King James Version

What Does Isaiah 11:3 Mean?

Isaiah 11:3 in the King James Version says “And shall make him of quick understanding in the fear of the LORD: and he shall not judge after the sight of his eyes, n...” — study this verse from Isaiah chapter 11 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“And 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: quick: Heb. scent or, smell”

Isaiah 11:3 · KJV

Fear & Courage

Context

1

And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots:

2

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;

3

And 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: quick: Heb. scent or, smell

4

But 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. reprove: or, argue

5

And righteousness shall be the girdle of his loins, and faithfulness the girdle of his reins.

Read Isaiah 11 full chapter

Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
Messiah's judgment is characterized by spiritual perception, not superficial appearance. He will 'make him of quick understanding in the fear of the Lord'—sharp spiritual discernment rooted in reverence for God. 'He shall not judge after the sight of his eyes' means not by external appearances. 'Neither reprove after the hearing of his ears' indicates not by hearsay or reputation. Instead, His judgment penetrates to heart reality. This describes Christ's omniscient righteousness—seeing hearts, not just actions; knowing motives, not just words.

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Historical & Cultural Context

Jesus consistently demonstrated this quality during earthly ministry: seeing Nathanael's integrity (John 1:47), knowing the Samaritan woman's life (John 4:18), perceiving the Pharisees' thoughts (Matthew 12:25), and judging the righteous and wicked accurately (Matthew 25:31-46). At final judgment, Christ will judge with perfect knowledge of all hearts (Revelation 2:23), rewarding or condemning based on reality, not appearance.

Reflection Questions

  1. How does Christ's ability to judge hearts rather than appearances provide comfort and warning?
  2. What does this teach about avoiding superficial judgments of others based on external appearances?
  3. How should awareness that Christ sees our hearts affect our pursuit of genuine versus superficial righteousness?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 11 words
וַהֲרִיח֖וֹ1 of 11

“And shall make him of quick understanding”

H7306

properly, to blow, i.e., breathe; only (literally) to smell or (by implication, perceive (figuratively, to anticipate, enjoy)

בְּיִרְאַ֣ת2 of 11

“in the fear”

H3374

fear (also used as infinitive); morally, reverence

יְהוָ֑ה3 of 11

“of the LORD”

H3068

(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god

וְלֹֽא4 of 11
H3808

not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles

לְמַרְאֵ֤ה5 of 11

“after the sight”

H4758

a view (the act of seeing); also an appearance (the thing seen), whether (real) a shape (especially if handsome, comeliness; often plural the looks),

עֵינָיו֙6 of 11

“of his eyes”

H5869

an eye (literally or figuratively); by analogy, a fountain (as the eye of the landscape)

יִשְׁפּ֔וֹט7 of 11

“and he shall not judge”

H8199

to judge, i.e., pronounce sentence (for or against); by implication, to vindicate or punish; by extenssion, to govern; passively, to litigate (literal

וְלֹֽא8 of 11
H3808

not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles

לְמִשְׁמַ֥ע9 of 11

“after the hearing”

H4926

a report

אָזְנָ֖יו10 of 11

“of his ears”

H241

broadness. i.e., (concrete) the ear (from its form in man)

יוֹכִֽיחַ׃11 of 11

“neither reprove”

H3198

to be right (i.e., correct); reciprocal, to argue; causatively, to decide, justify or convict

Study Guide

Historical Context

This verse is found in the book of Isaiah. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.

Theological Significance

Isaiah 11:3 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.

Cross-References

Verses related to Isaiah 11:3 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

John 7:24Luke 2:52John 8:15-161 Samuel 16:7Proverbs 2:51 Corinthians 2:13-15

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