Structure in Isaiah 11

A variation on J. Alec Motyer’s suggested outline for Isaiah 11:1-10.

A. Shoot from Jesse, v 1

B. Spirit: knowledge, v. 2-3a (Yahweh, 3x)

C. Righteous judgment for the poor and afflicted, vv 3b-4

D. Clothed in righteousness, v 5

C’. Reconciliation of beasts, vv 6-8

B’. Knowledge of Yahweh, v. 9 (Yahweh)

A’. Root of Jesse, v 10

Within this, verses 6-8 are in a parallel structure:

A. Wolf and lamb

B. Leopard and kid

C. Calf and lion

D. Little boy will lead

A’. Cow and bear

B’. Young lie otgether

C’. Lion and ox

D’. Nursing child with serpents

The structure of these verses climax in D’. What unites the wild and domestic, the predator and prey, is the young child, and the young child will reconcile antagonists because of his power over the cobra and the viper.

The overall structure of the passage indicates a couple of things. First, as Motyer points out, the whole section is enclosed by references to Jesse and to the image of the budding stump. But there is a surprising advance from A to A’: The Branch of Jesse is also his root. Second, the structure links the Spirit who gives knowledge to the Branch with the filling of the earth with knowledge. Implicitly, the earth will be filled with the knowledge of God because it will be filled with His Spirit. Yahweh’s name is used four times in the section, the fourth in verse 9, where we are told that the knowledge of Yahweh will spread to the four corners of the earth. Finally, the chiastic structure indicates that the domestic animals of vv 6-7 are the afflicted and poor of v. 4.