The wolf will live with the lambThis phrase symbolizes a future time of peace and harmony, often interpreted as the Messianic age. In the natural world, wolves are predators of lambs, but this imagery suggests a radical transformation of nature. This peace is reminiscent of the Garden of Eden before the fall, where there was no death or predation. It reflects the hope for a restored creation, as seen in
Romans 8:19-22, where creation eagerly awaits liberation from its current state of decay.
and the leopard will lie down with the goat
Leopards are known for their stealth and hunting prowess, making them natural enemies of goats. This imagery further emphasizes the theme of peace and reconciliation. It suggests a time when natural instincts are subdued, and enmity is replaced with coexistence. This can be seen as a metaphor for the reconciliation between different peoples and nations, as prophesied inEphesians 2:14-16, where Christ is described as breaking down the dividing wall of hostility.
the calf and young lion and fatling will be together
The calf, young lion, and fatling (a well-fed animal) represent a diverse group of creatures that would not naturally coexist peacefully. This imagery points to a future where natural hierarchies and food chains are upended. It can be seen as a type of the peaceable kingdom that Christ inaugurates, where all creation is reconciled. This is echoed inColossians 1:20, which speaks of Christ reconciling all things to Himself.
and a little child will lead them
The image of a child leading these animals highlights innocence, purity, and the reversal of power dynamics. In biblical times, children were considered the least powerful members of society, yet here a child leads fearsome creatures. This can be seen as a type of Christ, who, though coming in humility and weakness, leads and transforms the world. It also reflects the prophecy of a child born to lead, as seen inIsaiah 9:6, where a child is given to us, and the government will be on His shoulders.
Persons / Places / Events
1.
Wolf and LambTraditionally seen as predator and prey, their peaceful coexistence symbolizes a future era of harmony and peace.
2.
Leopard and GoatAnother pair of natural adversaries, representing the removal of hostility and fear.
3.
Calf, Young Lion, and Fattened CalfThese animals together illustrate a vision of safety and security, where even the most vulnerable are unharmed.
4.
Little ChildRepresents innocence and leadership in this peaceful kingdom, highlighting the transformative power of God's reign.
5.
Messianic KingdomThe broader context of
Isaiah 11 speaks to the reign of the Messiah, a time of restoration and peace.
Teaching Points
The Promise of PeaceIsaiah 11:6 offers a vision of the peace that will characterize the Messianic kingdom. This peace is not just the absence of conflict but a profound transformation of relationships.
Transformation through ChristThe imagery of natural enemies living together points to the transformative power of Christ's reign. Believers are called to live out this transformation in their relationships, breaking down barriers of hostility.
Childlike LeadershipThe mention of a little child leading these animals suggests that true leadership in God's kingdom is marked by humility and innocence. Christians are encouraged to lead with these qualities.
Hope for CreationThis verse provides hope not only for humanity but for all creation. It reminds believers of their responsibility to care for the earth and its creatures as part of God's redemptive plan.
Living in AnticipationWhile this vision is ultimately fulfilled in the future, Christians are called to live in anticipation of this peace, actively working towards reconciliation and harmony in their communities.
Bible Study Questions and Answers
1.What is the meaning of Isaiah 11:6?
2.How does Isaiah 11:6 illustrate the peace of Christ's future kingdom?
3.What does the imagery of animals symbolize in Isaiah 11:6?
4.How can Isaiah 11:6 inspire us to pursue peace in our lives?
5.How does Isaiah 11:6 connect with Revelation's vision of a new creation?
6.In what ways can we reflect Isaiah 11:6's harmony in our communities today?
7.How does Isaiah 11:6 symbolize peace in the Messianic age?
8.What is the significance of animals coexisting in Isaiah 11:6?
9.Does Isaiah 11:6 predict a literal or metaphorical future?
10.What are the top 10 Lessons from Isaiah 11?
11.How can the claim that predator and prey will coexist peacefully (Isaiah 11:6–7) be reconciled with established scientific understanding of animal behavior?
12.Will a little child lead them?
13.Will a little child lead them?
14.How do these prophecies in Isaiah 11 compare with other biblical texts that seem to describe different scenarios for the Messiah and end times?What Does Isaiah 11:6 Mean
The wolf will live with the lambIsaiah opens with a scene that reverses everything we know about the food chain: a wolf settling down to dwell peaceably with a lamb (Isaiah 65:25;Hosea 2:18). In Eden-like harmony, the predator no longer stalks its prey. Scripture tells us that, before the fall, “to every beast of the earth … I have given every green plant for food” (Genesis 1:30). The same creation that now “groans” (Romans 8:19-22) will one day rejoice in freedom when Christ rules the earth.
