New Christian Bible Study
യെശയ്യാ 11
1 എന്നാല്‍ യിശ്ശായിയുടെ കുറ്റിയില്‍നിന്നു ഒരു മുള പൊട്ടി പുറപ്പെടും; അവന്റെ വേരുകളില്‍നിന്നുള്ള ഒരു കൊമ്പു ഫലം കായിക്കും.
2 അവന്റെ മേല്‍ യഹോവയുടെ ആത്മാവു ആവസിക്കും; ജ്ഞാനത്തിന്റെയും വിവേകത്തിന്റെയും ആത്മാവു, ആലോചനയുടെയും ബലത്തിന്റെയും ആത്മാവു, പരിജ്ഞാനത്തിന്റെയും യഹോവാഭക്തിയുടെയും ആത്മാവു തന്നേ.
3 അവന്റെ പ്രമോദം യഹോവാഭക്തിയില്‍ ആയിരിക്കും; അവന്‍ കണ്ണുകൊണ്ടു കാണുന്നതുപോലെ ന്യായപാലനം ചെയ്കയില്ല; ചെവികൊണ്ടു കേള്‍ക്കുന്നതുപോലെ വിധിക്കയുമില്ല.
4 അവന്‍ ദരിദ്രന്മാര്‍ക്കും നീതിയോടെ ന്യായം പാലിച്ചുകൊടുക്കയും ദേശത്തിലെ സാധുക്കള്‍ക്കു നേരോടെ വിധികല്പിക്കയും ചെയ്യും; തന്റെ വായ് എന്ന വടികൊണ്ടു അവന്‍ ഭൂമിയെ അടിക്കും; തന്റെ അധരങ്ങളുടെ ശ്വാസംകൊണ്ടു ദുഷ്ടനെകൊല്ലും.
5 നീതി അവന്റെ നടുക്കെട്ടും വിശ്വസ്തത അവന്റെ അരക്കച്ചയും ആയിരിക്കും.
6 ചെന്നായി കുഞ്ഞാടിനോടുകൂടെ പാര്‍ക്കും; പുള്ളിപ്പുലി കോലാട്ടുകുട്ടിയോടുകൂടെ കിടക്കും; പശുക്കിടാവും ബാലസിംഹവും തടിപ്പിച്ച മൃഗവും ഒരുമിച്ചു പാര്‍ക്കും; ഒരു ചെറിയ കുട്ടി അവയെ നടത്തും.
7 പശു കരടിയോടുകൂടെ മേയും; അവയുടെ കുട്ടികള്‍ ഒരുമിച്ചു കിടക്കും; സിംഹം കാള എന്നപോലെ വൈക്കോല്‍ തിന്നും.
8 മുലകുടിക്കുന്ന ശിശു സര്‍പ്പത്തിന്റെ പോതിങ്കല്‍ കളിക്കും; മുലകുടിമാറിയ പൈതല്‍ അണലിയുടെ പൊത്തില്‍ കൈ ഇടും.
9 സമുദ്രം വെള്ളംകൊണ്ടു നിറഞ്ഞിരിക്കുന്നതുപോലെ ഭൂമി യഹോവയുടെ പരിജ്ഞാനംകൊണ്ടു പൂര്‍ണ്ണമായിരിക്കയാല്‍ എന്റെ വിശുദ്ധപര്‍വ്വതത്തില്‍ എങ്ങും ഒരു ദോഷമോ നാശമോ ആരും ചെയ്കയില്ല.
10 അന്നാളില്‍ വംശങ്ങള്‍ക്കു കൊടിയായി നിലക്കുന്ന യിശ്ശായിവേരായവനെ ജാതികള്‍ അന്വേഷിച്ചുവരും; അവന്റെ വിശ്രാമസ്ഥലം മഹത്വമുള്ളതായിരിക്കും.
11 അന്നാളില്‍ കര്‍ത്താവു തന്റെ ജനത്തില്‍ ശേഷിച്ചിരിക്കുന്ന ശേഷിപ്പിനെ അശ്ശൂരില്‍നിന്നും മിസ്രയീമില്‍നിന്നും പത്രോസില്‍നിന്നും കൂശില്‍നിന്നും ഏലാമില്‍നിന്നും ശിനാരില്‍നിന്നും ഹമാത്തില്‍നിന്നും സമുദ്രത്തിലെ ദ്വീപുകളില്‍നിന്നും വീണ്ടുകൊള്‍വാന്‍ രണ്ടാം പ്രാവശ്യം കൈ നീട്ടും.
