Isaiah 11:3

And shall make him of quick understanding in the fear of the LORD: and he shall not judge after the sight of his eyes, neither reprove after the hearing of his ears:

And shall make him of quick understanding {H7306} in the fear {H3374} of the LORD {H3068}: and he shall not judge {H8199} after the sight {H4758} of his eyes {H5869}, neither reprove {H3198} after the hearing {H4926} of his ears {H241}:

he will be inspired by fearing ADONAI. He will not judge by what his eyes see or decide by what his ears hear,

And He will delight in the fear of the LORD. He will not judge by what His eyes see, and He will not decide by what His ears hear,

And his delight shall be in the fear of Jehovah; and he shall not judge after the sight of his eyes, neither decide after the hearing of his ears;

Commentary

Isaiah 11:3 is part of a profound messianic prophecy in the book of Isaiah, describing the future righteous King. It immediately follows the imagery of a "rod out of the stem of Jesse" (Isaiah 11:1), identifying the Messiah as a descendant of King David. Verse 2 details the sevenfold Spirit of the Lord resting upon Him, endowing Him with unparalleled wisdom and understanding. This verse, Isaiah 11:3, elaborates on how that Spirit will manifest in His judgment and discernment, setting Him apart from human rulers.

Key Themes

  • Divine Discernment: The Messiah's "quick understanding in the fear of the LORD" signifies an intuitive, Spirit-led comprehension of divine truth and righteousness. His insight is not merely intellectual but spiritual, rooted in profound reverence for God.
  • Righteous Judgment: Unlike human judges who are often swayed by appearances or hearsay, the Messiah "shall not judge after the sight of his eyes, neither reprove after the hearing of his ears." His judgments will be based on perfect knowledge, truth, and the true state of hearts, as highlighted in John 7:24, where Jesus commands, "Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment."
  • Perfect Justice: This verse foreshadows the Messiah's role as the ultimate, impartial judge, whose reign will bring true justice and equity to the earth, a central theme of His kingdom.

Linguistic Insights

The KJV phrase "make him of quick understanding" translates a Hebrew phrase that literally means "He shall delight in the fear of the LORD" or "He shall smell/discern by the fear of the LORD." The Hebrew verb rΓ»aαΈ₯ (Χ¨Χ•ΦΌΧ—Φ·), often translated as "smell" or "delight," suggests a deep, intuitive discernment, almost like an inherent sense or pleasure. This implies that the Messiah's understanding and judgment are not laborious intellectual processes but flow naturally and effortlessly from His perfect relationship with and reverence for God. The "fear of the LORD" (yir'at YHWH) is not terror but a profound reverence, awe, and submission to God, which is consistently portrayed in Scripture as the beginning of wisdom and knowledge (Proverbs 1:7).

Practical Application

While this verse primarily describes the unique qualities of the Messiah, it offers profound lessons for believers:

  • Seek Divine Wisdom: We are called to cultivate a "fear of the LORD" – a deep reverence and awe – as the foundation for true wisdom and understanding, rather than relying solely on human intellect or worldly perspectives.
  • Practice Righteous Discernment: In our own lives, we are challenged to look beyond superficial appearances and hearsay when forming judgments or making decisions. Instead, we should seek God's wisdom and truth, striving to judge righteously and with spiritual insight, reflecting the character of Christ.
  • Imitate Christ's Character: This verse encourages us to grow in discernment and impartiality, recognizing that true understanding comes from a Spirit-led life rooted in God's will, enabling us to act with justice and integrity.
Note: Commentary was generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please remember that only the commentary section is AI-generated. The main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are sourced from trusted and verified materials.

Cross-References

  • John 7:24

    Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment.

  • Luke 2:52

    And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man.

  • John 8:15

    Ye judge after the flesh; I judge no man.

  • John 8:16

    And yet if I judge, my judgment is true: for I am not alone, but I and the Father that sent me.

  • 1 Samuel 16:7

    But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for [the LORD seeth] not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.

  • Proverbs 2:5

    Then shalt thou understand the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God.

  • 1 Corinthians 2:13

    Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
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