Isaiah 11 Study Notes

11:1 Judgment in Isaiah is often described as a cutting down of trees (6:13; 10:33-34). The stump of Jesse indicates that the Davidic line has also been cut down, but the tree is yet living. The shoot that springs up shows that David’s line will have new life. It will be restored and will once again bear fruit. The association of the stump with Jesse rather than David indicates that there is a new beginning here, a going back to origins, and a distancing from the later corrupt kings of Judah. The continuation of the Davidic line is an indication of the grace of God based on the covenant of kingship with David: “Your house and kingdom will endure before me forever, and your throne will be established forever” (2Sm 7:16). As redemptive history progressed, the new Davidic dynasty was not realized in later Davidic descendants like Zerubbabel (Ezr 3; Zch 4), but in Jesus Christ.

11:2 The shoot is different in character than other descendants of David, most of whom were self-seeking, fearful, and cruel. The Spirit of the Lord will characterize this descendant. The Spirit will fill this leader with wisdom: the ability to rule, and strength: the power to rule. Scripture makes it clear that the Spirit brings wisdom (Ex 31:3; Dt 34:9) and that wisdom leads to productive and just rule (1Kg 4:29; Pr 8:15-16).

11:3 The fear of the Lord is the basic characteristic of a wise, godly person (Pr 1:7). The fear described here is not terror but awe. This wise, Spirit-filled person will not judge according to external appearances, but he will cut to the heart of the truth.

11:4 The wicked kings of Israel and the Near East exploited and took advantage of the weak (the poor and the oppressed; see notes at 3:13-15; 10:1-2), but this king will rule with justice and protect their rights.

11:5 The term translated belt (Hb ’ezor) refers to an intimate piece of apparel. The idea is that these two fundamental characteristics of covenant fidelity will be an integral part of the future Davidic king’s character.

11:6-9 The future rule is described in Edenic terms where there is no animosity among God’s creatures. The knowledge of the Lord will permeate this future ideal world ushered in by the shoot of the stump of Jesse.

11:10 The root of Jesse is a variant reference to what is called the “stump of Jesse” (see note at v. 1). Of course, the stump would include the root of the tree, but perhaps this way of referring to the image is a way of emphasizing the hidden life that remains. The root of Jesse is here a banner, which refers to a standard around which an army rallied. This same Hebrew word is used in 5:26 (translated “signal flag”). There the signal flag was a rallying point for the nations as they assembled to attack God’s people. Here the banner is a rallying point for the regathering of the remnant.

11:11 The list of nations in this verse probably should not be taken as a literal reference as if God’s people would return from all of these nations, but from all directions. Assyria . . . Elam, and Shinar (Mesopotamia) were to the east; Egypt, Pathros, and Cush were to the south; Hamath was to the north; and the coasts and islands were to the west.

11:12 On banner, see note at v. 10.

11:13 At least from the time of Rehoboam, Solomon’s son, enmity and political division had existed between Judah and Ephraim (the northern kingdom of Israel also known as Samaria). The future will bring an end to hostilities and a reunion of God’s people.

11:14 A reunited Israel will expand its borders to encompass the small nations to the east: Edom . . . Moab, and Ammon. These nations harassed Israel whenever they could.

11:15-16 Exodus imagery is used to describe the return of the remnant from Assyria. God will split the Euphrates River like he did the Red Sea, but in this case he won’t split it into two parts but seven.