12 അവന്‍ ജാതികള്‍ക്കു ഒരു കൊടി ഉയര്‍ത്തി, യിസ്രായേലിന്റെ ഭ്രഷ്ടന്മാരെ ചേര്‍ക്കുംകയും യെഹൂദയുടെ ചിതറിപ്പോയവരെ ഭൂമിയുടെ നാലു ദിക്കുകളില്‍നിന്നും ഒന്നിച്ചുകൂട്ടുകയും ചെയ്യും.
13 എഫ്രയീമിന്റെ അസൂയ നീങ്ങിപ്പോകും; യെഹൂദയെ അസഹ്യപ്പെടുത്തുന്നവര്‍ ഛേദിക്കപ്പെടും; എഫ്രയീം യെഹൂദയോടു അസൂയപ്പെടുകയില്ല; യെഹൂദാ എഫ്രയീമിനെ അസഹ്യപ്പെടുത്തുകയുമില്ല.
14 അവര്‍ പടിഞ്ഞാറു ഫെലിസ്ത്യരുടെ മലഞ്ചരിവിന്മേല്‍ ചാടും; കിഴക്കുള്ളവരെ ഒക്കെയും കൊള്ളയിടും; ഏദോമിന്മേലും മോവാബിന്മേലും കൈവേക്കും; അമ്മോന്യര്‍ അവരെ അനുസരിക്കും.
15 യഹോവ മിസ്രയീംകടലിന്റെ നാവിന്നു ഉന്മൂലനാശം വരുത്തും; അവന്‍ ഉഷ്ണക്കാറ്റോടുകൂടെ നദിയുടെ മീതെ കൈ ഔങ്ങി അതിനെ അടിച്ചു ഏഴു കൈവഴികളാക്കി ചെരിപ്പു നനയാതെ കടക്കുമാറാക്കും.
16 മിസ്രയീമില്‍നിന്നു പുറപ്പെട്ട നാളില്‍ യിസ്രായേലിന്നുണ്ടായിരുന്നതുപോലെ, അശ്ശൂരില്‍നിന്നു അവന്റെ ജനത്തില്‍ ശേഷിക്കുന്ന ശേഷിപ്പിന്നു ഒരു പെരുവഴിയുണ്ടാകും.
Study the Inner Meaning
Explanation of Isaiah 11
By Rev. John H. Smithson
THE EXPLANATION of Isaiah Chapter 11
(Note: Rev. Smithson's translation of the Isaiah text is appended below the explanation)
1. AND there shall come forth a Shoot from the trunk of Jesse; and a Sprout from his roots shall become fruitful:
VERSE 1. The Lord, as to His Humanity born of the virgin and glorified in the world, is here called "a Shoot from the trunk of Jesse", also "a Sprout from his roots"; and in other passages He is called:
"a Germ of justice"; (Jeremiah 23:5)
"The Seed of the woman"; (Genesis 3:15)
"The only-Begotten"; (John 1:18)
"A Priest for ever, and the Lord." (Psalm 110:4-5)
Here no Son from eternity is meant, but a Son that was to be born in the world; for these passages contain prophecies concerning the coming of the Lord. Doctrine of the Lord 19. See also True Christian Religion 101.
2. And the Spirit of Jehovah shall rest upon Him; the spirit of wisdom and understanding; the spirit of counsel and might; the spirit of knowledge and the fear of Jehovah;
Verse 2. In many passages in the Word mention is made of "spirit", and, when predicated of man, by "spirit" is signified divine Truth received in the life, thus his spiritual life, but when predicated of the Lord, by "Spirit" is understood the Divine Principle which proceeds from Him, which, with a general expression, is called Divine Truth. But inasmuch as few at this day know what is understood by "spirit", in the Word, it may be expedient, first, to show from passages thence adduced, that "spirit", when predicated of man, signifies divine Truth received in the life, thus his spiritual life.
Now as there are two things which constitute the spiritual life of man, namely, the Good of love and the Truth of faith, therefore in many passages of the Word mention is made of "the heart and spirit", as likewise "the heart and soul"; and by the "heart" is signified the Good of love, and by the "spirit", the Truth of faith; the latter is likewise signified by "soul", for thereby in the Word is understood man's spirit. That by "spirit", when predicated of man, is signified Truth received in the life, appears from the following passages.
