Isaiah 11:6Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

By envisioning wolves and lambs existing side by side without harming each other, consider the soldiers—those fierce in spirit, the cruel centurions and commanders—who, upon their conversion and newfound love for Christ, will cease to display hostility toward the meek and humble. Similarly, the leopard will lie alongside the goat, which is easily accomplished by God and can also be achieved by us when we choose to do so. The calf, young lion, and ox will coexist, and a small child will lead them. The cow will feed with the bear, their cubs will rest together, and the lion will graze like the ox. The prophet emphasizes that these creatures do not merely inhabit the same space but share the same pasture when the provisions are abundant; thus, the essence of their nature remains unaltered, yet their conduct transforms: the wolf does not become a lamb but retains its wildness, ruling with bravery while causing no harm to the lowly. In another passage, Scripture refers to fierce leaders as Arabian wolves. The leopard will rest with the goat, and the calf, young lion, and ox will be united. Each beast will renounce its wild disposition; this aligns with the earlier proclamation that He will reprove the tongues of many. It is not remarkable that He will deliver judgment and admonish the prominent figures of the earth, but it is extraordinary that He will instill such qualities in people, allowing them to emulate the heavenly travelers and subject both the great and the humble to the same divine principles, ensuring that the downtrodden are not oppressed. These are the manifestations of Creator God. And the small child will guide them. They will be in such accord that there will be no need for external laws or regulations; instead, each will govern themselves, as it is stated, "The law is not laid down for the righteous" (1 Tim. 1:9). If someone were to lead a Christian community where all embrace Christ, even a youth with limited knowledge, by committing to lead lives aligned with Christian principles, he would effortlessly guide the community, and they would not pose any challenges to their appointed leader.

As I have mentioned previously, I will reiterate that certain passages in Scripture should be taken literally, while others should be interpreted metaphorically. For instance, when it states, "The wolf shall dwell with the lamb," we do not refer to literal wolves or lambs or pastures or cattle, but rather, through this figurative language, we depict the behaviors of humanity.

Psalm 14:3).

Conversely, the Jews, governed by the law and tempered by righteous customs, honored a life appropriate to humanity, while the other nations, serving lifeless idols and lacking moral authority, exhibited wild and violent tendencies, driven by base desires, and readily inclined to shameful acts. Such individuals resembled ferocious animals—they could take on the nature of wolves or lynxes, manifesting a soul marked by a myriad of passions, while others, unrestrained in their cravings, acted like lions, devouring whatever they sought. Yet, having been transformed by Christ into a gentle and holy life, they abandoned their innate brutality, accepting a humane existence characterized by meekness. They embraced belief in Christ, who proclaimed, “Take My yoke upon you, and learn of Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls” (Matthew 11:29). Through this faith, they gained liberation from old cruel ways, striving to embody goodness and humility, living in communion with the saints. They are explicitly identified as fellow heirs with the saints, belonging to God (Ephesians 2:19).

This prophetic truth is revealed through various sayings, illustrating that the wolf shall dwell with the lamb, and the lynx shall lie down with the goat. This signifies that in Christ, the wild will be reconciled with the meek, the unholy with the sacred. Because of their upbringing through the law and the knowledge of virtuous behavior, Israel was calm, gentle, and holy, resembling sheep and goats—both pure and soft by nature. In contrast, wolves, lynxes, and lions exhibit an untamed nature. However, through Christ, harmony has been achieved, as Jews and Gentiles unite around a common sustenance, which is the gospel and the apostolic message, all under the guidance of one great Shepherd who leads us to rich pastures (Ezekiel 34:14).

Thus, even the ox, the young man, and the lion shall feed together. The young bullock likely represents the nascent and youthful community of believers, the infants in Christ, while the calf may symbolize those well-versed in knowledge and virtue, as reflected in the words that the little ones shall be blessed alongside the great, and the old with the young (Psalm 113:21; Psalm 148:12). The wise John acknowledges this developmental phase, writing to fathers, children, and young men (1 John 2:13-14), drawing parallels between spiritual maturity and physical age. Hence, he states that the ox, young man, and lion will graze together.

By linking the lion to the calf, he implies those justified by faith who fall under the sovereign reign of Christ, our Savior. For Christ unites not only the pure and gentle—those molded by the law—but also the wild, primarily the Gentiles, into one body, bestowing blessings upon their descendants. The peace of Christ, along with the goodness stemming from unity in faith, remains evident even to our present time. He reveals that their offspring shall coexist and that the lion shall graze alongside the ox. Notice that it is not the meek who partake in the wild’s traditional sustenance, but the wild that consumes the food meant for the meek. It is known that bears and lions are carnivorous, while the ox and the calf are herbivorous. Therefore, wild creatures will relinquish their customary diets and embrace the nourishment of the meek, signifying a shift to a higher teaching.

