The cow will graze with the bear, their young will lie down together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox.
Parallel translations
- WEB The cow and the bear will graze. Their young ones will lie down together. The lion will eat straw like the ox.
- KJV And the cow and the bear shall feed; their young ones shall lie down together: and the lion shall eat straw like the ox.
- NKJV The cow and the bear shall graze; Their young ones shall lie down together; And the lion shall eat straw like the ox.
- NASB Also the cow and the bear will graze, Their young will lie down together, And the lion will eat straw like the ox.
- NLT The cow will graze near the bear. The cub and the calf will lie down together. The lion will eat hay like a cow.
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
Predator and prey graze together and the lion eats straw — violence gives way to peace. The created order is healed under Messiah.
Overview
The cow and bear feed side by side and the carnivorous lion becomes herbivorous, continuing the picture of a world freed from harm. Whether read literally of a transformed creation or as a poetic emblem of restored peace, it celebrates the deep reconciliation of Christ's kingdom. It anticipates the new heavens and new earth where righteousness dwells (2 Pet. 3:13).
Cross-references & the web
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Themes, concepts, people & topics
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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 11:7 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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