Thus in Ezekiel -
"Make you a new heart and a new spirit: wherefore will you die, O house of Israel?" (Ezekiel 18:31)
Again,
"I will give unto you a new heart, and a new spirit will I give in the midst of you." (Ezekiel 36:26)
And in David,
"Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit in the midst of me. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, God doth not despise." (Psalm 51:10, 17)
In these passages heart signifies the Good of love, and "spirit" the Truth of faith, from whence man has spiritual life; for there are two things which constitute all the, spiritual life of man, namely, Good and Truth, from these two united in man, constitute his spiritual life. When it is known what is signified by the "spirit" appertaining to man, it may be known what " Spirit " signifies when it is predicated of Jehovah, or the Lord; to whom are attributed all things appertaining to man, as a face, eyes, ears, arms, hands, as also a heart and a soul thus, also a spirit, which in the Word is called the "Spirit of God", the Spirit of Jehovah, the "spirit of His nostrils", the "spirit of His mouth, the "Spirit of Truth, the "Spirit of Holiness", and the Holy Spirit, whereby is understood Divine Truth proceeding from the Lord, as may appear from many passages in the Word.
The reason that Divine Truth proceeding from the Lord is the "Spirit" of God, is, because all the life which men have is derived from thence as also the heavenly life appertaining to those who receive that Divine Truth in faith and life, that this is the "Spirit of God", the Lord Himself teaches in John,
"The words which I speak unto you are spirit and are life; (John 6:63) and in Isaiah 11:1, 2. Apocalypse Explained 183. See also Arcana Coelestia 2826, 9818.
"Verses 2. 3. The Spirit of Jehovah shall rest upon Him, etc. - These words also relate to the Lord, and thereby is described the Divine Truth, in which and from which is all wisdom and intelligence. The Divine Truth which was in the Lord, when He was in the world, and which, after the glorification of His Human, proceeds from Him, is understood by "the Spirit of Jehovah which shall rest upon Him."
That thence He had Divine Wisdom and Divine Power is understood by "the spirit of wisdom and intelligence" and by the spirit of counsel and might"; that thence He had Omniscience and essential sanctity in worship, is understood by "the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of Jehovah"; and whereas "fear" signifies the holy principle of worship from divine Truth, it is therefore added, whence "this offering of incense was in the fear of Jehovah"; for to "offer incense" signifies worship from the Divine-Spiritual [principle], which is Divine Truth, concerning which (see above, Apocalypse Explained 324, 491) it is said, "the spirit of wisdom and intelligence, of knowledge and of fear"; and by "spirit" is understood the Divine Proceeding; by the "spirit of wisdom", the Divine-Celestial, which is the Divine Proceeding received by the angels of the inmost or third heaven; by the "spirit of intelligence" is meant the Divine-Spiritual, which is the Divine Proceeding received by the angels of the middle or second heaven; by the "spirit of science" [or knowledgeJ is meant the Divine-Natural, which is the Divine Proceeding received by the angels of the ultimate or first heaven; and by the "spirit of the fear of Jehovah" is understood all the holiness of worship from those divine principles. Apocalypse Explained 696.
3. And His offering of incense shall be in the fear of Jehovah: He shall not judge according to the sight of His eyes; nor shall He reprove according to the hearing of His ears:
Verse 3. "Incense" signifies those things appertaining to worship, which are performed from spiritual good, or from the good of charity, and thence are gratefully perceived. Apocalypse Explained 324, 325, 492.
The reason why "incense" signifies worship from spiritual Good, is, because the principal worship in the Jewish church consisted in the offering of sacrifices and incense; wherefore there were two altars, one for sacrifices and the other for incense. The latter altar was within the tabernacle, and was called the "golden altar", but the former was without the tabernacle, and was called the "altar of burnt-offerings." The reason was, because there are two kinds of goods from which all "worship is performed, celestial Good and spiritual Good. Celestial Good is the Good of love to the Lord, and spiritual Good is the Good of love to our neighbour. Worship by sacrifices was worship from celestial Good, and worship by incense was worship from spiritual Good. Apocalypse Revealed 277.
