The Root of Jesse
Isaiah 11
Isaiah describes a shoot rising from the root of Jesse, filled with the Spirit of the Lord, who will judge the poor with righteousness and bring such peace that the wolf will lie with the lamb and a little child will lead them, for the earth will be full of the knowledge of the Lord. He goes on to foresee the Lord regathering the scattered remnant of Israel and Judah from among the nations, ending old rivalries between them and opening a dry path out of Egypt as in the days of the exodus.
About these editions
The Septuagint (LXX) in Greek, with Charles Thomson’s 1808 and Sir Lancelot Brenton’s 1851 English translations, set beside the King James Version and the Jewish Masoretic text (JPS 1917) where they align, so you can compare the Greek and the Hebrew. All public domain; choose which to show with the controls above.
Thomson 1808Septuagint
Brenton 1851Septuagint
Greek · BrentonSeptuagint
KJV 1769Masoretic
JPS 1917Masoretic
1
ThomsonAND there shall spring up a shoot from the root of Jessai—even from that root shall spring up a blooming shoot;
BrentonAnd there shall come forth a rod out of the root of Jesse, and a blossom shall come up from his root:
GreekΚαὶ ἐξελεύσεται ῥάβδος ἐκ τῆς ῥίζης Ἰεσσαί, καὶ ἄνθος ἐκ τῆς ῥίζης ἀναβήσεται,
KJVAnd there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots:
JPSAnd there shall come forth a shoot out of the stock of Jesse, And a twig shall grow forth out of his roots.
2
Thomsonand the Spirit of God will rest upon him—a spirit of wisdom and understanding; a spirit of counsel and majesty; a spirit of knowledge and piety—
Brentonand the Spirit of God shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and strength, the spirit of knowledge and godliness shall fill him;
Greekκαὶ ἀναπαύσεται ἐπʼ αὐτὸν πνεῦμα τοῦ Θεοῦ, πνεῦμα σοφίας καὶ συνέσεως, πνεῦμα βουλῆς καὶ ἰσχύος, πνεύμα γνώσεως καὶ εὐσεβείας
KJVAnd 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;
JPSAnd 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.
3
Thomsonby this spirit he will be filled with the fear of God. He will not judge according to opinion, nor will he reprove according to report;
Brentonthe spirit of the fear of God. He shall not judge according to appearance, nor reprove according to report:
Greekἐμπλήσει αὐτὸν, πνεῦμα φόβου Θεοῦ· οὐ κατὰ τὴν δόξαν κρινεῖ, οὐδὲ κατὰ τὴν λαλιὰν ἐλέγξει,
KJVAnd 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:
JPS—
4
Thomsonbut he will administer justice to the lowly, and work conviction in the meek of the earth. And he will smite the earth with the word of his mouth, and with a breath from his lips destroy the wicked.
Brentonbut he shall judge the cause of the lowly, and shall reprove the lowly of the earth: and he shall smite the earth with the word of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips shall he destroy the ungodly one.
Greekἀλλὰ κρινεῖ ταπεινῷ κρίσιν, καὶ ἐλέγξει τοὺς ταπεινοὺς τῆς γῆς, καὶ πατάξει γῆν τῷ λόγῳ τοῦ στόματος αὐτοῦ, καὶ ἐν πνεύματι διὰ χειλέων ἀνελεῖ ἀσεβῆ.
KJVBut 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.
JPSBut with righteousness shall he judge the poor, And decide with equity for the meek of the land; And he shall smite the land with the rod of his mouth, And with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked.
5
ThomsonHis loins will be girded with saving goodness, and his reins clothed with truth.
BrentonAnd he shall have his loins girt with righteousness, and his sides clothed with truth.
GreekΚαὶ ἔσται δικαιοσύνῃ ἐζωσμένος τὴν ὀσφὺν αὐτοῦ, καὶ ἀληθείᾳ εἱλημένος τὰς πλευράς.
KJVAnd righteousness shall be the girdle of his loins, and faithfulness the girdle of his reins.
JPSAnd righteousness shall be the girdle of his loins, And faithfulness the girdle of his reins.
6
ThomsonAnd a wolf shall pasture with a lamb; and a leopard shall lie down with a kid; and the calf, and bull and lion shall pasture together, and a little child shall tend them.
BrentonAnd the wolf shall feed with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the young calf and bull and lion shall feed together; and a little child shall lead them.
GreekΚαὶ συμβοσκηθήσεται λύκος μετὰ ἀρνός, καὶ πάρδαλις συναναπαύσεται ἐρίφῳ, καὶ μοσχάριον καὶ ταῦρος καὶ λέων ἅμα βοσκηθήσονται, καὶ παιδίον μικρὸν ἄξει αὐτούς.
KJVThe wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them.
JPSAnd the wolf shall dwell with the lamb, And the leopard shall lie down with the kid; And the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; And a little child shall lead them.
7
ThomsonThe cow and bear shall feed together; and together their young shall herd; and the lion shall eat chaff like an ox.