Prior to their belief in Christ, the Gentiles followed misguided teachers who presented them with base doctrines and encouraged them to value pursuits of corruption. However, upon being called to truly know God, they cast off those erroneous teachings and, along with the Israelites, cherished the nourishing and gentle guidance of the Gospel. The youth shall be mentored, guided by instructors who are earnest and childlike in spirit, aiming to cultivate wise minds (1 Corinthians 14:20; cf. Ephesians 5:15). Those who in Christ hold the Divine treasure within humble vessels (2 Corinthians 4:7) possess pure hearts and are devoid of corruption, standing firm like newborn children. Such individuals are deemed worthy of the Kingdom of Heaven, for Christ invites the children to come unto Him, stating that “of such is the Kingdom of Heaven” (Matthew 19:14).

Moreover, they will exhibit remarkable courage, becoming invulnerable and blameless, showing no fear. He emphasizes this by saying, "And the young will put their hands on the asp's lair and the den of serpents; they will not do harm, nor shall they destroy any person on My holy mountain." The caves and dens of serpents likely symbolize the groups of evil spirits or the hideouts of heretical individuals—unfit to be called churches—where young believers often exert their power without harm. For Christ is their protector, nullifying the influence of their venomous adversaries, declaring that they cannot destroy anyone on His holy mountain. He refers to the Church as His holy mountain because it is elevated in glory and contains sublime doctrines. We honor the Creator above all; we do not equate the created with the Creator or deprive our God, the Word, of His glory by reducing Him to the status of His creatures.

Indeed, as it is written, “The whole earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea.” Therefore, everyone can discern the truth; for in the entirety of the world, who is there that does not proclaim Christ? Or which people does not submit to Him? Before Him, every knee shall bow, and every tongue shall confess (Philippians 2:10-11; cf. Romans 14:11), for the Lord Jesus Christ is the glory of God the Father (Philippians 2:11).

Is it really true that the earth struck by God’s word and the wicked vanquished by His spirit should be understood just as written? Additionally, they must clarify how the Lord’s loins are symbolized by non-corporeal concepts such as truth and righteousness.

Furthermore, is it worthy of God's majesty that wild animals like wolves and lambs, leopards and goats, or lions will eat straw instead of flesh, with young children safely handling serpents? Perhaps they will assert that such a golden age exists, echoing the myths of poets where peace prevails, rivers flow with wine, and honey drips from trees, filling the world with abundance. If their belief is that these realities will coexist harmoniously, we remind them that goodness ultimately resides in virtue. The Psalmist reminds us: "Who is a man that desireth life, that loveth the days to see good things; keep thy tongue from evil, and thy mouth from speaking flattery. Turn away from evil, and do good" (Psalm 34:12). Material wealth and health are neither inherently good nor evil, instead categorized as neutral. Likewise, Stoics who align in significant ways with our views maintain that only virtue is inherently good, while only vice is evil.

The previous remarks illustrate the delusion some Judaizers maintain. Yet, through the life-giving Spirit, comprehension becomes accessible. The wolf represents Paul, known for his severe persecution of the church, as prophesied in Benjamin's description as a ravenous wolf—dwelling not just with the lamb, but with Ananias and Peter, who ministered to him (Gen. 49:27; Acts 7). The leopard, who initially clung to his spotted nature, transformed after purifying himself, now lies with the goat—representing not those linked to the past but those redeemed at Calvary.

It should be emphasized that it’s not the lamb and goat that coexist with the leopard and the wolf; rather, the wolf and leopard take on the lamb’s gentleness. This dynamic reflects the reality within the church—where rich and poor, notable and unnoticed, rulers and commoners reside together, all guided by the teachings of the young apostles, untrained in worldly matters yet wise in spirit. When families unite under the Lord’s doctrine, fulfillment will be seen as children rest side by side.

Moreover, the lion will consume not flesh but chaff, which signifies a shift towards simplicity in nourishment. The chaff symbolizes straightforward words, while the wheat embodies deeper meaning. It’s common for the unlearned to gain sustenance from merely reading the Scriptures, while the mature combat evil and expel demons, symbolized by a child’s hand reaching into the den of a serpent. Just as the apostles were empowered to tread upon serpents and scorpions and all forces of evil (Luke 10), those residing in the sacred mountain of God—representing the Church—are safeguarded from harm.

