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Isaiah 11:3
Verse
Context
The Root of Jesse
2The Spirit of the LORD will rest on Him— the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and strength, the Spirit of knowledge and fear of the LORD. 3And He will delight in the fear of the LORD. He will not judge by what His eyes see, and He will not decide by what His ears hear, 4but with righteousness He will judge the poor, and with equity He will decide for the lowly of the earth. He will strike the earth with the rod of His mouth and slay the wicked with the breath of His lips.
Sermons



Summary
Commentary
- Keil-Delitzsch
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
- John Gill
- Tyndale
Carl Friedrich Keil and Franz Delitzsch Old Testament Commentary
And His regal conduct is regulated by this His thoroughly spiritual nature."And fear of Jehovah is fragrance to Him; and He judges not according to outward sight, neither does He pass sentence according to outward hearing." We must not render it: His smelling is the smelling of the fear of God, i.e., the penetration of it with a keen judicial insight (as Hengstenberg and Umbreit understand it); for hērı̄ach with the preposition Beth has not merely the signification to smell (as when followed by an accusative, Job 39:25), but to smell with satisfaction (like בּ ראה, to see with satisfaction), Exo 30:38; Lev 26:31; Amo 5:21. The fear of God is that which He smells with satisfaction; it is rēach nı̄choach to Him. Meier's objection, that fear of God is not a thing that can be smelt, and therefore that hērı̄ach must signify to breathe, is a trivial one. Just as the outward man has five senses for the material world, the inner man has also a sensorium for the spiritual world, which discerns different things in different ways. Thus the second David scents the fear of God, and only the fear of God, as a pleasant fragrance; for the fear of God is a sacrifice of adoration continually ascending to God. His favour or displeasure does not depend upon brilliant or repulsive external qualities; He does not judge according to outward appearances, but according to the relation of the heart to His God.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
make him of quick understanding--literally, "quick-scented in the fear of Jehovah"; endowed with a singular sagacity in discerning the genuine principle of religious fear of God, when it lies dormant in the yet unawakened sinner (Mat 12:20; Acts 10:1-48; Act 16:14) [HORSLEY]. But MAURER, "He shall delight in the fear of God." The Hebrew means "to delight in the odors" of anything (Exo 30:38; Amo 5:21); "smell," that is, "delight in." after . . . sight--according to mere external appearances (Joh 7:24; Joh 8:15; Jam 2:1; Sa1 16:7). Herein Messiah is represented a just Judge and Ruler (Deu 1:16-17). reprove--"decide," as the parallelism shows. after . . . ears--by mere plausible hearsays, but by the true merits of each case (Joh 6:64; Rev 2:23).
John Gill Bible Commentary
And shall make him of quick understanding in the fear of the Lord,.... Or "cause him to smell the fear of the Lord" (w); that is, to discern in whom it was: this is one effect of the Spirit's resting upon him, and particularly as the spirit of understanding, and of the fear of the Lord, whereby he has a quick and sharp discerning of it; not merely of the grace of fear, so as to know what that is, and what the exercise of it; or so as to make it the rule of his actions, though all this is true; but so as to discern where and in whom it was, and was not; he could distinguish between him that feared God and him that feared him not; he knew Nathanael to be an Israelite indeed, in whom there was no guile, Joh 1:47 and the Scribes and Pharisees to be hypocrites, Mat 22:18. As the Jews (x) understand this passage of the Messiah, and of his quick smell, as the word used signifies, or of his discerning of good and bad men, they make this to be a rule of judging the Messiah by; and accordingly made use of it with one that set up himself for the Messiah, and took the name of Barcochab, the son of a star, referring to Num 24:17 and tried him whether he could discern a good man from a bad man; and because he could not, they rejected him as a false Messiah, and called him Barcoziba, the son of a lie (y): compare with this Luk 7:39 where it may be seen the same notion obtained among the Jews in Christ's time: and, he shall not judge after the sight of his eyes; or according to the outward appearance, the external guise of sanctity and religion men might put on; as the Scribes and Pharisees were outwardly righteous before men, but not to Christ, who knew their hearts; they seemed to be somewhat to others, but nothing to him, because he judged not by appearances to the eyes: neither reprove after the hearing of his ears; he needed no testimony of men, for he knew what was in men; nor did he regard the words of men, the boastings of a Pharisee, any more than his outward actions; nor would he reprove or condemn, nor will he, upon a human testimony. (w) "et faciet odorari eum timorem Jehovae", Munster, Vatablus; "et odorabitur timorem Jehovae", Cocceius. (x) Zohar in Exod. fol. 31. 3. & 86. 1. Tzeror Hammor, fol. 62. 3. (y) T. Bab. Sanhedrin. fol. 93. 2.