BrentonAnd the ox and bear shall feed together; and their young shall be together: and the lion shall eat straw like the ox.
GreekΚαὶ βοῦς καὶ ἄρκος ἅμα βοσκηθήσονται, καὶ ἅμα τὰ παιδία αὐτῶν ἔσονται· καὶ λέων ὡς βοῦς φάγεται ἄχυρα.
KJVAnd the cow and the bear shall feed; their young ones shall lie down together: and the lion shall eat straw like the ox.
JPSAnd the cow and the bear feed; Their young ones shall lie down together; And the lion shall eat straw like the ox.
8
ThomsonAnd the sucking child shall lay its hand on the holes of asps and on the bed of young asps.
BrentonAnd an infant shall put his hand on the holes of asps, and on the nest of young asps.
GreekΚαὶ παιδίον νήπιον ἐπὶ τρωγλῶν ἀσπίδων, καὶ ἐπὶ κοίτην ἐκγόνων ἀσπίδων τὴν χεῖρα ἐπιβαλεῖ.
KJV—
JPS—
9
ThomsonAnd they shall not hurt nor have power to destroy any one on the Mountain which is My sanctuary. Because the whole earth is filled with the knowledge of the Lord as abundant water covereth depths of seas;
BrentonAnd they shall not hurt, nor shall they at all be able to destroy any one on my holy mountain: for the whole world is filled with the knowledge of the Lord, as much water covers the seas.
Greekκαὶ οὐ μὴ κακοποιήσουσιν, οὐδὲ μὴ δύνωνται ἀπολέσαι οὐδένα ἐπὶ τὸ ὄρος τὸ ἅγιόν μου· ὅτι ἐνεπλήσθη ἡ σύμπασα τοῦ γνῶναι τὸν Κύριον, ὡς ὕδωρ πολὺ κατακαλύψαι θαλάσσας.
KJVThey shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain: for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea.
JPSThey shall not hurt nor destroy In all My holy mountain; For the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD, As the waters cover the sea.
10
Thomsontherefore there shall be in that day the root of Jessai, even he who riseth up to rule nations: in him nations will put their trust, and his resting place shall be glorious.
BrentonAnd in that day there shall be a root of Jesse, and he that shall arise to rule over the Gentiles; in him shall the Gentiles trust, and his rest shall be glorious.
GreekΚαὶ ἔσται ἐν τῇ ἡμέρᾳ ἐκείνῃ ἡ ῥίζα τοῦ Ἰεσσαὶ, καὶ ὁ ἀνιστάμενος ἄρχειν ἐθνῶν· ἐπʼ αὐτῷ ἔθνη ἐλπιοῦσι, καὶ ἔσται ἡ ἀνάπαυσις αὐτοῦ τιμή.
KJVAnd in that day there shall be a root of Jesse, which shall stand for an ensign of the people; to it shall the Gentiles seek: and his rest shall be glorious.
JPSAnd it shall come to pass in that day, That the root of Jesse, that standeth for an ensign of the peoples, Unto him shall the nations seek; And his resting-place shall be glorious.
11
ThomsonAnd it shall come to pass in that day, that the Lord will proceed to shew His hand to provoke to jealousy the remnant of His people—that residue which is left from the Assyrians, and from Egypt, and from Babylonia, and from Ethiopia, and the Elamites, and from the risings of the sun, and Arabia.
BrentonAnd it shall be in that day, that the Lord shall again shew his hand, to be zealous for the remnant that is left of the people, which shall be left by the Assyrians, and that from Egypt, and from the country of Babylon, and from Ethiopia, and from the Elamites, and from the rising of the sun, and out of Arabia.
GreekΚαὶ ἔσται τῇ ἡμέρᾳ ἐκείνῃ, προσθήσει ὁ Κύριος τοῦ δεῖξαι τὴν χεῖρα αὐτοῦ, τοῦ ζηλῶσαι τὸ καταλειφθὲν ὑπόλοιπον τοῦ λαοῦ, ὃ ἂν καταλειφθῇ ὑπὸ τῶν Ἀσσυρίων, καὶ ἀπὸ Αἰγύπτου, καὶ ἀπὸ Βαβυλωνίας, καὶ ἀπὸ Αἰθιοπίας, καὶ ἀπὸ Ἐλαμιτῶν, καὶ ἀπὸ ἡλίου ἀνατολῶν, καὶ ἐξ Ἀραβίας.
KJVAnd it shall come to pass in that day, that the Lord shall set his hand again the second time to recover the remnant of his people, which shall be left, from Assyria, and from Egypt, and from Pathros, and from Cush, and from Elam, and from Shinar, and from Hamath, and from the islands of the sea.
JPSAnd it shall come to pass in that day, That the Lord will set His hand again the second time To recover the remnant of His people, That shall remain from Assyria, and from Egypt, And from Pathros, and from Cush, and from Elam, And from Shinar, and from Hamath, and from the islands of the sea.
