Isaiah 11 · Verse 3

Isaiah 11:3

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:
Isaiah 11:3, King James Version

Isaiah 11:3 in other translations

BSBAnd 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,
WEBHis delight will be in the fear of the LORD. He will not judge by the sight of his eyes, neither decide by the hearing of his ears;
ASVAnd his delight shall be in the fear of Jehovah; and he shall not judge after the sight of his eyes, neither decide after the hearing of his ears;
YLTTo refresh him in the fear of Jehovah, And by the sight of his eyes he judgeth not, Nor by the hearing of his ears decideth.
DARBYAnd his delight will be in the fear of Jehovah; and he shall not judge after the sight of his eyes, neither reprove after the hearing of his ears;
BBEAnd he will not be guided in his judging by what he sees, or give decisions by the hearing of his ears:
WebsterAnd will make him of quick understanding in the fear of the LORD: and he will not judge after the sight of his eyes, neither reprove after the hearing of his ears:

What does Isaiah 11:3 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
3. make him of quick understanding--literally, "quick-scented in the fear of Jehovah"; endowed with a singular sagacity in discerning the genuine principle of religious fear of God, when it lies dormant in the yet unawakened sinner (Mt 12:20; Ac 10:1-48; 16:14) [Horsley]. But Maurer, "He shall delight in the fear of God." The Hebrew means "to delight in the odors" of anything (Ex 30:38; Am 5:21); "smell," that is, "delight in." after ... sight--according to mere external appearances (Joh 7:24; 8:15; Jas 2:1; 1Sa 16:7). Herein Messiah is represented a just Judge and Ruler (De 1:16, 17). reprove--"decide," as the parallelism shows. after ... ears--by mere plausible hearsays, but by the true merits of each case (Joh 6:64; Re 2:23).

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Isaiah 11:1-9

The peaceful character of Christ's kingdom and subjects. (Is. 11:1-9) The conversion of the Gentiles and Jews. (Is. 11:10-16) Verses 1-9 The Messiah is called a Rod, and a Branch. The words signify a small, tender product; a shoot, such as is easily broken off. He comes forth out of the stem of Jesse; when the royal family was cut down and almost levelled with the ground, it would sprout again. The house of David…

Read the full comment on Isaiah 11:1-9 →

Isaiah 11:3 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

וַהֲרִיח֖וֹva.ha.ri.Choand delighting heH7306
בְּיִרְאַ֣תbe.yir.'At[will be] in [the] fear ofH3374
יְהוָ֑הYah.wehYahwehH3068
וְלֹֽא\־ve.lo'-and notH3808
לְמַרְאֵ֤הle.mar.'Ehto [the] sight ofH4758
עֵינָיו֙'ei.Naveyes hisH5869
יִשְׁפּ֔וֹטyish.Pothe will judgeH8199
וְלֹֽא\־ve.lo'-and notH3808
לְמִשְׁמַ֥עle.mish.Ma'to [the] hearing ofH4926
אָזְנָ֖יו'a.ze.Navears hisH241
יוֹכִֽיחַ\׃yo.Khi.achhe will decideH3198

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Isaiah 11:3

  • John 7:24

    Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment.

  • Luke 2:52

    And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man.

  • 1 Samuel 16:7

    But the Lord said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart.

  • John 8:15-16

    Ye judge after the flesh; I judge no man. And yet if I judge, my judgment is true: for I am not alone, but I and the Father that sent me.

  • 1 Corinthians 2:13-15

    Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man.

  • Proverbs 2:5

    Then shalt thou understand the fear of the Lord, and find the knowledge of God.

  • Hebrews 5:14

    But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

  • Philippians 1:9-10

    And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment; That ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ;

  • 1 Kings 3:28

    And all 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 judgment.

  • John 2:25

    And needed not that any should testify of man: for he knew what was in man.

  • 1 Kings 3:9

    Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and bad: for who is able to judge this thy so great a people?

  • 2 Samuel 14:17

    Then thine handmaid said, The word of my lord the king shall now be comfortable: for as an angel of God, so is my lord the king to discern good and bad: therefore the Lord thy God will be with thee.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
shall make him.
33:6; Pr 2:5,9; Lu 2:52
understanding. Heb. scent. or, smell.
Job 12:11; 34:3; Php 1:9,10; Heb 5:14
and he shall not.
1Sa 16:7; 2Sa 14:17; 1Ki 3:9,28; Joh 7:24; 8:15,16; 1Co 2:13-15
1Co 4:3-5

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Isaiah 11:2

    And the spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord;

  • Isaiah 11:3

    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:

  • Isaiah 11:4

    But with righteousness shall he judge the poor, and reprove with equity for the meek 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.

Read all of Isaiah 11

Isaiah 11:3 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Y harále entender diligente en el temor de Jehová. No juzgará según la vista de sus ojos, ni argüirá por lo que oyeren sus oídos;
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Et son plaisir sera la crainte de l’ Éternel; et il ne jugera pas d’après la vue de ses yeux, et ne reprendra pas selon l’ouïe de ses oreilles;
German
Elberfelder 1871		und sein Wohlgefallen wird sein an der Furcht Jehovas. Und er wird nicht richten nach dem Sehen seiner Augen, und nicht Recht sprechen nach dem Hören seiner Ohren;
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		et replebit eum spiritus timoris Domini. Non secundum visionem oculorum judicabit, neque secundum auditum aurium arguet;