Tyndale Open Study Notes
11:3 obeying the Lord: Literally the fear of the Lord, as in 11:2 (see Prov 1:7).
Isaiah 11:3
The Root of Jesse
2The Spirit of the LORD will rest on Him— the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and strength, the Spirit of knowledge and fear of the LORD. 3And He will delight in the fear of the LORD. He will not judge by what His eyes see, and He will not decide by what His ears hear, 4but with righteousness He will judge the poor, and with equity He will decide for the lowly of the earth. He will strike the earth with the rod of His mouth and slay the wicked with the breath of His lips.
- Scripture
- Sermons
- Commentary
(The Tongue of a Disciple) the Way Jesus Used His Tongue
By Zac Poonen1.6K58:43ISA 11:3ISA 50:4MAT 6:33JHN 17:23In this sermon, the speaker discusses the importance of having a spirit-controlled tongue, using Jesus as the perfect example. He refers to Isaiah 11:3, which describes Jesus delighting in the fear of the Lord and not judging based on what his eyes see or ears hear. The speaker contrasts the characteristics of a Satan-controlled tongue with those of a spirit-controlled tongue, emphasizing the need to follow Jesus' example. He also highlights the New Covenant, stating that what God did for Jesus, He will also do for believers, including giving them the tongue of a disciple.
Blood Covenant - Part 11
By Bob Phillips1.3K50:14ISA 11:3In this sermon, the speaker focuses on the importance of following God's commandments and living a holy life. They emphasize that God's will for believers is their sanctification, or their walk of holiness. The speaker also highlights the role of the Holy Spirit in guiding believers away from the desires of the flesh. They warn that the lusts and desires of the flesh can blind our minds and hearts, preventing us from fully surrendering to Jesus. The sermon concludes by discussing the penalty and reward of keeping the covenant with God, emphasizing the blessing of living a life that reflects God's image.
All That Jesus Taught Bible Study - Part 25
By Zac Poonen60825:01ISA 11:3MAT 7:1LUK 15:30JHN 7:24JHN 8:151CO 4:5HEB 9:271PE 4:15This sermon delves into the importance of refraining from judging others, emphasizing the need to focus on self-reflection and righteous judgment within our spheres of responsibility. It highlights Jesus' teachings on not condemning others, the dangers of passing premature judgments, and the significance of waiting for God's timing to reveal the full truth about individuals. The sermon also explores the reasons behind Jesus' command not to judge, pointing out the hidden aspects of people's lives, motives, and the necessity of avoiding hypocrisy in our assessments.
Two Types of Fear
By Zac Poonen60457:20GEN 39:9JOB 31:1PSA 34:11PRO 9:10ECC 12:13ISA 11:3MAT 10:282CO 5:10HEB 5:7This sermon emphasizes the importance of the fear of God, contrasting it with earthly fears and the need to maintain a healthy fear of God in our lives. It highlights biblical examples like Joseph and Job who demonstrated a deep reverence for God, leading to righteous living and overcoming temptations. The speaker urges listeners to prioritize pleasing God in all aspects of life, preparing for the judgment seat of Christ, and cultivating a godly fear that guides their decisions and actions.
