Meaning, commentary and cross references
Isaiah 11:1
“There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse,
and a branch from his roots shall bear fruit.”In other translations
KJV · King James Version
And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots:
NIV · New International Version
A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots a Branch will bear fruit.
WEB · World English Bible
A shoot will come out of the stock of Jesse, and a branch out of his roots will bear fruit.
What does Isaiah 11:1 mean?
John Gill · Exposition of the Entire Bible, on Isaiah 11:1
And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse,.... By which is meant, not Hezekiah, as R. Moses (o) the priest, and others, since he was now born, and must be at least ten or twelve years of age; but the Messiah, as both the text and context show, and as is owned by many Jewish writers (p), ancient and modern: and he is called a "rod", either because of his unpromising appearance, arising "out of the stem of Jesse"; from him, in the line of David, when that family was like a tree cut down, and its stump only left in the ground, which was the case when Jesus was born of it: Jesse's family was at first but a mean and obscure one; it became very illustrious in David's time, and in…
John Gill, Exposition of the Entire Bible (1746–63). Public domain. Digital text: Free Use Bible API (bible.helloao.org).
Context: Isaiah 11:1–4 (WEB)
1A shoot will come out of the stock of Jesse, and a branch out of his roots will bear fruit. 2The LORD’s Spirit will rest on him: the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD. 3His delight will be in the fear of the LORD. He will not judge by the sight of his eyes, neither decide by the hearing of his ears; 4but he will judge the poor with righteousness, and decide with equity for the humble of the earth. He will strike the earth with the rod of his mouth; and with the breath of his lips he will kill the wicked.
Cross references
- Jeremiah 23:5
“Behold, the days come,” says the LORD, “that I will raise to David a righteous Branch; and he will reign as king and deal wisely, and will execute justice and righteousness in the land.
- Revelation 22:16
I, Jesus, have sent my angel to testify these things to you for the assemblies. I am the root and the offspring of David, the Bright and Morning Star.”
- Zechariah 6:12
and speak to him, saying, ‘The LORD of Armies says, “Behold, the man whose name is the Branch! He will grow up out of his place; and he will build the LORD’s temple.
- Revelation 5:5
One of the elders said to me, “Don’t weep. Behold, the Lion who is of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has overcome: he who opens the book and its seven seals.”
- Acts 13:22–23
When he had removed him, he raised up David to be their king, to whom he also testified, ‘I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after my heart, who will do all my will.’
- Jeremiah 33:15
“In those days and at that time, I will cause a Branch of righteousness to grow up to David. He will execute justice and righteousness in the land.
- Isaiah 53:2
For he grew up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of dry ground. He has no good looks or majesty. When we see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him.
- Zechariah 3:8
Hear now, Joshua the high priest, you and your fellows who sit before you, for they are men who are a sign; for, behold, I will bring out my servant, the Branch.