Isaiah 11:7Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

In this transformation, you will recall the words of the prophet: Like an ox, he shall eat grass; for he has shed his savagery and brutality, not only in his interactions with others but also in his eating habits, so that the traits of savagery and brutality are no longer present.

The Jews, as if gentled by the guidance of the law and made tender through righteous conduct, upheld a manner of living befitting humanity. In contrast, those who served lifeless idols had no law to govern them, leading them to wild appetites and ruthless behavior—predatory, inclined to violence and pleasure, and prone to the most disgraceful actions, akin to wolves or lynxes, displaying souls marred by various passions; while another, unrestrained, utilized force to fulfill his desires, living like a lion. However, after Christ transformed these individuals to embrace a humble and holy existence, they forsook their innate savagery and honored a life suitable for humanity, characterized by gentleness. They believed in Christ, who proclaimed, “Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls” (Matthew 11:29). Alongside their faith, they received liberation from earlier cruelty, becoming gentle and living in unity with the saints. They are explicitly referred to as fellow heirs with the saints and of God (Ephesians 2:19). This is what the prophetic words convey in different expressions, signifying that the wolf shall dwell with the lamb, and the lynx shall repose with the goat; portraying that through Christ, the untamed shall merge with the gentle, and the profane with the sacred. Israel, cultivated as it was by the law and nurtured in moral understanding, exhibited tranquility, gentleness, and holiness, resembling sheep and goats—both animals which are clean and pure, innately possessing a gentle disposition. Conversely, the wolf, lynx, and lion are inherently wild and do not align with others. Yet through Christ, a unity has been established; Jews and Greeks have gathered around a common sustenance—the gospel and apostolic teachings—submitting to one Supreme Shepherd, who as the prophet states, tends flocks in rich pastures (Ezekiel 34:14). It is also stated that the bull, the young man, and the lion shall graze together. Here, the young bull may symbolize the emerging nation of believers—those newly born in Christ; while the older bull perhaps reflects Israel, as it has existed for a long time before the newborn bulls arrived. Alternatively, the young calf could signify someone distinguished in knowledge and virtue, illustrating that the humble will be blessed alongside the great, and the old with the young, as the Psalmist notes (Psalms 113:21; Psalms 148:12). The wise John acknowledges this spectrum of maturity when he addresses fathers and children, as well as young men (1 John 2:13, 14), drawing a parallel between spiritual maturity and physical age. Therefore, he asserts that the bull, young man, and lion will feed together in the same pasture. Connecting the lion with the calf acts as an allegory for those justified through faith and under the guidance of Christ, our all-encompassing Saviour. The wild, distinctly the Gentiles, are drawn together in harmony by Christ, who bestows blessings upon future generations. The peace of Christ and the benefits arising from this unity in belief endure to this very day. This is further emphasized by stating that their offspring shall coexist, and the lion will behave like an ox. It is notable that it is not the gentle that transition to the habitual diet of the wild, but rather the wild that adapts to the sustenance of the gentle; for it is evident that bears and lions are carnivorous, while oxen, calves, and goats are herbivorous. Thus, the wild will depart from their customary habits in favor of the gentler food, which can serve as a metaphor for doctrine. This indicates that prior to faith in Christ, Gentiles were led astray by corrupt teachings that encouraged them to pursue destructive practices; but once they were called to recognize the true God, they shed these misguided doctrines along with their previous errors, and alongside the Israelites, they cherished the nourishing teachings of the Gospel. Additionally, the young ones will be guided, referring to those under the mentorship of teachers whose intentions are genuine and innocent, contrasting those of a sarcastic or evil nature, instead embodying simplicity and an innocent mindset (1 Corinthians 14:20; Ephesians 5:15). Such individuals, who possess a divine treasure within fragile vessels (2 Corinthians 4:7), maintain pure hearts free from wickedness and lack nothing compared to newborn infants. These are regarded worthy of the kingdom of heaven, as Christ declared: “Let the little children come to Me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 19:14). These young ones, exhibiting the greatest perseverance of intention, will be formidable and beyond reproach, unaffected by fear—as indicated by, “And the young will put their hands on the dens of asps and the beds of poisonous serpents, and they will not hurt nor destroy anyone on My holy mountain.” The dens and refuge of asps represent clusters of malevolent demons or the shelters of unrighteous heretics—not referred to as churches—upon which even the innocent in Christ will easily triumph without fear of harm. For Christ is their protector, nullifying the potency of their venom (i.e., heretics) and rendering their malice ineffectual; for it is stated that they cannot harm anyone on My holy mountain. The Church is referred to as the holy mountain because it is exalted in glory and possesses sublime teachings. There exists no disparagement within us: we do not place creatures on par with the Creator, and we do not relegate the Creator, the Word of God, to the status of created things. The entire earth will be filled with the knowledge of the Lord, akin to the sea's fullness with its waters. In this, one can discern the truth; for where in the entire world or among who is the name of Christ not proclaimed? Which tribe does not submit to Him? For before Him, every knee shall bow, and every tongue shall confess, as it is written (Philippians 2:10, 11; Romans 14:11), that Jesus Christ is the glory of God the Father (Philippians 2:11).

