He will delight in obeying the Lord. He will not judge by appearance nor make a decision based on hearsay.
Parallel translations
- WEB His delight will be in the fear of Yahweh. He will not judge by the sight of his eyes, neither decide by the hearing of his ears;
- KJV And shall make him of quick understanding in the fear of the LORD: and he shall not judge after the sight of his eyes, neither reprove after the hearing of his ears:
- BSB And 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,
- NKJV His delight is in the fear of the Lord, And He shall not judge by the sight of His eyes, Nor decide by the hearing of His ears;
- NASB And He will delight in the fear of the Lord, And He will not judge by what His eyes see, Nor make decisions by what His ears hear;
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
The Messiah delights in the fear of the Lord and does not judge by mere appearances. His judgments are perfectly discerning and true.
Overview
Unlike fallible human rulers, the Messiah will not be misled by what eyes see or ears hear, but will judge by the Spirit's discernment. His delight is in reverent obedience to God. This portrays the flawless justice of Christ's reign, who sees the heart and judges righteously (John 7:24; 2:25).
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 17
- John 7:24Don’t judge according to appearance, but judge righteous judgment.”
- Luke 2:52And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.
- John 8:15–16You judge according to the flesh. I judge no one.
- 1 Sam 16:7But Yahweh said to Samuel, “Don’t look on his face, or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for I don’t see as man sees. For man looks at the outward appearance, but Yahweh looks at the heart.”
- 1 Cor 2:13–15Which things also we speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teaches, but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual things.
- Prov 2:5then you will understand the fear of Yahweh, and find the knowledge of God.
- 1 Kgs 3:28All Israel heard of the judgment which the king had judged; and they feared the king; for they saw that the wisdom of God was in him, to do justice.
- Heb 5:14But solid food is for those who are full grown, who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern good and evil.
- John 2:25and because he didn’t need for anyone to testify concerning man; for he himself knew what was in man.
- Phil 1:9–10This I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and all discernment;
- Prov 2:9Then you will understand righteousness and justice, equity and every good path.
- 1 Kgs 3:9Give your servant therefore an understanding heart to judge your people, that I may discern between good and evil; for who is able to judge this great people of yours?”
- 2 Sam 14:17Then your servant said, ‘Please let the word of my lord the king bring rest; for as an angel of God, so is my lord the king to discern good and bad. May Yahweh, your God, be with you.’”
- Job 34:3For the ear tries words, as the palate tastes food.
- Job 12:11Doesn’t the ear try words, even as the palate tastes its food?
- Isa 33:6There will be stability in your times, abundance of salvation, wisdom, and knowledge. The fear of Yahweh is your treasure.
- 1 Cor 4:3–5But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you, or by man’s judgment. Yes, I don’t judge my own self.
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Christ at the center
Isaiah sees him most clearly: the virgin's son Immanuel, the child on David's throne, the shoot from Jesse, the light to the nations, and above all the Suffering Servant pierced for our transgressions (ch. 53).
How Isaiah 11:3 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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