Cornelius a Lapide
Table of Contents
Synopsis of the Chapter
He returns to his Emmanuel as to his beloved, whom he cannot forget, and continues the account of His birth begun in chapter VII, verse 14, His grace, preaching, and victories.
First, therefore, he predicts that Christ will rise as a flower from the root of Jesse, and that the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit will rest upon Him. Second, in verse 3, that He will judge justly. Third, in verse 6, the peace and harmony that His preaching will establish among all peoples. Fourth, in verse 10, that His sepulchre will be glorious. Fifth, in verse 11, that He will gather from all nations the remnant of Israel.
Vulgate Text: Isaiah 11:1-16
1. And there shall come forth a rod from the root of Jesse, and a flower shall rise up from his root. 2. And the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon Him; the spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the spirit of counsel and of fortitude, the spirit of knowledge and of godliness. 3. And the spirit of the fear of the Lord shall fill Him. He shall not judge according to the sight of the eyes, nor reprove according to the hearing of the ears. 4. But He shall judge the poor in justice, and shall reprove with equity for the meek of the earth: and He shall strike the earth with the rod of His mouth, and with the breath of His lips He shall slay the wicked. 5. And justice shall be the girdle of His loins, and faith the belt of His reins. 6. The wolf shall dwell with the lamb: and the leopard shall lie down with the kid: the calf and the lion and the sheep shall abide together, and a little child shall lead them. 7. The calf and the bear shall feed together: their young ones shall rest together: and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. 8. And the sucking child shall play over the hole of the asp: and the weaned child shall thrust his hand into the den of the basilisk. 9. They shall not hurt nor shall they kill in all my holy mountain: for the earth is filled with the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters covering the sea. 10. In that day the root of Jesse, who stands as a sign to the peoples, Him the nations shall beseech: and His sepulchre shall be glorious. 11. And it shall be in that day: the Lord shall set His hand a second time to possess the remnant of His people, which shall be left from the Assyrians, and from Egypt, and from Pathros, and from Cush, and from Elam, and from Shinar, and from Hamath, and from the islands of the sea. 12. And He shall set up a sign among the nations, and shall gather together the fugitives of Israel, and shall assemble the scattered of Judah from the four quarters of the earth. 13. And the jealousy of Ephraim shall be taken away, and the enemies of Judah shall perish: Ephraim shall not envy Judah, and Judah shall not fight against Ephraim. 14. And they shall fly upon the shoulders of the Philistines by the sea: together they shall plunder the sons of the East: Edom and Moab shall be under the command of their hand, and the children of Ammon shall obey them. 15. And the Lord shall lay waste the tongue of the sea of Egypt, and shall lift up His hand over the river in the might of His spirit: and He shall strike it in its seven streams, so that men may pass through it in their shoes. 16. And there shall be a highway for the remnant of my people which shall be left from the Assyrians: as there was for Israel in the day that he came up out of the land of Egypt.
Verse 1: A Rod from the Root of Jesse
1. AND THERE SHALL COME FORTH A ROD FROM THE ROOT OF JESSE. -- For "rod," Symmachus and Theodotion translate "shoot," which produced a flower; he alludes to the preceding chapter's image of the felling of the Assyrian forest. The political forest of the Assyrians, which now so flourishes and threatens all things, would perish and be transferred to the Chaldeans. But from the root of Jesse -- that is, from the family of David, now deprived of the scepter, as if dead and cut down -- a new shoot would rise: the Blessed Virgin Mary. And from this rod, a flower: Christ.
Moreover, the rod is the Blessed Virgin Mary, the flower is Christ, the root is the family of David, now like a dead stump. The ground stood dead and inglorious without branches, that is, without its kings; but from the root itself, which lay hidden in a common family as if in the earth, there arose the rod and the flower.
Note: Christ is called a flower on account of His beauty, and the sweetness of the fragrance of His so holy life, fame, doctrine, and passion.
Beautifully St. Ambrose, in book II of On the Holy Spirit, chapter 5, says: "The rod is Mary, the flower of Mary is Christ, as He Himself said: 'I am the flower of the field and the lily of the valleys.'"
FROM THE ROOT OF JESSE. -- He does not say David, to whom this flower was promised, but Jesse, because just as the kingdom of David took its beginning from the humble condition of Jesse, so Christ's kingdom would take its beginning from the humble and lowly state of the Virgin.
Verse 2: The Spirit of the Lord Shall Rest upon Him
2. AND THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD SHALL REST UPON HIM. -- The word "shall rest" signifies first, firmness; second, fullness; third, a proper and connatural place, as fire rests in its own sphere.
He contrasts Christ the King with the king of the Assyrians, the king of Samaria, King Ahaz, and others, who had foolish counsels and counselors, led an idle and wicked life, and had an evil spirit upon them. But upon this King, Christ, the Spirit of the Lord shall rest.
THE SPIRIT OF WISDOM. -- Note first: From this passage the Fathers and Theologians rightly deduce the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit. The spirit of wisdom, or wisdom itself, is a gift or Christian virtue by which we contemplate divine and eternal things. The spirit of understanding enables us to penetrate the depths of divine mysteries. The spirit of counsel directs us in choosing what is best. The spirit of fortitude enables us to endure adversities and martyrdom. The gift of knowledge gives us understanding of created things in relation to God. The gift of piety is Christian justice, whose principal part is religion. The gift of fear is the reverential awe of God.
Morally, learn here that wisdom is a great gift of God (which is placed in the first position here, and is the parent of the rest) as well as prudence, both supernatural and natural.
Verse 3: The Spirit of the Fear of the Lord Shall Fill Him
3. AND THE SPIRIT OF THE FEAR OF THE LORD SHALL FILL HIM. -- Abbot Chaeremon in Cassian, Conference XI, chapter 13, notes that it does not say "shall rest," as is said of the others, but "shall fill" -- the spirit of the fear of the Lord fills Him entirely, because fear is the foundation and guardian of all the virtues.
HE SHALL NOT JUDGE ACCORDING TO THE SIGHT OF THE EYES. -- Men judge according to outward appearance and show, which often deceives; for hypocrites by it deceive judges. But Christ will judge by internal and infallible knowledge, penetrating the hearts and consciences of men.
Verse 4: He Shall Judge the Poor in Justice
4. HE SHALL JUDGE THE POOR IN JUSTICE -- that is, He will render blameless and sincere judgment to the poor, whom the powerful often oppress.
AND HE SHALL REPROVE WITH EQUITY FOR THE MEEK OF THE EARTH -- as if to say: Christ will defend His poor disciples, who meekly submit to His preaching, against the powerful who persecute them.
AND HE SHALL STRIKE THE EARTH WITH THE ROD OF HIS MOUTH. -- The "rod of the mouth" is sharp rebuke and reproof, as if to say: Christ will not flatter sinners; but with severe and Apostolic freedom He will rebuke and correct them.
AND WITH THE BREATH OF HIS LIPS HE SHALL SLAY THE WICKED. -- First, by His command driving out not only sins, but also demons. Second, and properly, "the wicked one," that is, the chief of the wicked, namely Antichrist, He will slay, as Paul explains in II Thessalonians 2:8.
Verse 5: Justice Shall Be the Girdle of His Loins
5. AND JUSTICE SHALL BE THE GIRDLE OF HIS LOINS AND FAITH THE BELT OF HIS REINS -- as if to say: Justice and faith, that is, truthfulness or fidelity, will be so constantly and firmly adherent to Christ that they will be like His girdle, which He never takes off.
Note: The Hebrews by "girdle" signify first, adherence and union; second, strength and power. Morally, learn here how dear to the heart and care of a prince should be, first, justice. St. Augustine truly says, in book IV of The City of God, chapter 4: "Take away justice, and what are kingdoms but great bands of robbers?"
Second, faith. "For faith is the foundation of justice," says Cicero, book I of the Offices.
Verse 6: The Wolf Shall Dwell with the Lamb
6. THE WOLF SHALL DWELL WITH THE LAMB. -- I say therefore, with the Fathers and Christian interpreters, that all these things are said metaphorically of men whose character resembles these beasts. More correctly, others understand by the lion, wolf, and asp any men who are strong, powerful, rapacious, and harmful; by the leopard, those entangled in various sins; by the lamb, kid, and calf, simple, innocent, and gentle Christians.
By these metaphors, therefore, it is signified that fierce and barbarous Gentiles, laying aside their ferocity, will become tame, and together with kids and lambs, that is, with simple and innocent believers, will dwell in the one fold of the Church.
AND A LITTLE CHILD SHALL LEAD THEM. -- Truly our little Emmanuel did this, who even as an infant in the manger converted the Magi and subdued the world.
Verse 7: Their Young Ones Shall Rest Together
7. THEIR YOUNG ONES SHALL REST TOGETHER -- as if to say: The peace of Christ will reach the children of their children, and those who shall be born from them.
THE LION SHALL EAT STRAW LIKE THE OX. -- Savage men, proud and wise in their own eyes, will submit to the simple teachings of Christ and the Apostles.
Verse 8: The Sucking Child Shall Play over the Hole of the Asp
8. AND THE SUCKING CHILD SHALL PLAY OVER THE HOLE OF THE ASP. -- That is, infants scarcely weaned will not shrink from asps, but will play with them and confidently put their hands into their dens -- that is, simple believers will rejoice in casting out demons from the bodies of the possessed, which had been the dens and caves of the devils.
Thus St. Francis Xavier in India used to send boys, who taught the faith of Christ to their parents and neighbors, demolished their idols, and by the cross and the name of Christ put demons to flight.
Verse 9: They Shall Not Hurt
9. THEY SHALL NOT HURT. -- Namely, those who were formerly the most venomous idolaters, now converted to Christ, will no longer harm the faithful in the Church, which is God's holy mountain.
FOR THE EARTH IS FILLED WITH THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE LORD -- with the knowledge of God: this is what the Psalmist says, Psalm 8: "Their sound has gone forth into all the earth."
AS THE WATERS COVERING THE SEA -- namely, covering some land, as if to say: Just as the waters of the sea, overflowing, occupy and cover the neighboring land: so the knowledge and faith of God through the preaching of the Apostles will cover the whole earth.
Verse 10: The Root of Jesse, a Sign to the Peoples
10. IN THAT DAY, THE ROOT OF JESSE, WHO STANDS AS A SIGN TO THE PEOPLES, HIM THE NATIONS SHALL BESEECH. -- Note first: The root of Jesse is called the shoot born from the root of Jesse, that is, Christ. "Who stands as a sign" -- namely, the sign of the cross.
AND HIS SEPULCHRE SHALL BE GLORIOUS. -- Because the Prophet had spoken of the sign of the cross, which was infamous, he now wipes away this infamy by saying that the sepulchre of Christ will be glorious.
That the sepulchre of Christ was glorious is evident first, from the earthquake and the resurrection of the Saints, which followed from the death of Christ. Second, because St. Helena adorned the Lord's sepulchre with a most magnificent church. Third, because for many centuries there has been and still is a most renowned pilgrimage of the faithful from all over the world to the Lord's sepulchre. Fourth, because many miracles have been and are performed there.
Verse 11: The Lord Shall Set His Hand a Second Time
11. AND IT SHALL BE IN THAT DAY: THE LORD SHALL SET HIS HAND A SECOND TIME TO POSSESS THE REMNANT OF HIS PEOPLE. -- Fifth and best, the first calling and possession of the people by God was when God summoned the Jews through Moses and led them out of Egyptian slavery. The second was when He called and gathered all nations to Himself through Christ and the Apostles.
He enumerates the various provinces through which the Israelites were dispersed: from the Assyrians, from Egypt, from Pathros, from Cush, from Elam, from Shinar, from Hamath, and from the islands of the sea. Now the meaning is: Wherever in the world and among the nations the remnants may have been dispersed, from there they will be called by Christ to the faith.
Verse 12: He Shall Set Up a Sign among the Nations
12. AND HE SHALL SET UP A SIGN AMONG THE NATIONS. -- Just as a general raises a standard and thereby calls together his soldiers who are scattered or have fled to other regions: so Christ will raise the standard of the cross and thereby call all peoples to Himself.
Verse 13: The Jealousy of Ephraim Shall Be Taken Away
13. THE JEALOUSY OF EPHRAIM SHALL BE TAKEN AWAY, AND THE ENEMIES OF JUDAH SHALL PERISH. -- In the time of Christ, the ancient rivalry between Israel (Ephraim) and Judah will cease: all believers, from whatever tribe, will be united in one faith and one Church.
Verse 14: They Shall Fly upon the Shoulders of the Philistines
14. AND THEY SHALL FLY UPON THE SHOULDERS OF THE PHILISTINES BY THE SEA. -- We, with the Fathers, understand these things as referring to the people of Gaza, Ashkelon, and other Philistines converted to Christ, among whom the Christian faith flourished greatly in the early centuries.
THEY SHALL PLUNDER THE SONS OF THE EAST: EDOM AND MOAB SHALL BE UNDER THE COMMAND OF THEIR HAND -- That is, they will obey the orders and commands of the Apostles. For previously hostile nations will submit themselves to the Gospel.
Verse 15: The Lord Shall Lay Waste the Tongue of the Sea of Egypt
15. AND THE LORD SHALL LAY WASTE THE TONGUE OF THE SEA OF EGYPT. -- Now there is here a continuous allegory, which only signifies that no river, no sea, no obstacles of roads or men will be an impediment to the Apostles and other preachers of the Gospel from spreading the faith everywhere.
The sum therefore of this prophecy is that God will remove all impediments that could hinder the spread of the faith, and indeed will make them serve its advancement.
AND HE SHALL LIFT UP HIS HAND OVER THE RIVER. -- In the might of His spirit, He will send a mighty wind, which will divide that river into seven streams (that is, many -- a definite number for an indefinite one), so that the faithful may cross over dry-shod. That is: God will make every way smooth and passable for the preaching of the Gospel.