We must also inquire how they understand the earth smitten by God's word and the wicked being slain by the breath of His mouth in a literal sense. They should clarify how the attire of the Lord is symbolized by incorporeal virtues like truth and righteousness.

Furthermore, we could question whether it is fitting for God's majesty to envision wolves and lambs grazing, leopards lying with goats, lions consuming straw, or even a child reaching into the den of a poisonous snake. Unless they wish to evoke myths akin to the golden age of Saturn, laden with idyllic imagery of unity among beasts—a time when rivers run with wine and nature produces honey and milk abundantly. Should their response imply that such blissful existence awaits, free from strife, we should remind them that true goodness resides solely in virtue. As the Psalmist states, "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 33:14). Material wealth and physical health, alongside their opposites—poverty and illness—are deemed morally neutral rather than intrinsically good or evil. Hence, the Stoics, aligning in many doctrines with our beliefs, recognize only virtue as good and vice as evil.

In stating this briefly, we aim to demonstrate the folly of our Judaizers, who seem to wander in deep sleep. However, through the invigorating spirit, clarity becomes evident. The wolf symbolizes Paul, the one who fiercely persecuted the church, linked to the proclamation that "Benjamin is a ravenous wolf." He lived among the lambs—represented here by Ananias, through whom he was baptized—or among the Apostle Peter, who was tasked to tend Christ’s flock (Gen. 49:27; Acts 9:17). The leopard, who has yet to shed his diverse colorations, comes to rest beside the goat—not the wild goat, but that which is sacrificed at the Passover.

It’s essential to recognize that rather than the lamb and goat lying peacefully with the wolf and leopard, the latter will emulate the lamb's and goat's innocence. Thus, the once ferocious lion will dwell alongside the sheep and the calf. This reflection mirrors the current state of the church, where the rich and poor, the powerful and meek, kings and common folk coexist. They are guided by those who, though perhaps lacking in worldly wise understanding, bear the knowledge of Christ’s teachings. When united under the Lord's doctrine, their families will harmoniously dwell together. In this peace, the lion will consume simple sustenance, represented here as chaff, signifying the plain words found in the scriptures, which convey deeper meanings beyond their literal interpretations. Many of today’s individuals, unaware of these mysteries, sustain themselves on the straightforward teachings of scripture.

The metaphor of a child—representing naivety—reaching into the snake's den illustrates the power to cast out demons from possessed bodies. Those who have matured in faith no longer dwell on elementary teachings but have moved onto solid spiritual food. They confront the stronghold of evil—the dwelling of Satan itself. This authority to confront evil aligns with the apostles’ mandate to overcome serpents and scorpions, unimpeded by any power of the enemy (Luke 10). Indeed, venomous creatures will not harm those residing in the holy mountain of God, which signifies the Church, as expressed in the Gospel, "The hail cannot be hidden from the mountain above" (Matt. 5:14). To clarify that this does not solely reference Mount Zion, the subsequent verses illuminate the Gospel's prophetic declarations: for the earth will be infused with the knowledge of the Lord, as water covers the sea.