Pharisees Seek to Catch Others in Their Words
By Zac Poonen0JudgmentLove and UnderstandingPRO 18:13ISA 11:3MAT 7:1MAT 19:3MAT 22:15LUK 11:54ROM 14:10EPH 4:29COL 4:6JAS 1:19Zac Poonen addresses the behavior of the Pharisees who sought to trap Jesus with their questions, particularly regarding the lawfulness of divorce. He draws parallels to modern-day believers who, instead of seeking truth, aim to catch others in their words to accuse them. Poonen emphasizes that true love involves interpreting others' words charitably, unlike the Pharisees who misrepresented Jesus' teachings. He encourages listeners to follow Jesus' example of not judging hastily based on appearances or hearsay.
(The Full Gospel) 23. the Secret of Discernment
By Zac Poonen0Spiritual InsightDiscernmentISA 11:3ISA 57:20MAT 27:39LUK 23:34Zac Poonen emphasizes the importance of discernment in recognizing truth, as illustrated by the thief on the cross who, despite his criminal background, discerned Jesus' innocence amidst the accusations of the religious rulers and soldiers. He highlights that true discernment is not based on intelligence or knowledge but is a gift from God to those with sincere hearts. The thief's ability to see Jesus' forgiving nature, even in the face of mockery, serves as a model for how believers should approach conflicts and discern right from wrong in the church. Poonen encourages the congregation to look for signs of unrest and agitation in others as indicators of their spiritual state, contrasting it with the peace found in those who are righteous.
The Glory of a True Servant of God
By Zac Poonen0ServanthoodHumilityISA 11:3ISA 42:1ISA 42:5ISA 42:19MAT 12:18Zac Poonen emphasizes that a true servant of God is upheld solely by the Lord, not by human means or material wealth. He highlights the compassionate nature of God, who encourages and heals the broken-hearted rather than discouraging them, and calls for servants to adopt a similar ministry of encouragement. Poonen warns against taking glory for oneself, stressing that true servants must remain humble and give all glory to God, as seeking personal recognition can lead to spiritual downfall. He also points out that a true servant is often blind and deaf to distractions and accusations, focusing instead on God's calling and purpose. Ultimately, the message encourages believers to depend on God and serve others with love and humility.
The Glory of Jesus
By Zac Poonen0ISA 11:3ISA 42:1ISA 42:6ISA 42:19Zac Poonen preaches on the importance of being upheld by God as His true servants, rather than relying on human agencies or material possessions. He emphasizes the ministry of encouragement, reflecting the Lord's compassion towards those who are broken and discouraged. Poonen highlights the need for humility in ministry, warning against seeking glory for oneself and stressing the importance of giving all glory to God. He challenges believers to be blind and deaf to sinful distractions and accusations, focusing instead on living a life that honors God.
That the Outward Manifestations of Them, and the Relation Persons Give of Them, Are Very Affecting and Pleasing to the Godly, Is No Sign
By Jonathan Edwards01SA 16:7ISA 11:3MAT 13:26ROM 14:61CO 4:51PE 5:12REV 2:17Jonathan Edwards preaches about the uncertainty of judging others' religious affections solely based on outward manifestations, emphasizing that true saints cannot discern the hearts of others and should proceed with caution in determining others' spiritual states. He warns against being quick to judge and highlights the danger of being deceived by outward appearances, as even bright professors of faith can fall away. Edwards explains that error or mistake may lead to gracious exercises of the Spirit of God, and that love flowing out towards others is not a reliable indicator of their true spiritual state.
