall be = - shall come to be. Quoted in Romans 15:12 .

Root = sapling.

people = peoples.

Gentiles = nations.

glorious = glory.

Verse 11

the second time. Reference to Pentateuch, (the first time being Ex. Isa 15:16 , Isa 15:17 ). App-92 .

Pathros = Upper Egypt.

islands = maritime countries. Hebrew. 'i . Occurs in "former" portion, here; Isaiah 20:6 ; Isaiah 23:2 , Isaiah 23:6 ; Isaiah 24:15 ; and in the "latter" portion, in Isaiah 40:15 ; Isaiah 41:1 , Isaiah 41:5 ; Isaiah 42:4 , Isaiah 42:10 , &c.

Verse 12

assemble = gather in.

outcasts. dispersed. Note these two words as applied respectively to Israel and Judah: the former, masculine; the latter, feminine.

gather together = gather out.

Verse 13

Ephraim. Put by Figure of speech Synecdoche (of Part), for the whole of the ten tribes.

Verse 14

fly = flee .

them = the sons of. Moab. See note on Isaiah 15:1 .

children = sons.

Verse 15

tongue = gulf.

His mighty = the full force, spirit, or blast, as in Isaiah 11:4 ("breath").

wind = Hebrew. ruach .

the river: i.e. the Euphrates.

dryshod. Hebrew in shoes.

Verse 16

highway. See note on Isaiah 7:3 .

like as it was. Reference to Pentateuch (Exodus 14:22 ). App-92 .

in the day = when. See note on Genesis 2:17 , and App-18 .