The Apostle Peter also witnessed the unification of diverse customs when he saw a vessel descending from heaven, representative of the four corners of the earth, filled with creatures of various kinds—quadrupeds, beasts, creeping things, and birds—indicating that the Church exemplifies the same unity experienced by Noah's Ark during the flood.

The Septuagint states: "And I will make a covenant for them in that day with the beasts of the field, and with the fowls of the air, and with the creeping things of the earth; and I will remove the bow, the sword, and warfare from the earth, and I will allow them to live in safety" (Hos. 2:18). When the defilements of false worship are cast aside and the people of God declare, "You are my husband, and not my idol," then peace and covenant with all creatures will be established. Isaiah likewise foretold these harmonious times when the wolf shall dwell with the lamb, the leopard will rest with the kid goat, and the innocent, represented by young children, will lead this peaceable coexistence among all creation. During those days, even the lion will eat straw, signifying a rejection of violence for simple sustenance.

When Peter was instructed to welcome Gentiles, he learned to discern nothing as unclean that was given in thanksgiving, reflecting the divine command: "What God has cleansed, you shall not regard as unclean" (Acts 10:15). Thus, upon the Lord's return, following His glorious resurrection and ascension to the Father, the barriers between believers will be dismantled, creating unity through Him, the cornerstone of our faith. Those labeled as unredeemed will find redemption, and those called "not my people" will become His people, ushering in a time when all will be reconciled, and the implements of war will be no more. Israel will be one with the Gentiles, fulfilling the exhortation from Deuteronomy: "Rejoice, O Gentiles, with His people" (Deut. 32:43), for God's reign is established in Judah, and Israel’s name is magnified.

Hence, at the prophecy’s outset, it is stated that ‘the rod shall come forth out of the root of Jesse,’ and the conclusion echoes this beginning. The prophet asserts: ‘And the root of Jesse shall be in this day, and he shall rise up to rule the nations, in whom the nations shall place their trust: and his glory shall rest’ (Isaiah 11:10). Jesse, being the father of David, received a divine promise through an oath made to David. The prophet would not have labeled Christ the Lord as the rod ‘out of the root of Jesse’ if he acknowledged Him solely as divine. The prophet additionally foreshadows the transformation of the world: ‘The whole earth shall be filled,’ he declares, ‘with the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea’ (Isaiah 11:9).

During this peaceful coexistence, there was no fear between humans and animals; men lived in harmony without trepidation from lions or serpents, as these creatures were neither fierce nor venomous at that time.

Some interpret this prophecy literally, believing animals will eventually revert to their original states of coexistence with humans, akin to their pre-fall conditions. The ferocity and carnivorous behavior of many animals arose from the curse placed upon the earth due to human transgressions (Genesis 3:17). This divine penalty not only condemned the soil to barrenness but also diminished the quality of its vegetation, affecting both humanity and the animals that relied on those plants for sustenance. As a result, many animals, deprived of adequate nourishment from the cursed earth, became dissatisfied and turned to predation.

This condition will persist until the power of faith in Christ brings holiness to all corners of the world, leading humanity to fulfill God’s will as it is enacted in heaven by the angels. The moral transformation occurring in humanity will also resonate within the animal realm. Ultimately, the curse upon the earth will be lifted, along with its repercussions, including animal ferocity; harmony will be restored among creatures, and the primacy of man over them will be revitalized as it was originally intended.

While some Jewish and Christian interpreters grasp this prophecy in a literal manner, it is insufficient to halt at such an interpretation, particularly given the nuances of verse 9. The declaration that they shall "do no harm, neither shall they destroy any man in my holy mountain" cannot logically pertain to beasts in a literal sense, as it would imply that they could previously endanger humanity within the sacred domain of true worship—whether understood as a specific location or the broader Church of God. Therefore, the transformation foretold in the animal world is better understood allegorically. The wild beasts mentioned—the wolf, the lynx, the lion, the bear, and the serpent—symbolize individuals whose conduct mirrors that of beasts. Once they join the community of gentle and obedient Christians, who adhere to the Gospel much like domesticated animals (the lamb, the goat, the calf, and the ox) follow their master, they will be transformed, living in peace and unity together as one flock, under the guidance of shepherds who are faithful to the one true Shepherd, Christ. Together, they will draw nourishment for their souls from the singular sustenance of faith.