- Keil-Delitzsch
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
- John Gill
- Tyndale
Carl Friedrich Keil and Franz Delitzsch Old Testament Commentary
And His regal conduct is regulated by this His thoroughly spiritual nature."And fear of Jehovah is fragrance to Him; and He judges not according to outward sight, neither does He pass sentence according to outward hearing." We must not render it: His smelling is the smelling of the fear of God, i.e., the penetration of it with a keen judicial insight (as Hengstenberg and Umbreit understand it); for hērı̄ach with the preposition Beth has not merely the signification to smell (as when followed by an accusative, Job 39:25), but to smell with satisfaction (like בּ ראה, to see with satisfaction), Exo 30:38; Lev 26:31; Amo 5:21. The fear of God is that which He smells with satisfaction; it is rēach nı̄choach to Him. Meier's objection, that fear of God is not a thing that can be smelt, and therefore that hērı̄ach must signify to breathe, is a trivial one. Just as the outward man has five senses for the material world, the inner man has also a sensorium for the spiritual world, which discerns different things in different ways. Thus the second David scents the fear of God, and only the fear of God, as a pleasant fragrance; for the fear of God is a sacrifice of adoration continually ascending to God. His favour or displeasure does not depend upon brilliant or repulsive external qualities; He does not judge according to outward appearances, but according to the relation of the heart to His God.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
make him of quick understanding--literally, "quick-scented in the fear of Jehovah"; endowed with a singular sagacity in discerning the genuine principle of religious fear of God, when it lies dormant in the yet unawakened sinner (Mat 12:20; Acts 10:1-48; Act 16:14) [HORSLEY]. But MAURER, "He shall delight in the fear of God." The Hebrew means "to delight in the odors" of anything (Exo 30:38; Amo 5:21); "smell," that is, "delight in." after . . . sight--according to mere external appearances (Joh 7:24; Joh 8:15; Jam 2:1; Sa1 16:7). Herein Messiah is represented a just Judge and Ruler (Deu 1:16-17). reprove--"decide," as the parallelism shows. after . . . ears--by mere plausible hearsays, but by the true merits of each case (Joh 6:64; Rev 2:23).
John Gill Bible Commentary
And shall make him of quick understanding in the fear of the Lord,.... Or "cause him to smell the fear of the Lord" (w); that is, to discern in whom it was: this is one effect of the Spirit's resting upon him, and particularly as the spirit of understanding, and of the fear of the Lord, whereby he has a quick and sharp discerning of it; not merely of the grace of fear, so as to know what that is, and what the exercise of it; or so as to make it the rule of his actions, though all this is true; but so as to discern where and in whom it was, and was not; he could distinguish between him that feared God and him that feared him not; he knew Nathanael to be an Israelite indeed, in whom there was no guile, Joh 1:47 and the Scribes and Pharisees to be hypocrites, Mat 22:18. As the Jews (x) understand this passage of the Messiah, and of his quick smell, as the word used signifies, or of his discerning of good and bad men, they make this to be a rule of judging the Messiah by; and accordingly made use of it with one that set up himself for the Messiah, and took the name of Barcochab, the son of a star, referring to Num 24:17 and tried him whether he could discern a good man from a bad man; and because he could not, they rejected him as a false Messiah, and called him Barcoziba, the son of a lie (y): compare with this Luk 7:39 where it may be seen the same notion obtained among the Jews in Christ's time: and, he shall not judge after the sight of his eyes; or according to the outward appearance, the external guise of sanctity and religion men might put on; as the Scribes and Pharisees were outwardly righteous before men, but not to Christ, who knew their hearts; they seemed to be somewhat to others, but nothing to him, because he judged not by appearances to the eyes: neither reprove after the hearing of his ears; he needed no testimony of men, for he knew what was in men; nor did he regard the words of men, the boastings of a Pharisee, any more than his outward actions; nor would he reprove or condemn, nor will he, upon a human testimony. (w) "et faciet odorari eum timorem Jehovae", Munster, Vatablus; "et odorabitur timorem Jehovae", Cocceius. (x) Zohar in Exod. fol. 31. 3. & 86. 1. Tzeror Hammor, fol. 62. 3. (y) T. Bab. Sanhedrin. fol. 93. 2.
Tyndale Open Study Notes
11:3 obeying the Lord: Literally the fear of the Lord, as in 11:2 (see Prov 1:7).