Rediscovering the Septuagint (LXX): Isaiah 11

Here is a direct side-by-side comparison of the Masoretic Text with the LXX. I have concluded that the LXX is much to be preferred over the Masoretic Text, a position from which the Eastern Orthodox Church never deviated. Perhaps, if you take the time to read my comparisons and other articles, you will arrive at the same conclusion.

The Septuagint version I am using is the Lexham English Septuagint 2nd Edition, which is available in print or as part of Logos Bible Software. Occasionally I also use the Brenton translation of the LXX for insight into difficult passages.

If you want to know more, click on the following links.

Masoretic Text	Septuagint	Significance
1 There shall come forth a Rod from the stem of Jesse, And a Branch shall grow out of his roots. 2 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. Isaiah 11:1–2 (NKJV)	1 And a rod will emerge from the root of Jesse, and a flower will come up from the root. 2 And God’s spirit will rest on him, a spirit of wisdom and intelligence, a spirit of counsel and strength, a spirit of knowledge and piety. Isaiah 11:1–2 (LES2)	The MT here uses one of its favorite words it employs to obscure a reference to Christ – Branch. Another such instance is found in Jeremiah 23:5, where it is used obfuscate a clear reference to Christ’s resurrection. Here, by using “branch” instead of “flower” or “blossom,” it hides a reference to the budding rod of Aaron that God used to show whom he had approved to be in authority. (Numbers 17:8) In this case, the one God has approved is Jesus the Messiah. (John 5:39)
3 His delight is in the fear of the LORD, And He shall not judge by the sight of His eyes, Nor decide by the hearing of His ears; 4 But with righteousness He shall judge the poor, And decide with equity for the meek of the earth; He shall strike the earth with the rod of His mouth, And with the breath of His lips He shall slay the wicked. 5 Righteousness shall be the belt of His loins, And faithfulness the belt of His waist. Isaiah 11:3–5 (NKJV)	3 He will fill him with a spirit of the fear of God; he will not judge according to reputation or reprove according to speech. 4 Rather, he will render fair judgment to a low one, and he will reprove the low of the land; and he will strike the land with the word of his mouth, and with breath through his lips he will destroy ungodly things. 5 And he will be girded at the waist with righteousness and enclosed with truth at his sides. Isaiah 11:3–5 (LES2)	Whereas the MT says that this anointed one will delight in the fear of the Lord, the LXX says that he will be filled with the spirit of the fear of the Lord. Jesus emptied himself of his divinity when he became a man. (Philippians 2:7) Like us, Jesus depended upon the Holy Spirit’s indwelling and empowering to accomplish his work on earth. (Luke 4:18) The fear of the Lord resides in the Holy Spirit. When he fills us, we also have that spiritual quality. In verse 4, the MT says that this one will strike the earth with “the rod” of his mouth. The LXX says it will be by “the word” of his mouth. This is, no doubt, the correct wording, since Jesus is the divine Word of God. That word resides in him like a sword of the Spirit. (Ephesians 6:15, Revelation 2:16 and 19:21) The MT says that Jesus will destroy the wicked with the breath of his lips, but the LXX says he will destroy “ungodly things.”
6 “The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, The leopard shall lie down with the young goat, The calf and the young lion and the fatling together; And a little child shall lead them. 7 The cow and the bear shall graze; Their young ones shall lie down together; And the lion shall eat straw like the ox. 8 The nursing child shall play by the cobra’s hole, And the weaned child shall put his hand in the viper’s den. 9 They 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. Isaiah 11:6–9 (NKJV)	6 And a wolf will feed together with a lamb, and a leopard will rest with a kid, and a little calf and a bull and a lion will feed together, and a small young child will lead them. 7 And an ox and a bear will feed together, and they will be together with their young, and a lion will eat straw like an ox. 8 And an infant child will lay its hand on an asp’s hole and on a bed of asps’ offspring. 9 And they shall surely do no wrong, nor will they be able to destroy anyone on my holy mountain because the whole land was filled with knowing the Lord, as much water covers the seas. Isaiah 11:6–9 (LES2)	The main difference here is in verse 9 where the MT says that “they shall not hurt or destroy,” but the LXX says that they will “do no wrong, nor will they be able to destroy anyone on my holy mountain.” Both agree that the underlying cause will be a universal knowledge of God as revealed by the Holy Spirit.
10 “And in that day there shall be a Root of Jesse, Who shall stand as a banner to the people; For the Gentiles shall seek Him, And His resting place shall be glorious.” Isaiah 11:10 (NKJV)	10 And in that day there will be the root of Jesse and the one who rises up to rule nations; nations will put their hope in him, and his rest will be honor. Isaiah 11:10 (LES2)	Here is seems that MT once again obscures a reference to Christ. It says that the Root of Jesse, meaning Christ as we know, will stand as a banner or signal to the people. The LXX says that this one will rise up (be resurrected) to rule the nations! Not only will the nations seek Jesus, they will put their hope in him. His rest, which results from not having to earn our salvation by keeping the Law, will be highly prized and glorious.