Isaiah 11:1

The advent of the Messiah. Idea and figure correspond to those of ch. Isaiah 6:13; as a new Israel will spring up from the "stump" of the old, so the Messianic King will arise from the decayed family of David. Some commentators find in the image an intentional contrast to that of ch. Isaiah 10:34; while the forest of Assyria is cut down never to spring up again, the stock of Judah's royal dynasty will sprout and flourish. The precise relation of the Messiah to the reigning branch of the family is purposely left indefinite (cf. Micah 5:2).

a rod Better as R.V. a shoot. The word rendered "stem" occurs only twice again. Here it bears the same meaning as in Job 14:8; it is the stock which remains in the earth after the tree is cut down. In Isaiah 40:24 it means a "slip" planted in the ground in order to strike root. The figure, therefore, like "roots" in the next line, seems to imply the downfall of the dynasty.

a Branch shall grow out of his roots Render as R.V. a branch out of his roots shall boar fruit shall come to maturity. Jesse is mentioned instead of David probably because of the intentional vagueness in which the Messiah's origin is left.