Isaiah 11:8 kjv
And the sucking child shall play on the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the cockatrice' den.
Isaiah 11:8 nkjv
The nursing child shall play by the cobra's hole, And the weaned child shall put his hand in the viper's den.
Isaiah 11:8 niv
The infant will play near the cobra's den, and the young child will put its hand into the viper's nest.
Isaiah 11:8 esv
The nursing child shall play over the hole of the cobra, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the adder's den.
Isaiah 11:8 nlt
The baby will play safely near the hole of a cobra.
Yes, a little child will put its hand in a nest of deadly snakes without harm.
Isaiah 11 8 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Isa 11:6 | "The wolf will live with the lamb..." | Peace and harmony restored |
| Isa 11:7 | "The cow will feed with the bear..." | Universal peace and safety |
| Isa 11:8 | "He will...not hurt or destroy on all my holy mountain..." | No harm from predators |
| Gen 1:26 | "Have dominion over...all the wild animals..." | Original dominion restored |
| Gen 3:15 | "It will bruise your head, and you will bruise its heel." | Victory over evil (serpent) |
| Exo 15:26 | "I am the LORD, who heals you." | God as protector/healer |
| Psa 91:13 | "You will tread on the lion and the cobra; you will trample the great lion and the serpent." | Overcoming dangerous creatures |
| Psa 23:4 | "Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil..." | Divine protection |
| Pro 1:33 | "But whoever listens to me will live in safety and be at ease, without fear of harm." | Obedience brings security |
| Jer 30:10 | "‘So do not be afraid, my servant Jacob,’ declares the LORD..." | Future deliverance and peace |
| Ezek 34:25 | "I will make a covenant of peace with them..." | Covenant of peace |
| Ezek 34:28 | "...they will live securely, and no one will make them afraid." | Security for the flock |
| Hos 2:18 | "In that day I will make a covenant for them with the wild animals..." | Peace with creation |
| Zeph 3:13 | "...they will not do wrong or act unjustly; they will never speak falsely..." | Righteousness in the new era |
| Matt 10:1 | Jesus gave disciples authority over evil spirits and diseases. | Authority over harm |
| Luke 10:19 | "I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the enemy's power..." | Authority over dangerous things |
| Rom 8:19 | "For the creation waits eagerly for God to be revealed as his children." | Creation longing for redemption |
| 1 Cor 15:55 | "Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?" | Victory over death |
| Rev 21:4 | "He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain..." | Final eradication of pain/harm |
| Rev 21:27 | "Nothing impure will ever enter it..." | Purity of the new creation |
| Rev 22:2 | "...the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations." | Healing and restoration |
Isaiah 11 verses
Isaiah 11 8 Meaning
The child (referring to the coming Messianic ruler) will not be harmed by venomous snakes or wild beasts in the peaceful kingdom described. This verse signifies ultimate security and the complete absence of danger and fear.
Isaiah 11 8 Context
Isaiah 11 describes a prophetic vision of a Messianic kingdom characterized by profound peace, justice, and restoration. The chapter begins by speaking of a shoot emerging from Jesse, symbolizing the coming Messiah who will rule with righteousness. It outlines the spirit that will rest upon Him—wisdom, understanding, counsel, might, knowledge, and fear of the LORD. This divine enablement leads to a transformed world where the natural order is re-established, and destructive forces are neutralized. Verse 8 specifically focuses on the cessation of danger from wild animals within this renewed environment, emphasizing the completeness of God's salvific work in establishing His holy mountain (a representation of His presence and kingdom).
Isaiah 11 8 Word Analysis
- וְגָר (və-gār): "and shall dwell" or "and shall live". The root verb "gur" (גור) implies residing or dwelling, often with a sense of temporary sojourn. However, in this context, it signifies a settled, safe habitation, overcoming the typical danger associated with dwelling among wild beasts.
- חָלָב (ḥalāḇ): "milk". Often associated with nourishment and goodness. Its presence with the viper (serpent) underscores the radical reversal of nature.
- יֵינַק (yênáq): "shall suckle" or "shall nurse". This highlights innocence and dependence. A young viper being nursed implies a complete absence of its natural predatory and venomous nature.
- טָּפוּל (ṭāfûl): "weaned child" or "suckling". Reinforces the imagery of a vulnerable infant, emphasizing the safety experienced by even the most helpless.
- עַל־(לֶ }) (‘al-): "upon" or "over". Indicates proximity and the absence of any threatening influence.
- פֶּ֣תַח (péṯaḥ): "opening". Refers to the entrance or hole of the viper's dwelling.
- חֹ רֶ אָ ה (ḥô r ě ’ā h): "adder's hole" or "viper's burrow". The dwelling place of a dangerous serpent.
- יָ שִ ית (yā šī ṯ): "shall put" or "shall place". Implies an intentional placement, that the weaned child will be able to put its hand into the viper's home.
Group of words analysis:
- "The wolf will live with the lamb..." (Isa 11:6) and "The cow will feed with the bear..." (Isa 11:7): These verses, immediately preceding verse 8, establish the overall theme of reversed and harmonious relationships within creation. Verse 8 provides a specific, stark example of this reversal, extending it to the most dangerous of creatures—serpents.
- "Upon the opening of the viper's hole..." (Isa 11:8b): This phrase paints a vivid picture. It is not just that the child will be near, but in or at the very place where the viper's inherent danger lies, its home. The contrast between the child's innocence and the viper's potential lethality is sharpened by this precise location.
- "The weaned child will put his hand..." (Isa 11:8c): This final image is the apex of the reversal. A small, vulnerable child, one who has recently been weaned and is still developing, willingly and safely reaches into the viper's dwelling and interacts with it, symbolized by putting its hand in. The power and venom of the viper are completely nullified.
Isaiah 11 8 Bonus Section
This verse’s imagery powerfully echoes the fall in Genesis 3, where the serpent (often identified with Satan) introduced sin and death into the world. The reversal here, with a child playing safely at the viper's hole, is a direct counter-narrative, demonstrating the Messiah’s victory over the serpent's destructive power. This theme of victory over serpentine malice is seen in other biblical passages, particularly concerning the serpent in Eden and later, in symbolic representation, as Satan. The prophet's vision assures believers that the suffering and fear introduced by the fall will be utterly eradicated.
Isaiah 11 8 Commentary
Isaiah 11:8 presents a powerful metaphor for the ultimate peace and security that will characterize the Messianic age. It is not merely an absence of aggression from animals but a complete transformation of their nature, and thus the natural order itself. The prophecy signifies a return to a state even more perfect than Eden, where no harm exists. This is not just a peaceful coexistence but an overcoming of the very threat and danger that these creatures represent. It points to a future reign where the power of evil, symbolized by the serpent and its venom, is utterly vanquished, and God's protective presence ensures absolute safety for His people. The imagery is intended to inspire hope in the radical restoration promised through God's appointed king.