Isaiah 11:10Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

It indicates that He will provide language and be a source of hope for those who had none, specifically for the Gentiles, as the Apostle Paul points out in his letter: "Wherefore remember ye also, that ye who were sometimes Gentiles in the flesh, verbally uncircumcised from the circumcision of the flesh, which was made with hands, because ye were in the time without Christ, alienated from Israel, and alienated from the covenant of promise, having no hope, and godless in the world: but now of Christ Jesus ye who were sometimes far off, are near by the blood of Christ" (Eph. 2:11-18). Even though they may have been without hope, worshipping mere creations, they were nonetheless called through faith to a knowledge of Christ, finding guidance under His care and coming to have the one who is truly and naturally God, entering into communion with the hope of the saints.

It is said there shall come His rest, His glory. This can be understood in a dual manner. For those who wish to interpret "rest" in this context as referring to the death of Christ in the flesh—which He voluntarily endured for our sake—it can be seen as granting a brief respite to His body, thus rendering death a form of honor. The Savior, our Lord Jesus Christ, is glorified for having taken upon Himself the sacrifice for humanity, willingly facing death for the sake of all lives. He expressed this truth to the heavenly Father when preparing to face the honorable cross: "Father, glorify Thy Son, that Thy Son also may glorify Thee" (John 17:1). Additionally, "Now is the Son of man glorified, and God is glorified concerning Him" (John 13:31).

The misguided actions of those who condemned Him, their malice and cruelty, turned His suffering into paradoxical glory, as they believed He was suffering against His will. Yet, through His resurrection, He conquered hell, demonstrating His dominion over death, thereby bringing forth honor and glory through His actions. Hence, it speaks of His rest and honor in this manner.

Should anyone contemplate differently regarding these reflections, they might grasp this idea: Christ will not merely serve as a beacon of hope for the Gentiles, but at a certain moment He will rise, not only to claim them but also to grant them rest infused with honor. The hearts of the saints are a gracious abode for Him, where He resides, resting within the holy souls who revere Him. To those who receive such a blessing, He becomes both honor and glory, for what can surpass the glory of having God present and living within their hearts? Thus, even now, as we earnestly seek Him, His rest in us brings honor. For "if any man hearken to my words," He says, "my Father will love him, and unto him we will come and make our abode with him" (John 14:23).

Notably, when he states there "shall be a Root of Jesse," it is essential to recognize the phrase "shall be." He does not say "shall appear" or "shall become," but rather affirms that He will truly exist, having taken on flesh not in a metaphorical sense but in actual substance. Thus, "the root of Jesse shall be," affirming that the flesh derived from Jesse will be a genuine reality.

And He will "arise": the terms “root” and “arise” are connected. The "root of Jesse" points to the divine human nature inherited from the kings, while "he who arises shall rule over the nations," as the Gentiles trust in Him, as evidenced by the Church of Christ among the nations. When He triumphed over death, He started to "rule the nations," though He left behind a people marked by their rejection of Him. To the Jews, He bequeathed death; however, to the Gentiles, He offered resurrection, since some cried out, "Let Him be crucified," and "His blood be upon us and upon our children" (Matt. 27:22, 25), while others received the Crucified One and found redemption through His sacrifice. The Prophet continues, "And there shall be a resting place of His glory." The very act of resting in Christ carries honor for those who revere Him as the Word of God, His Wisdom, and His Power. Those who find rest in Christ acknowledge their unity with Him who begot Him, affirming their shared dignity and eternal nature.

On the other hand, the troubled resort to words that detract from His glory, offering nothing to affirm Christ's repose. We must understand that the rest of which the Lord speaks involves both the peace He offers to those who praise Him and the companionship with those who love Him, as stated, "I glorify those who love Me" (John 14:21; John 17:22). Therefore, the rest that the Lord grants is honorable, bestowed in accordance with divine justice, reflecting the deeds of His followers. Some will receive greater honors, while others will have less, for "star differs from star in glory" (1 Cor. 15:41). Given that "there are many rooms" in the Father’s house (John 14:2), He will grant some a higher and more exalted state while others will be in a lower position. Yet, all will partake in rest for the sake of honor.

His birth has been narrated, the mysteries that followed have been recounted; now He approaches death, which is not identified with the common designation of mortals. In Christ, where there was perpetual life, death is referred to as rest. To elucidate the meaning for the reader, we have chosen another word to denote sleep and rest, but maintaining the same essence: coffin. Thus, when the Gospel of Christ illuminates the entire world, and the earth is filled with the knowledge of the Lord, akin to waters covering the sea, the root of Jesse and He who has been raised from his lineage will become a beacon for all nations. The nations shall behold in the sky the sign of the Son of Man (Matthew 24:30). He will bear authority in His hands, concealing His power (Abb. ch. 3), so that when He is exalted, He will draw all men to Himself (John 12:32). In the words of the LXX, He will rise from the dead to be the leader of all peoples, whom they will place their faith in. Concerning this leader from the tribe of Judah, James speaks in a profound manner, saying that the ruler from Judah and the guide from his descendants will not be absent until the one appointed for Him arrives, and He is the expected hope of the nations (Genesis 49:10).

For it is further declared: “And the root of Jesse shall stand as a banner for the peoples; the nations shall seek Him, and His resting place shall be glorious” (Isaiah 11:10). Jesse, being the father of David, received a covenant promise. The prophecy would not have referred to Christ as the rod “out of the root of Jesse” if He were acknowledged only as God. The prophet also anticipated a transformation of the world: “For the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea” (Isaiah 11:9).

Christ has assured His presence in His Church until the close of the age (Matt. 28:20). This presence will serve as His rest, a dwelling place that brings honor and glory to all. Notably, His tomb, where He rested for three days, will garner universal reverence, attracting countless worshippers from all corners of the earth. This message is proclaimed on the eve of the Nativity of Christ as the celebration of His birth fulfills the prophecy regarding the Messiah. He was born of the Blessed Virgin Mary from the lineage of David or Jesse, during a time of great humiliation for this line, in the place of Jesse’s origin—Bethlehem. Thus, in one of the hymns during the Nativity feast, the Church honors Christ by recalling Isaiah’s prophecy about the Branch from the root of Jesse: The rod from the root of Jesse and the flower from it, O Christ, from the Virgin you sprouted.