Isaiah 11:9Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

In Judea, God was acknowledged and revered, while throughout the other nations, there was a multitude of idols, with each person choosing how to honor God according to their own will; for all had turned away, and together they became indifferent: there was no one who did good, not even one, as recorded in Romans 3:12 and Psalm 14:3. The Jews, guided by the law and shaped by the ways of righteousness, upheld a life fitting for humanity. In contrast, those who served lifeless idols lacked a governing law and were inclined toward wildness: they were fierce, predatory, driven by their desires, and prone to the most shameful acts, exhibiting characteristics akin to wolves or lynxes due to their souls being tainted by countless passions. Others, uncontrolled in their cravings, seized whatever they wanted with force, living their lives like lions. However, after Christ had transformed them into a gentle and holy way of life, they renounced their inherent brutality and embraced a life marked by gentleness. They came to believe in Christ, who invites, “Take My yoke upon you, and learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls,” as found in Matthew 11:29. Thus, with faith, they also received liberation from former harshness, aspiring to be good and humble, and to dwell in community with the saints. They are said to be fellow-heirs with the saints and citizens of God, as indicated in Ephesians 2:19.

This, I believe, is illustrated by the prophetic words which declare that the wolf shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the goat; this signifies that through Christ, the ferocious will be united with the gentle, and what is profane will be joined with that which is sacred. For Israel, shaped by the law and knowing good conduct, was peaceful and gentle, analogous to sheep and goats; both of these animals are considered clean and pure, naturally possessing a gentle demeanor. Conversely, the wolf and the leopard, as well as the lion, are inherently wild and do not blend well with others. Yet, in Christ, this transformation has occurred; Jews and Gentiles have come together, partaking of the same spiritual nourishment—the gospel and apostolic teaching—and are led by one Chief Shepherd who can guide them well, as the prophet notes in Ezekiel 34:14. Furthermore, he mentions that the calf, the young man, and the lion will graze in unity. The young calf symbolizes the newborn and young nation of believers, that is, those infant in Christ; additionally, it may represent Israel, the more seasoned nation, since the young calf predates the newborn. Or perhaps by the calf, he refers to those who excel in wisdom and virtue, echoing the saying that the young will be blessed along with the great, and the old with the young, as expressed in Psalm 113:21 and Psalm 148:12. The wise John similarly acknowledges this maturation in both mind and spirit in his letters, addressing fathers and children and younger men, as seen in 1 John 2:13-14, equating spiritual growth with physical age. Therefore, he asserts that the calf, the young man, and the lion will feed together in the same pasture. Again, he connects the lion with the calf, prompting us to understand that this pertains to those justified by faith and under the lordship of Christ, our common Savior. He unites not only the righteous and the meek, those who are compliant with the law, but also the wild, evident in the Gentiles, incorporating them into one body and thus imparting inheritance to their descendants. The peace of Christ and the blessings endured through cooperation and unity in faith extend to the present day.

This is made clear as he indicates that their young shall coexist, and the lion will be as gentle as an ox. Notice that it is not the meek who partake of the common food of the wild, but rather the wild animals who will change their diet to that of the gentle; for while bears and lions are carnivorous, oxen, calves, and goats are herbivorous. Yet, the untamed will turn from their habitual practices and adopt the diet of the meek, symbolizing a shift toward sound doctrine. Prior to their faith in Christ, the Gentiles had wicked instructors who led them to embrace base teachings, leading them to admire corrupt works. However, when they were called to the knowledge of the true God, they discarded their former teachings along with their old misconceptions and, alongside the Israelites, cherished the nourishing and enlightening food of the Gospel. As for the youth, they will be mentored, being under the guidance of teachers whose character is not cynical or malevolent but rather pure and innocence, embodying the wisdom of the spirit, as noted in 1 Corinthians 14:20 and Ephesians 5:15. These are individuals who possess the treasure of faith within fragile vessels, as articulated in 2 Corinthians 4:7, and have hearts untainted by corruption, lacking nothing as they nurture those new in faith. Such individuals are deemed worthy by the Savior of the kingdom of heaven; for He states, “Let the little children come unto Me, and do not forbid them, for of such is the kingdom of heaven,” as found in Matthew 19:14. Moreover, they will exhibit the utmost resilience, remaining unassailable and beyond all fear, as articulated: “And the young shall put their hands on the dens of asps, and upon the lairs of serpents; and they shall do no harm, nor will they cause destruction on My holy mountain.” The dens of asps symbolize the clusters of evil spirits and the hideouts of wicked heretics—though we refrain from calling them churches—where infants in Christ can confidently assert their power without sustaining any injuries themselves. For Christ stands as their protector, dispelling the potency of heretical poison and nullifying their malice; it is stated that they cannot bring harm to anyone on My holy mountain. The Church is referred to as the holy mountain due to its exalted position of glory and the profound truths it upholds. Nothing base dwells among us; we do not venerate creatures equally with the Creator. We do not ascribe to the Creator, the Word of God, the glory owing to Him by confining Him to the status of creation. “The whole earth,” says He, “shall be filled with the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea.” Herein lies the truth; for in every corner of the earth, Christ's name is declared; no tribe exists that does not yield to Him. For every knee shall bow before Him, and every tongue shall confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father, as written in Philippians 2:10-11.