In the fear of Jehovah. - What is signified in the Word by "fearing God", may be manifest from very many passages therein, understood according to the internal sense. the "fear of God", according to that sense, signifies worship, and indeed worship either grounded in fear, or in the good of faith, or in the good of love. The "fear of God" signifies worship grounded in fear or dread, when the subject treated of is concerning the non-regenerate, as in Exodus 20:19, 20; Deuteronomy 5:22, 24, 20; where the "fear of God" signifies worship grounded in fear, in respect to them as being of such a nature. For they who are principled in external worship without internal, are led by fear to the observance of the law, and to compliance with its precepts, but still they, do not come into internal worship, or into holy fear, unless they are in the good of life, and know and believe what internal worship is. So in Deuteronomy 28:58-60; where to "fear the honourable and terrible name of JEHOVAH GOD", is to worship from a principle of fear or dread, to inspire which into a people of such a nature and quality as the Jews were, all evils, even to curses, were attributed to Jehovah. So in Jeremiah 2:19; Matthew 10:28; Luke 12:2-5. In these passages also to "fear God" implies worship from fear or dread, because it is fear which drives them to compliance. Arcana Coelestia 2826.
But spiritual fear is holy fear, which is in all spiritual love, variously, according to the quality of the love, and its quantity. In this fear the spiritual man is principled; he likewise knows that the Lord does not do evil to anyone, still less does He destroy anyone as to "body and soul in hell", (Luke 12:5) but that He does good to all, and that He is willing to lift up everyone as to body and soul to Himself into heaven. Hence the fear of the spiritual man, lest by evils of life and by false principles of doctrine he should avert the Divine in himself, and thereby injure it. But natural fear, or the fear of the unregenerate natural man, is dread, alarm, and terror on account of dangers, punishments, and thus on account of hell; which fear is in every corporeal love, variously also, according to the quality of the love and according to its quantity. The natural man who is subject to that fear, knows no other than that the Lord does evil to the wicked, that He condemns them, casts them into hell, and punishes them; hence it is that they fear, and are afraid of the Lord. In this fear were the generality of the Jewish and Israelitish nation, by reason that they were natural men. Apocalypse Explained 696.
4. But with justice shall He judge the poor, and with equity shall He plead for the miserable of the earth: and He shall smite the earth with the rod of His mouth, and with the breath of His lips shall He slay the wicked.
Verse 4. He shall smite the earth with the rod of His mouth, etc. - By the "rod of the mouth of Jehovah" is signified Divine Truth, or the Word, in the natural sense; and by the "spirit of His lips" is signified Divine Truth, or the Word, in the spiritual sense, - both destroying the false of evil in the church, which is signified by "smiting the earth, and slaying the wicked." Apocalypse Explained 727. See also Arcana Coelestia 1286.
5. And justice shall be the girdle of His loins, and truth the girdle of His reins.
Verse 5. Justice shall be the girdle of His loins, etc. - A "girdle", in the Word, signifies a common bond whereby all things are kept in their order and connection, as in Isaiah 11:5. As a "girdle" signifies a bond conjoining the goods and truths of the church, therefore when the church among the children of Israel was destroyed, Jeremiah the prophet was commanded to "buy himself a girdle, and put it upon his loins, and then to hide it in a hole of a rock beside the Euphrates; and at the end of days, when he took it, behold, it was rotten and profitable for nothing"; (Jeremiah 13:1-7) by which was represented that at that time there was no good in the church, and thence truths were dissipated. The same is signified by a "girdle" in other passages, as in Isaiah:
"Instead of a girdle there shall be a rent." (Isaiah 3:24) Apocalypse Revealed 46.
