Isaiah 11:8

And the sucking child shall play on the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the cockatrice' den. AND THE SUCKING CHILD SHALL PLAY ON THE HOLE OF THE ASP - "play," literally, delight himself in sport. COCKATRICE - the Hebrew means a kind of adder, more venomous than the asp. Bochart supposes the basilisk to be meant, which was thought to poison even with its breath. [ Tsip`owniy (H6848), basiliskos, regulus, from traapa`, to protrude, as serpents do in striking their prey, and to hiss.] It appears from this passage it was subterranean in habits, and from Isaiah 59:5 that it was oviparous, and from Isaiah 14:29 that it was not identical wi...

8._And the child shall play on the hole of the asp. _He continues to illustrate the same sentiment, that when men have been brought into a state of favor with God, and have been cleansed from their depravity by the Spirit of regeneration, they will likewise be free from every hurtful disposition. There is no reason why men dread the danger or poison arising from the bite of serpents, but because they do not deserve that God should place every part of the world under their control. And, indeed, since animals are permitted to do injury even to _children_, this shows that the whole race of Adam has been stained with pollution from the very womb. We must again observe the comparison which we stated, that those men whom a concealed poison led to deeds of violence will have their disposition changed, and will do no harm even to _little children_. Some men are openly fierce and cruel, ...

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 was brought very low at the time of Christ's birth. The Messiah thus gave early notice that his kingdom was not of this world. But the Holy Spirit, in all his gifts and graces, shall rest and abide upon him; he shall have the fulness of the Godhead dwelling in him, Colossians 1:19; Colossians 2:9. Many consider that seven gifts of the Holy Spirit are here mentioned. And the doctrine of the influences of the Holy Spirit is here clearly taught. The Messiah would be just and righteous in all his government. His threatening shall b...

Verse Isaiah 11:8. _THE COCKATRICE' DEN._] This is supposed, both by the _Targum_ and by _Kimchi_, to mean the pupil of this serpent's eye. "When," says _Kimchi_, "he is in the mouth of his den, in an obscure place, then his eyes _sparkle_ exceedingly: the child, seeing this, and supposing it to be a piece of _crystal_, or _precious stone_, puts forth his hand to take it. What would be very dangerous at another time, shall be safe in the days of the Messiah; for the serpent will not hurt the child....

AND THE SUCKING CHILD - An emblem here of harmlessness and innocence. The change in the world, under the Messiah, shall be as great as if a sucking infant should be able to play unharmed with a venomous serpent. SHALL PLAY - Shall delight himself (שׁעשׁע _shı̂‛ăsha‛_) as children usually engage in their sports; compare Proverbs 8:30; Psalms 119:24. ON THE HOLE OF THE ASP - Over, or around the cavern, hole, or place of retreat of the asp. He shall play over that place as safely as if the nature of the asp was changed, and it had become innocuous. The Hebrew word rendered here “asp” (פתן _pethen_) denotes the serpent u

EXPOSITION ISAIAH 11:1 A RENEWED PROPHECY OF MESSIAH AND OF HIS KINGDOM. This chapter is closely connected with the preceding. With the final destruction of Assyria, which, being cut down, sends out no shoot (Isaiah 10:33, Isaiah 10:34), is contrasted the recuperative energy of Israel, which, though equally leveled with the ground (Isaiah 9:18, Isaiah 9:19), shall spring afresh into life,

AND THE SUCKING CHILD SHALL PLAY ON THE HOLE OF THE ASP,.... Without fear or danger: AND THE WEANED CHILD SHALL PUT HIS HAND ON THE COCKATRICE'S DEN; and suffer no damage: the meaning is explained in the next words, and to be understood of regenerate persons, both of new born babes, or just born, and all such who are weaned from their own righteousness, and live by faith on Christ, who shall not be hurt by the poison of false teachers, nor by the force of violent persecutors, now no more, See Gill (Editor's note) on "Isa 11:6"....

CHAPTER 11 The Coming King and His Kingdom 1. _The King: Who He is and what He will do (Isaiah 11:1)_ 2. _The peace and blessing He brings (Isaiah 11:6)_ 3. _The gathering of scattered Israel (Isaiah 11:11) _ It is a great vision of the future which this chapter unfolds. The critics deny that the blessed Person mentioned in the opening verses is our Lord Jesus. They think Hezekiah or Josiah is meant. 2 Thessalonians 2:8 shows that it is our Lord. Link Isaiah 11:1 with...

THE MESSIAH'S DIVINE EQUIPMENT. If the reference to the hewn stump of David's house implies the overthrow of the monarchy, the passage presumably is not Isaiah's. This inference, perhaps, is not necessary; and if Isaiah 9:2 is his, the same judgment should probably be passed on Isaiah 11:1. The Messiah is to spring from the family of Jesse, _i.e._ he will be a second David. This family is described as the hewn stump of a tree. It is in a fallen condition, shorn of all its royal glory. Yet it has the sap of life in it, and from it this new shoot springs. To equip him for his work the spirit of Yahweh rests upon him not seven spirits, but one spirit with six modes of manifestation, intellectual, practical, and religious. Equipped with the Divine spirit of discernment, the Messiah will not need to depend on th

COCKATRICE' = viper's. Hebrew. _zepha'._ Occurs only here in "former" portion; and in Isaiah 59:5 in "latter". App-79....