Moreover, should we take the earth struck by God’s word, and the wicked slain by the spirit of His mouth, at face value? Let them explain how the Lord’s being is adorned in truths that are intangible, such as justice and righteousness. We must also inquire if it truly befits the majesty of God that a wolf and a lamb could coexist, a leopard could rest with a young goat, a lion could consume chaff, and a child could safely place his hand upon the den of a viper. Perhaps they might depict a mythical golden age akin to the poets' tales, where predators and prey feed alongside each other, rivers pour forth delectable wine, honey flows from tree leaves, and the land is rich with milk springs. Should their response claim such idyllic peace occurs without harm for all, we must remind them that true goodness lies not in material wealth or physical health, but in virtue alone, as the Psalmist advises: “Who is the man that desireth life, that loveth the days to see good things? Keep thy tongue from evil and thy lips from speaking guile. Depart from evil and do good” (Psalm 34:12-14). Material wealth, health while they can be favorable, and their opposites—poverty and illness—are not inherently good or evil; they are merely neutral states. Thus, the Stoics, in their similarities to our beliefs, recognize only virtue as good and vice as evil. We summarize this to clarify that those promoting these literal interpretations of prophecy are, in truth, misled. Through the life-giving spirit, understanding is attainable. The wolf symbolizes Paul, who initially assaulted the Church, as noted in the saying, “Benjamin is a ravenous wolf” in relation to those he later nurtured. The leopard represents a transitional being, initially unrepentant yet ultimately purifying himself to dwell with the sacrificial offering of the lamb. It is paramount to recognize that it is not the lamb and goat that reside with the wolf and leopard, but rather, the latter two emulate the innocency of the lamb and goat. Likewise, the fierce lion shall coexist harmoniously with peaceful creatures, akin to how individuals of varying backgrounds coalesce as part of the Church—where the powerful and the powerless, the learned and the uneducated, come together under leadership characterized by childlike faith often represented by the apostles. When united under Christ’s teaching, families unite, and so too shall children lie peacefully together.

The lion shall not consume flesh, but instead partake of chaff, symbolizing a preference for straightforward sustenance over complex indulgences. Here, it’s essential to note that reference to eating chaff indicates a longing for simplicity in understanding. Often, contemporary believers find nourishment in a straightforward reading of Scripture, while those less mature may engage in Halloween practices or real evil. The one who has matured spiritually engages in profound truths. Such is illustrated in the authority given to the apostles to tread upon serpents and scorpions, referencing the power to overcome demonic forces. No harmful creature shall impact those who dwell in God’s holy sanctuary—the Church, likened to a mountain. As the Gospel states, “The city set on a hill cannot be hid” (Matt. 5:14). And to clarify potential misunderstandings regarding the prophecy that might be ascribed to the physical Mount Zion, it is emphasized that the earth will ultimately be filled with the knowledge of God, much as the waters cover the sea. This divine truth echoes Isaiah's proclamation concerning peace: “The wolf shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid” showing that unity transcends human divisions. The Apostle Peter similarly received visions signifying the inclusion of the Gentiles, where he was instructed to accept that which God had declared to be clean. Thus, upon Christ’s resurrection and ascension, barriers between humanity are dismantled, reconciling all to God.

In this future glory, instruments of warfare will no longer be necessary, as all hostilities shall cease, and the people shall rejoice in their unity under God's reign. As proclaimed: “Rejoice, O Gentiles, with His people” (Deuteronomy 32:43), for God has sovereign authority among His people; Israel bears a significant name (Psalm 75:2).

This is affirmed by the opening of the prophecy, where it is stated that ‘the rod shall come forth out of the root of Jesse,’ and this is reiterated at the conclusion. It further states: ‘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 honor shall rest’ (Isaiah 11:10). Jesse, being the father of David, received a solemn promise regarding David. The prophet could not have designated Christ, the Lord, as ‘the rod out of the root of Jesse’ if he had only acknowledged Him as divine. Furthermore, the prophet foretold a transformation in the world: ‘The whole earth shall be filled’ with the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea (Isaiah 11:9).

This will lead to the hearts and minds of people being brought under the Lordship of Christ, having a positive impact on their moral conduct, transforming them into humble and obedient children of the Church. The knowledge of the Lord will fill the entire earth as abundantly as the waters that cover the sea.