Bible Strands
Isaiah 11:2
The Spirit of the LORD will rest on Him—the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and strength, the Spirit of knowledge and fear of the LORD.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The prophet addresses Israel regarding the promised Branch from Jesse’s stump, describing the divine empowerment that will accompany His arrival.
The words — The Hebrew נָחָה (naḥah) literally means "it will rest," indicating the divine presence settling upon the Branch. The term ר֣וּחַ (rûaḥ), appearing four times in the verse, denotes "spirit" and introduces the specific attributes that will characterize His work.
The thread — The motif of the Spirit resting on a chosen figure appears in Isaiah 61:1, where the anointed one speaks, and in Ephesians 1:17, where believers receive a spirit of wisdom and revelation. The Spirit’s guiding function is echoed in John 16:13, which describes the Spirit of truth leading others into all truth.
Why it lands — The text states that the Branch will operate under the direct influence of God’s Spirit, possessing wisdom, understanding, counsel, strength, knowledge, and reverence for the Lord. It asks the reader to recognize that true leadership and judgment flow from divine empowerment rather than human perception.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
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;
Cross-references
- Isaiah 61:1 The Spirit of the Lord GOD is on Me, because the LORD has anointed Me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent Me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and freedom to the prisoners,
- John 16:13 However, when the Spirit of truth comes, He will guide you into all truth. For He will not speak on His own, but He will speak what He hears, and He will declare to you what is to come.
- Ephesians 1:17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation in your knowledge of Him.
- 2 Timothy 1:7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and self-control.
- Isaiah 42:1 “Here is My Servant, whom I uphold, My Chosen One, in whom My soul delights. I will put My Spirit on Him, and He will bring justice to the nations.
- Matthew 3:16 As soon as Jesus was baptized, He went up out of the water. Suddenly the heavens were opened, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and resting on Him.
- Colossians 1:8 and who also informed us of your love in the Spirit.
- John 3:34 For the One whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for God gives the Spirit without limit.
- James 3:17 But the wisdom from above is first of all pure, then peace-loving, gentle, accommodating, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial, and sincere.
- 1 Corinthians 1:30 It is because of Him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God: our righteousness, holiness, and redemption.