Isaiah 11:3

And shall make him of quick understanding in the fear of the Lord,.... Or "cause him to smell the fear of the Lord" (w); that is, to discern in whom it was: this is one effect of the Spirit's resting

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: And shall make him of quick

Shall make him of quick understanding, Heb. he shall make him smell, i.e. perceive, as that word is used, Jude 16 9 Job 39 25; understand or judge, as it is explained in the next clause. Or, his smelling shall be. Smelling is put for judging, because the sense of smelling, where it is quick and good, is more exact and sure in the judging of its proper objects, than the senses of seeing and hearing are. In the fear of the Lord; which is added, either, 1. As the object of his judging; he is most perspicacious and judicious in the things which concern the fear, i.e. the worship and service of God, which he was to order and establish in his church. Or rather, 2. As the rule and manner of his judging, as may be gathered from the opposite and following clause. So the sense is, He shall not judge rashly and partially, but considerately and justly, as the fear of God obligeth all judges to do. He shall not judge, of persons or causes. And judging seems to be here synecdochically put for absolving or giving sentence for a person, as it is used ,11, and in many other places, because this is opposed to reproving in the next clause. After the sight of his eyes; according to outward appearance, as men must do, because they cannot search men’ s hearts, , or with respect of persons, but with righteous judgment, which is opposed to judging by appearance, . Reprove, i.e. condemn or pass sentence against a person; for Christ is here supposed to be a Judge, and so he speaks of a judicial reproof. After the hearing of his ears, by false or uncertain rumours or suggestions, but shall thoroughly examine all causes, and search out the truth of things, and the very hearts of men.

Isaiah 11:3 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:Ver. 3. And shall make him of quick understanding.] Heb., It shall make him scent or smell - sc., by a singular sagacity and sharpness of judgment in smelling out a hypocrite, as Simon Peter did Simon Magus, who had deceived Philip, even unto baptism; but Peter soon found him out: how much more will Christ? His sharp nose easily discerneth and is offended with the stinking breath of the hypocrite’ s rotten lungs, though his words be never so scented and perfumed with shows of holiness. So for the innocence of the godly, when "being defamed they pray" as Paul, apologise and cannot be heard, as the primitive Christians; Christ will "bring forth their righteousness as the light, and their judgment as the noonday." And he shall not judge after the sight of his eyes.] He cannot be deceived, as knowing all hearts, and as having all things naked and dissected before his eyes. Others judge by relation of others, and secundum allegata et probata - not so Jesus Christ; but he shall always proceed upon his own knowledge, and so pass a most righteous sentence. Oecolampadius thinks the prophet here alludeth to Solomon’ s sentence passed on the two harlots.

(3) And shall make him of quick understanding . . .—Better, he shall draw his breath in the fear of the Lord. It shall be, as it were, the very air in which he lives and breathes. Some commentators, however, interpret he shall find a sweet savour. The Hebrew word rendered “understanding” means primarily, as the margin shows, “scent” or “smell,” either as the organ or the object of perception. He shall not judge after the sight of his eyes . . .—Earthly kings are apt to judge “according to the appearance” (John 7:24), and the reports of interested or corrupt advisers, but the true King shall “know what is in man” (John 2:25), and judge righteous judgment.

Ch. Isaiah 11:1-9. The Messiah and His KingdomIt is interesting to compare this passage with ch. Isaiah 9:1-7. There the delineation of the Messianic age starts from its broadest and most general features—the light breaking on the land, the universally diffused joy of the redeemed nation—and only at the end centres itself in the person of the Wonderful Child who is born to ascend the throne. Here the person of the Messiah comes first, and then the healing and regenerating influences of which he is the channel. To what period of Isaiah’s career the prophecy belongs cannot be determined. The affinity with ch. Isaiah 9:1-7 suggests the reign of Ahaz, to which it is assigned by Guthe in accordance with a particular theory of the development of Isaiah’s eschatology. But since there is no evidence that the idea of the Messianic King ever lost its significance to the prophet’s mind, it might with equal propriety be referred to any subsequent period of his ministry. Duhm places this and the companion oracles of Isa 2:2-4, Isaiah 32:1-5 in the evening of Isaiah’s long life. In its present setting the passage is no doubt intended as a sequel to ch. Isaiah 10:5-34 and it might even belong to the same date.

And shall make him of quick understanding - (והריחו vahărı̂ychô) The Septuagint renders this, ‘And the spirit of the fear of God shall fill him.’ The Chaldee, ‘And the Lord shall draw him near to

3. Shall make him — The Spirit of Jehovah is still the subject. Of quick understanding — This is a peculiar expression. Literally, Of quick smell, or his fragrance.