 |  |
Isaiah 11:
A | 1. THE BRANCH OF JESSE.
B | 2-5. | a | 2, 3. Spirit. Ruach.
b | 4. Judge the poor and meek.
a | 5. Breath. Ruach.
b | 5. Slay the wicked.
C | 6-8. | c | 6. Animal creation; loses enmity.
d | 6. Little child shall lead them.
c | 7. Animal creation; changes in constitution.
d | 8. Sucking child and weaned child fearless.
D | 9. | e | They shall not hurt nor destroy.
f | The Sea.
A | 10. THE ROOT OF JESSE.
B | 10-12. | a | 10. Ensign. Nes.
b | 11. Recover the remnant.
a | 12. Ensign. Nes.
b | 12. Gather the dispersed.
C | 13, 14. | c | 13. Enmity of Ephraim and Judah removed.
d | 14. Submission of former enemies.
D | 15, 16. | e | 15. The Lord shall utterly destroy.
f | 15, 16. The Sea.
The opening words of Isa. 11: seem to be set in contrast with the closing words of
chapter 10:, in which the Assyrian is likened to a "bough" that is "lopped with terror", the
"thickets of the forest" that are "cut down with iron", and "Lebanon" that "shall fall by a
mighty one". The word "rod" in Isa. 11: 1 ("the rod out of the stem of Jesse") does not
seem a very suitable translation in view of the fact that the same word is used of the
Assyrian in Isa. 10: 5 and 15. The two Hebrew originals are entirely different. In
chapter 10: it is matteh, while in chapter 11: it is choter, meaning a "twig" or "shoot".
No etymologist would, of course, teach that choter has any real connection with chittah,
the Hebrew word for "wheat"; nevertheless the resemblance is marked in the original
and is suggestive. The word geza, meaning "stem" or "stock", which is used of Jesse, the
father of David (Isa. 11: 1), is an apt word, as a reference to Job 14: will show:
"For there is hope of a tree, if it be cut down, that it will sprout again, and that the
tender branch thereof will not cease. Though the root (sheresh, the same word as in
Isa. 11: 1) thereof wax old in the earth, and the stock (geza, the same word as `stem' in
Isa. 11: 1) die in the ground; yet through the scent of water it will bud, and bring forth
boughs like a plant" (Job 14: 7-9).
Coming back to Isa. 11:, we find next the enduement of the Messiah set forth, and the
spirit of the Lord is said to "rest" upon Him. The word "rest" is nuach, while "spirit" is
ruach. The paronomasia here is intentional. Perhaps, also, there is a reference back to
Isa. 7: 2 where "is confederate" is the translation of this same word nuach, the people
being represented as "resting" on a false hope.
This spiritual enduement of the Messiah is sevenfold: