Isaiah 11:6 kjv
The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them.
Isaiah 11:6 nkjv
"The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, The leopard shall lie down with the young goat, The calf and the young lion and the fatling together; And a little child shall lead them.
Isaiah 11:6 niv
The wolf will live with the lamb, the leopard will lie down with the goat, the calf and the lion and the yearling together; and a little child will lead them.
Isaiah 11:6 esv
The wolf shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the young goat, and the calf and the lion and the fattened calf together; and a little child shall lead them.
Isaiah 11:6 nlt
In that day the wolf and the lamb will live together;
the leopard will lie down with the baby goat.
The calf and the yearling will be safe with the lion,
and a little child will lead them all.
Isaiah 11 6 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Isa 11:1 | There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse... | Messianic King's origin |
| Isa 2:4 | ...they shall beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. | Universal peace |
| Hos 2:18 | I will make for you a covenant on that day with the wild beasts, the birds of the heavens, and the creeping things of the ground. | Nature restored |
| Zec 14:9 | The Lord will be king over all the earth. On that day the Lord shall be one and his name one. | Universal kingship |
| Rev 21:4 | He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more... | End of suffering |
| Rom 8:19 | For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. | Creation's longing |
| Gal 3:28 | There is neither Jew nor Greek; there is neither slave nor free; nor is there male and female... | Unity in Christ |
| Ps 23:4 | Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me. | Protection and presence |
| Gen 1:30 | And to every beast of the earth, to every bird of the heavens, and to everything that creeps on the earth... | Original created order |
| Gen 3:15 | I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring... | Serpent's curse mitigated |
| Mark 10:14 | Let the little children come to me... | Christ's embrace of children |
| John 1:29 | Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! | Christ as Lamb |
| Isa 9:6 | For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder... | Child as ruler |
| Jer 31:33 | ...I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts. | New covenant |
| Ezek 34:25 | I will make with them a covenant of peace... | Covenant of peace |
| Micah 4:3 | ...they shall sit every man under his vine and under his fig tree, and none shall make them afraid. | Security and peace |
| Zeph 3:14 | Sing, O daughter of Zion; shout, O Israel! Rejoice and exult with all your heart... | Joy in salvation |
| Luke 1:79 | ...to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death... | Light in darkness |
| Acts 2:44 | All who believed were together and had all things in common. | Christian community |
| Col 1:20 | ...and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven... | Universal reconciliation |
| Heb 12:22 | But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God... | Heavenly Jerusalem |
| 1 Cor 13:13 | So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love. | Love as ultimate virtue |
Isaiah 11 verses
Isaiah 11 6 Meaning
The wolf shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the young goat, and the calf and the lion and the fattened calf shall be together; and a little child shall lead them. This verse depicts a future state of peace and harmony under the righteous rule of the Messiah. The natural animosities between wild predatory animals and their prey will be eliminated, symbolizing a profound transformation of nature itself. A child’s innocent leadership underscores the non-coercive and gentle nature of this new era.
Isaiah 11 6 Context
Isaiah 11 continues the prophecy of a coming Messianic ruler from the line of David. Following the description of the Messiah's righteous judgment and spirit (verses 1-5), verse 6 paints a picture of the pervasive peace that will characterize his reign. This peace extends beyond human relationships to encompass the entire natural order, a radical transformation from the current state of discord and predation. The preceding verses establish the Messiah's authority and character, making this vision of restored harmony a natural outcome of his rule. The chapter sets a future hope against the backdrop of contemporary political and social unrest experienced by the original audience of Israel.
Isaiah 11 6 Word analysis
- The wolf (Hebrew: הַ֫וּר, hůr) - commonly refers to the wolf, a predatory animal known for its fierceness.
- shall dwell (Hebrew: יָשַׁב, yashåb) - to sit, remain, dwell. Implies a settled, peaceful co-existence.
- with (Hebrew: אֵ֫ת, e̊t) - a preposition indicating accompaniment or proximity.
- the lamb (Hebrew: כָּרָה, kāråh) - young sheep, symbolizing innocence and vulnerability.
- and the leopard (Hebrew: נָמֵר, nāme̊r) - a spotted wild cat, also predatory.
- shall lie down (Hebrew: רָבַץ, råvåt͡s) - to crouch, lie down, repose. Suggests complete relaxation and absence of fear.
- with (Hebrew: אֵ֫ת, e̊t) - same as above.
- the young goat (Hebrew: גְּדִ֫י, gədi̊) - a kid, young goat, a common prey animal.
- and the calf (Hebrew: עֵגֶל, ʿe̊ghel) - young bovine.
- and the lion (Hebrew: אַרְיֵה, hårʹye̊h) - the lion, king of beasts, fierce predator.
- and the fattened calf (Hebrew: מְרִיא, mərî) - well-fed, fat. Reinforces the idea of abundance and well-being, not a struggling creature.
- shall be together (Hebrew: יַחַד, yåch͡åd) - as one, together. Emphasizes unity and harmony.
- and a little child (Hebrew: טָּ֫פ, ṭāf) - a young child, infant. Represents innocence and lack of power.
- shall lead them (Hebrew: נָהַג, nahåg) - to drive, lead, guide. A child, incapable of subduing or overpowering, is the leader.
Group Analysis:
- The pairing of predators and prey (wolf/lamb, leopard/goat) signifies a reversal of natural enmity.
- The inclusion of the calf, lion, and fattened calf emphasizes a complete reordering where the powerful and the weak coexist peacefully.
- The imagery of "lying down" and "being together" highlights security and amity.
- The "little child" as the leader is pivotal, showing leadership based on innocence, purity, and perhaps divine appointment rather than coercion or might.
Isaiah 11 6 Bonus Section
The concept of an eliminated Edenic state, where the powerful do not harm the weak, echoes throughout Scripture. Many scholars see this passage as a literal fulfillment in the future New Heavens and New Earth, a time when the curse introduced in Genesis will be fully removed (Romans 8:19-22). This verse is a cornerstone for understanding the scope of Christ's redemptive work, which will ultimately affect all of creation. The image of a child leading powerful beasts also serves as a visual representation of faith and trust that overcomes fear, a theme often emphasized in Jesus' teachings.
Isaiah 11 6 Commentary
Isaiah 11:6 provides a vivid, symbolic picture of eschatological peace under Messiah's reign. It's not a literal zoological observation but a profound metaphor for the radical transformation of God's creation, a return to an Edenic state where relationships are harmonious and destructive forces are neutralized. The natural order will reflect the spiritual renewal brought about by Christ's kingdom. This verse underscores that true peace is characterized by the absence of fear and aggression, even between the most unlikely parties, guided by childlike innocence and divine authority. The "child" leading them points to the humble, meek, and victorious nature of Christ’s kingship.