Verses 5, 6. Justice shall be the girdle of His loins, and truth the girdle of His reins; - the wolf shall dwell with the lamb, etc. - These things are said concerning the Lord, and concerning His kingdom and the state of innocence and peace therein. That they are said concerning the Lord, is evident from the first verse of the chapter, where it is said that "a Shoot shall come forth from the trunk of Jesse, and a Sprout shall grow from his roots." That "justice shall be the girdle of His loins, and truth the girdle of His reins", signifies that the Divine Good, proceeding from the Divine Love of the Lord, shall conjoin those in heaven and in the church who are principled in love to Him, and that Divine Truth proceeding from Him shall conjoin those in heaven and in the church who are principled in love towards their neighbour; by "justice", when predicated of the Lord, is understood the Divine Good, and by His" loins" are understood those who are principled in love to Him: by "truth" is understood the Divine Truth, and by His "reins" are understood those who are principled in love towards their neighbour; and by "girdle" is signified conjunction with them in heaven and in the church. Wherefore "he shall dwell " signifies a state of peace, which takes place when nothing of evil from hell is feared, because it cannot do hurt; "the wolf with the lamb, and the leopard with the kid", signifies that no evil and false shall hurt those who are in innocence and in charity from the Lord; by the "wolf" is signified the evil which is opposite to innocence, and attempts to destroy it; and by the "leopard" is understood the false which is opposed to charity, and, which, by reasonings in favour of faith alone, attempts to destroy charity; by the "lamb is signified innocence, and by the the "kid" charity; "the calf also, and the young lion, and the fatling together", signify that the infernal false shall not hurt the innocence of the natural man, nor any good affection thereof; the "calf" signifying the innocence of the natural man , the "fatling or ox", the affection of the natural man, and the "lion", the infernal false, as to the potency and cupidity of destroying divine Truth; and a "little child shall lead them", signifies the state of innocence and love to the Lord in which they will be; a "little child" or boy signifying innocence, and, at the same time, love to the Lord; for love to the Lord makes one with innocence, inasmuch as they who are in that love are also in innocence, as is the case with those who are in the third heaven, who thence also appear before the eyes of others as infants and children. Apocalypse Explained 780. See also Arcana Coelestia 3021, 9828.
6. And the wolf 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.
Verses 6, 8, 9, 10. - In this passage is described the state of peace and happiness in the heavens. and in the church, after the Lord had come into the world: and since a state of peace and Innocence is described, mention is made of "a lamb, a kid, a calf, and also of a little child, a suckling, and a weaned child", and by them all is signified the good of innocence; - the inmost good of innocence by a "lamb"; the interior good of innocence by a "kid"; and the exterior good of innocence by a "calf."
In like manner by "a child, a suckling, and a weaned child."
The "mountain of holiness" denotes heaven and the church, where the good of innocence prevails.
The "nations" are they who are in that good.
The "Root of Jesse" is the Lord, from whom that good is derived. The good of love from Him to them, which is called celestial good, is the good of innocence.
That a "lamb" denotes the good of innocence in general, and specifically the inmost good of innocence, is manifest from this consideration, that it is named in the first place; also from this, that the Lord Himself is called a "Lamb."
That a "kid" denotes the interior good of innocence, see Arcana Coelestia 3519, 4871;
that a "calf" is the exterior good of innocence, n. 9391;
that a "child" is innocence, n. 5236; in like manner "a suckling or infant, and a weaned child", Arcana Coelestia 3494, 5608;
that the "mountain of holiness" denotes whence the good of love to the Lord is, Arcana Coelestia 6135, 8758;
that "nations" signify [in a good sense] those "who are in that good, Arcana Coelestia 1416, 6005.
That the good of love to the Lord 'which is called celestial good, is the good of innocence, is manifest from those who are in the inmost heaven, who because they are in that good appear naked, and as infants by reason that nakedness, in a good sense, corresponds to innocence, see Arcana Coelestia 9277. Arcana Coelestia 10132.
7. And the cow and the bear shall feed; together shall their young ones lie down: and the lion shall eat straw like the ox.
Verse 7. By the "cow and the bear feeding, and their young lying down together", is signified that the power and lust of the natural man of falsifying the truths of the Word, shall not hurt the good of the natural man and the affection thereof; the "cow" denoting the affection of good and truth appertaining to the natural man, and the "bear", the power and lust of the natural man to falsify the truths of the literal sense of the Word; "the lion shall eat straw like the ox, "signifies that the infernal false, which is ardent to destroy the truths of the church, shall not hurt the affection of good appertaining to the natural man, either with man in himself or with men amongst each other, and that neither shall it hurt the Word:
"straw" signifying the Word in the letter, which is perverted by the infernal also, but caunot be perverted by those who are in truths from good. Apocalypse Explained 781.
8. And the suckling shall play upon the hole of the viper; and upon the den of the basilisk shall the weaned child lay his hand.
Verse 8. This passage cannot be understood unless it be known from the things which appear in the spiritual world what is unde
