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Isaiah 11 · a question people ask

"A shoot will come out of the stock of Jesse" (11:1). Who is he?

In the text

The chapter doesn't give his name. It says where he comes from, "the stock of Jesse" (11:1); that "The LORD’s Spirit will rest on him" (11:2); how he will judge, "not … by the sight of his eyes" but "with righteousness" (11:3-4); and that "the nations will seek the root of Jesse" (11:10). The New Testament gives the words of 11:10 and names Isaiah. Paul (Romans 1:1) writes, "Now I say that Christ has been made a servant of the circumcision for the truth of God, that he might confirm the promises given to the fathers" (Romans 15:8), and a few verses later, "Again, Isaiah says, “There will be the root of Jesse, he who arises to rule over the Gentiles; in him the Gentiles will hope.”" (Romans 15:12). This chapter's row on the Prophecy Map follows Romans 15:12.

The verses

“A shoot will come out of the stock of Jesse, and a branch out of his roots will bear fruit. The LORD’s Spirit will rest on him: the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD. His delight will be in the fear of the LORD. He will not judge by the sight of his eyes, neither decide by the hearing of his ears; but he will judge the poor with righteousness, and decide with equity for the humble of the earth. He will strike the earth with the rod of his mouth; and with the breath of his lips he will kill the wicked.”
Isaiah 11:1-4 · World English Bible
“It will happen in that day that the nations will seek the root of Jesse, who stands as a banner of the peoples; and his resting place will be glorious.”
Isaiah 11:10 · World English Bible
“Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, set apart for the Good News of God,”
Romans 1:1 · World English Bible
“Now I say that Christ has been made a servant of the circumcision for the truth of God, that he might confirm the promises given to the fathers,”
Romans 15:8 · World English Bible

From Favor's study of Isaiah 11

Isaiah 11: A shoot from the stock of Jesse

Isaiah names Jesse only twice, both here. A branch grows "out of his roots" (11:1), Jesse's, and the one the nations will seek is "the root of Jesse" (11:10): in Hebrew roots and root are the same word. Paul writes that "Christ has been made a servant of the circumcision for the truth of God" (Romans 15:8), and a few verses later gives the words of 11:10 (Romans 15:12).

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Scripture quotations are from the World English Bible, which is in the public domain. Every answer cites the verses it rests on. What we believe · All Bible questions