12
ThomsonAnd He will erect a standard for the nations, and gather together the outcasts of Israel, and assemble the dispersed of Juda from the four quarters of the earth.
BrentonAnd he shall lift up a standard for the nations, and he shall gather the lost ones of Israel, and he shall gather the dispersed of Juda from the four corners of the earth.
GreekΚαὶ ἀρεῖ σημεῖον εἰς τὰ ἔθνη, καὶ συνάξει τοὺς ἀπολομένους Ἰσραήλ, καὶ τοὺς διεσπαρμένους Ἰούδα συνάξει ἐκ τῶν τεσσάρων πτερύγων τῆς γῆς.
KJVAnd he shall set up an ensign for the nations, and shall assemble the outcasts of Israel, and gather together the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth.
JPSAnd He will set up an ensign for the nations, And will assemble the dispersed of Israel, And gather together the scattered of Judah From the four corners of the earth.
13
ThomsonAnd the envy of Ephraim shall be taken away; and the enemies of Juda shall be destroyed: Ephraim shall not envy Juda; nor shall Juda vex Ephraim.
BrentonAnd the envy of Ephraim shall be taken away, and the enemies of Juda shall perish: Ephraim shall not envy Juda, and Juda shall not afflict Ephraim.
GreekΚαὶ ἀφαιρεθήσεται ὁ ζῆλος Ἐφράιμ, καὶ οἱ ἐχθροὶ Ἰούδα ἀπολοῦνται. Ἐφραὶμ οὐ ζηλώσει Ἰούδαν, καὶ Ἰούδας οὐ θλίψει Ἐφραὶμ.
KJV—
JPS—
14
ThomsonAnd they shall be wafted in the ships of foreign tribes; and they shall spoil both the sea and them of the east and Idumea; and upon Moab they shall first lay their hands; but the sons of Ammon shall first obey.
BrentonAnd they shall fly in the ships of the Philistines: they shall at the same time spoil the sea, and them that come from the east, and Idumea: and they shall lay their hands on Moab first; but the children of Ammon shall first obey them.
GreekΚαὶ πετασθήσονται ἐν πλοίοις ἀλλοφύλων· θάλασσαν ἅμα προνομεύσουσι, καὶ τοὺς ἀφʼ ἡλίου ἀνατολῶν, καὶ Ἰδουμαίαν, καὶ ἐπὶ Μωὰβ πρῶτον τὰς χεῖρας ἐπιβαλοῦσιν· οἱ δὲ υἱοὶ Ἀμμὼν πρῶτοι ὑπακούσονται.
KJVBut they shall fly upon the shoulders of the Philistines toward the west; they shall spoil them of the east together: they shall lay their hand upon Edom and Moab; and the children of Ammon shall obey them.
JPSAnd they shall fly down upon the shoulder of the Philistines on the west; Together shall they spoil the children of the east; They shall put forth their hand upon Edom and Moab; And the children of Ammon shall obey them.
15
ThomsonAnd the Lord will dry up the sea of Egypt, and lay His hand on the river with a vehement wind; and smite the seven channels, so that they may be crossed dryshod.
BrentonAnd the Lord shall make desolate the sea of Egypt; and he shall lay his hand on the river with a strong wind, and he shall smite the seven channels, so that men shall pass through it dry-shod.
GreekΚαὶ ἐρημώσει Κύριος τὴν θάλασσαν Αἰγύπτου, καὶ ἐπιβαλεῖ τὴν χεῖρα αὐτοῦ ἐπὶ τὸν ποταμὸν πνεύματι βιαίῳ· καὶ πατάξει ἑπτὰ φάραγγας, ὥστε διαπορεύεσθαι αὐτὸν ἐν ὑποδήμασι.
KJVAnd the LORD shall utterly destroy the tongue of the Egyptian sea; and with his mighty wind shall he shake his hand over the river, and shall smite it in the seven streams, and make men go over dryshod.
JPSAnd the LORD will utterly destroy the tongue of the Egyptian sea; And with His scorching wind will He shake His hand over the River, And will smite it into seven streams, And cause men to march over dry-shod.
16
ThomsonAnd there shall be a passage for my people left in Egypt. It shall be for Israel as on the day when they came up out of the land of Egypt.
BrentonAnd there shall be a passage for my people that is left in Egypt: and it shall be to Israel as the day when he came forth out of the land of Egypt.
GreekΚαὶ ἔσται δίοδος τῷ καταλειφθέντι μου λαῷ ἐν Αἰγύπτῳ· καὶ ἔσται τῷ Ἰσραὴλ, ὡς ἡ ἡμέρα ὅτε ἐξῆλθεν ἐκ γῆς Αἰγύπτου.
KJVAnd there shall be an highway for the remnant of his people, which shall be left, from Assyria; like as it was to Israel in the day that he came up out of the land of Egypt.
JPSAnd there shall be a highway for the remnant of His people, That shall remain from Assyria, Like as there was for Israel In the day that he came up out of the land of Egypt.