Isaiah 11:4Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

This is precisely what Paul affirmed about the Antichrist, whom the Lord Jesus will vanquish with the breath of His mouth and eliminate by the glory of His coming, requiring no physical weapons or military might. Are you curious about the manner in which He will strike? It will be as when He encountered those intending to capture Him, asking, “Whom do you seek?” and they fell back to the ground instantly. He will strike the earth, and through the spirit of His mouth—just as it is said of the Father, “By the word of the Lord the heavens were made, and by the breath of His mouth all their host.” He commands the sea and it becomes dry; He instructs the sun not to rise, and it remains still. Just as we possess the capacity to create and simultaneously to destroy with our hands, so does God: “By the word of the Lord the heavens were made.” Furthermore, it is said that with the rod of His mouth He will strike the earth, and elsewhere it is noted that He spoke and the earth was struck. Whether you interpret these words as referring to the body afflicted for its transgressions or as depicting the end-time smiting of the earth, ensure that you do not fall into misunderstanding.

Just as one’s honor cannot shield them from accusations if they are found guilty of wrongdoing, regardless of their wealth, privilege, or power, neither can a lowly and humble state absolve a person burdened by poverty from committing evil or facing punishment. Moreover, he adds that there are remarkable virtues unique to Christ, the Savior of all, who is not merely human like us, but the incarnate and exalted only-begotten Word of God. Now, what actions will He take, as the prophet foretells? He will strike the earth with the words of His mouth. And which earth is this? Certainly, the one He has condemned. Thus, it applies to the entirety of creation; for when He spoke through Adam, declaring, "You are dust, and to dust you shall return" (Genesis 3:19), He pronounced a curse upon all humanity. Furthermore, He condemned the wicked world by delivering it to water, and He cursed Judah for the hostility of its inhabitants towards Him. He lamented, "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing! Look, your house is left to you desolate" (Matthew 23:37-38). The phrase "Your house is left to you desolate" signifies the tragedy of abandonment. Bereft of Him, Judah faced destruction—by warfare, by fire, and by other conquerors. Yet another demonstration of supreme authority is found in the elimination of the unrighteous by the words He speaks. He silenced unclean spirits, and through His declaration, He unleashed unimaginable spiritual power to vanquish numerous demons.

If this slaying refers to absolute destruction, how can one who ceases to exist be brought to an end? It is clear that the deception of the lawless one will be eradicated by the spirit of the mouth of truth, thereby he will be rendered powerless by the manifestation of Christ’s return. We have often noted that it is the vices that are eliminated, not the very beings themselves, as shown in verses such as “the way of the sinful shall perish” (Psalms 145:9) and “the way of the wicked shall perish” (Psalms 1:6).

When they approached Him with flattery, saying, “Teacher, we know that you are true and teach the way of God in truth, and do not regard anyone with partiality” (Matthew 22:16), He, aware of their deceitful hearts, replied, “Why do you test me, you hypocrites?” His judgments favored the poor in spirit, representing the kingdom of God, while He admonished the meek and humble, addressing His disciple Peter, saying, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” (Mk. 8:17; Mt. 14:31). He chastised those who sought to undermine the humble and meek. With authority, He struck down earthly matters, as the LXX conveys, using the word of His mouth, declaring in the Gospel, “Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth: I did not come to bring peace but a sword” (Matt. 10:34). By the breath of His mouth, He will eliminate the wicked; as indicated in the ninth Psalm: “You have silenced the enemy, and the wicked shall be destroyed: their name you have wiped from existence” (Psalm 9:6). Additionally, the Apostle Paul notes that the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will put to death by the breath of His mouth (2 Thess. 2:8).

Following the destruction of the wicked, the Lord is adorned with truth, faithfulness, and wisdom – which comes from God, embodying truth, sanctification, and salvation. He states in the Gospel, “I am the light, and the life, and the truth” (John 8 and John 14). As the Psalms declare, “Truth springs from the earth, and righteousness looks down from heaven” (Ps. 84:2). Thus, the Apostle encourages the Ephesians to “Stand firm, having girded your waist with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness” (Eph. 6:14). If one interprets faith in place of truth, one might say that the girding of the Lord, akin to that of Jeremiah (Jer. 13), represents the faith of believers.

You will see that the interpretation given to you is accurate by looking at the prophet’s subsequent words: ‘And the wolf and the lamb shall feed together,’ etc. (Is. 11:6), which illustrates both the diversity of behavior and the unity of faith. The reality of this prophecy is demonstrated in practice: for both the affluent and those burdened by poverty, servants and masters, leaders and subordinates, as well as the highest authorities in heaven and earth, are welcomed at one baptismal font, receiving the same gifts, partaking in the same sacramental meal, and each believer receiving an equal share.

In this manner, the prophecy regarding the Messiah's judgment has been realized against those who persecuted Christianity. They faced defeat through Christ's judgment. The paganism they upheld was dismantled, and the land once held by the oppressors became the inheritance of the suffering believers, in line with Christ’s proclamation: Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. However, the ultimate judgment upon the enemies of the Messiah and His followers will occur at the culmination of the ages, during the reign of the Antichrist, who will inflict greater suffering upon Christians than all previous persecutors. At that time, the Messiah will vanquish this evil one with the breath of His mouth; from Christ’s mouth will emerge a fierce decree against the Antichrist, executed with immediacy. This prophetic declaration concerning the Antichrist is referenced by the apostle Paul (2 Thess. 2:8).