To clarify, the mountain of God is not merely Mount Zion, as the subsequent verses reveal the esoteric truths of the Gospel: the earth will be filled with the divine counsel as waters cover the sea’s depths. The Apostle Peter’s vision from heaven confirmed this unity of diverse beings within a linen sheet, indicative of the world’s four corners, including diverse animals—an allegorical representation of the Church in the midst of humanity.

The Septuagint proclaims: “And I will make a covenant for them in that day with the beasts of the field and with the birds of the sky and with the creeping things of the earth, and I will abolish the bow, the sword, and war from the land, and I will let them live in safety” (Hos. 2:18). This covenant is contingent on the people forsaking false idols and turning to the true God, who promises peace with all creation. Similarly, Isaiah foretells harmony among animals, where the wolf lives with the lamb, and the lion, no longer a fierce predator, feeds as an ox does.

Upon receiving the revelation concerning Gentiles, Peter was instructed to reject none of God's creations as unclean, as what God has purified should not be deemed impure (Acts 10:15). Thus, with Christ's resurrection and ascension, divisions are reconciled and barriers are dismantled, culminating in the fulfillment of prophecy where instruments of war become obsolete, uniting Israel and the Gentiles, which aligns with the declaration: “Rejoice, O Gentiles, with His people” (Deut. 32:43), as God reigns in Judah and grants honor to Israel.

This is evident as the prophecy begins with the words, 'a shoot shall come forth from the stump of Jesse,' and at its conclusion, it reiterates its opening. For it states: 'And in that day the root of Jesse shall stand as a signal for the peoples; the nations shall inquire of him, and his dwelling shall be glorious' (Isaiah 11:10). Jesse, being the father of David, received a sworn promise. The prophet would not have designated Christ the Lord as the shoot 'from the root of Jesse' if he recognized him solely as divine. Moreover, the prophet anticipated a transformation in creation: 'For the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea' (Isaiah 11:9).

Furthermore, it is said: The calf and the lion and the lamb shall abide together, representing those who, with a troubled heart, prepare for their sacrificial offering to God, the one who, like a lion, once roamed fiercely in cruelty, and the innocent lamb who endured with simplicity—all gathered within the protective embrace of the holy Church. This illustrates the nature of love, which ignites the diversity of hearts, melts them down, and shapes them into a singular radiance akin to pure gold.

Peace reigned among them, and humans coexisted peacefully with all creatures, having no fear of lions or serpents, as neither were fierce nor poisonous at that time.

Some propose that this prophecy should be interpreted literally, suggesting that animals will eventually revert to their original harmonious state in relation to one another and to humans, as it was before humanity's fall. The brutality and predatory nature seen in many animals today, along with the diminished authority humans possess over them, resulted from the curse placed upon the earth due to humanity's transgressions (Genesis 3:17). This curse affected both the ground, condemned to barrenness, as well as the nature of its vegetation, which, deprived of its original nourishment and value for both humans and animals, led many creatures to turn from a plant-based diet to one of consuming flesh, as they grew unsatisfied with the less bountiful and inferior produce of the cursed earth.

It is believed that animals will remain in this state until the sanctifying power of Christ’s faith prevails across the globe, enabling humanity to fulfill God’s will on earth just as the angels do in heaven. The moral transformation among humankind will need to be mirrored in the animal kingdom as well. The effects of the curse will diminish, eliminating animal ferocity and reestablishing harmony and peace among them, restoring humanity's original dominion over creation. While Jewish and some Christian interpreters view the prophecy in a literal manner, it is important to expand beyond such an interpretation, particularly in light of verse 9. The phrase, "They shall do no harm, neither shall they be able to destroy any man in my holy mountain," cannot realistically pertain to beasts in the literal sense, as it would imply they had previously possessed the ability to harm humans in the sacred space of true worship, whether interpreted narrowly or broadly as the Church of God.

Thus, the envisioned change among animals is more appropriately understood allegorically; the wild creatures such as the wolf, lynx, lion, bear, and serpent symbolize individuals whose behaviors resemble those of beasts until they join the community of gentle and obedient Christians who follow the Gospel. Much like domesticated animals (the lamb, goat, calf, and ox) that are submissive to their master, these individuals, upon entering Christian fellowship, will transform and dwell peacefully and in unity, forming one flock under the guidance of shepherds who faithfully follow the one true Shepherd, Christ. Together, they will nurture their souls with the singular sustenance of faith.