Key insights:
• The word “live” speaks of ongoing coexistence, not a momentary truce.
• God is not merely taming wild instincts; He is renewing nature itself.
• When the Messiah reigns, safety is no longer a fragile hope but a normal reality.
and the leopard will lie down with the goatA leopard lying down beside a goat (rather than lunging at it) portrays lasting rest (Psalm 4:8) and a global end to violence (Micah 4:3-4). “Lie down” hints at the same secure repose found inPsalm 23:2. Even the most alert prey—the sure-footed goat—will feel no need to flee.
Notice the layers Isaiah stacks up:
• Predator and prey share space—no barriers needed.
• Rest replaces the vigilance sin made necessary.
• Peace is comprehensive; it reaches into every corner of the animal kingdom (Zephaniah 3:13).
the calf and young lion and fatling will be togetherHere domestic and wild, young and mature, graze side by side (Ezekiel 34:25;Job 5:23). The “fatling” represents the best of the herd—prized livestock normally kept far from lions. The word “together” underscores unity; nothing threatens or competes.
Consider the implications:
• Agriculture flourishes without predators ravaging herds.
• Prosperity and safety meet (Psalm 85:10); no tension exists between abundance and security.
• God restores the stewardship He intended for humanity to enjoy (Isaiah 32:17-18).
and a little child will lead themThe climax is striking: “and a little child will lead them.” Human dominion, fractured by sin, is fully restored (Genesis 1:26-28). A toddler guiding lions and wolves shows that the curse’s fear and hostility are gone (Revelation 21:4). Jesus welcomed children as models of kingdom citizens (Matthew 18:3; 19:14); here, their vulnerability showcases the Messiah’s protective rule.
Highlights:
• No special strength or weapon is needed—innocence alone is sufficient.
• Leadership flows from gentle trust, reflecting Christ’s own shepherd character (John 10:11).
• The scene invites us to anticipate a world where even the weakest thrive.
summaryIsaiah 11:6 paints a literal picture of the Messiah’s future reign on earth: nature renewed, predators pacified, humanity exercising fearless stewardship, and peace saturating every relationship. What sin fractured, Christ will restore, fulfilling God’s original design and offering His people a tangible glimpse of the coming kingdom’s glory.
(6)
The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb . . .--It is significant of the prophet's sympathy with the animal world that he thinks of that also as sharing in the blessings of redemption. Rapine and cruelty even there were to him signs of an imperfect order, or the consequences of a fall, even as to St. Paul they witnessed of a "bondage of corruption" (
Romans 8:21). The very instincts of the brute creation should be changed in "the age to come," and "the lion should eat straw like the ox." Men have discussed the question whether and when the words shall receive a literal fulfilment, and the answer to that question lies behind the veil. It may be that what we call the laws of animal nature in these respects are tending to a final goal, of which the evolution that has tamed the dog, the bull, the horse, is as it were a pledge and earnest (Soph.,
Antig.,342-351). It may be, however, that each form of brute cruelty was to the prophet's mind the symbol of a human evil, and the imagery admits, therefore, of an allegorical rather than a literal interpretation. The classical student will remember the striking parallelism of the fourth Eclogue of Virgil, which, in its turn, may have been a far-off echo of Isaiah's thoughts, floating in the air or embodied in apocryphal Sibylline Oracles among the Jews of Alexandria and Rome.
Verses 6-9. - Messiah's kingdom, when fully realized, shall be one of perfect peace. "
They shall neither hurt nor destroy in
all his holy mountain." Primarily, no doubt, the passage is figurative, and points to harmony among men, who, in Messiah's kingdom, shall no longer prey one upon another (see especially ver. 9). But, from the highest spiritual standpoint, the figure itself becomes a reality, and it is seen that, if in the "new heavens and new earth" there is an animal creation, it will be fitting that there harmony should equally prevail among the inferior creation. Human sin may not have introduced rapine and violence among the beasts - at least, geologists tell us that animals preyed one upon another long before the earth was the habitation of man - but still man's influence may prevail to eradicate the beasts' natural impulses and educate them to something higher. Already domestication produces an accord and harmony that is in a certain sense against nature. May not this be carried further in the course of ages, and Isaiah's picture have a literal fulfillment? Jerome's scorn of the notion as a poetic dream has about it something harsh and untender. Will not God realize all, and more than all, of love and happiness that poets' dreams can reach to?
Verse 6. -
The wolf... the leopard... the young lion... the bear are the only ferocious animals of Palestine, where the tiger, the crocodile, the alligator, and the jaguar are unknown. That the Palestinian bear was carnivorous, and a danger to man, appears by
Lamentations 3:10;
Daniel 7:5;
Amos 5:19.
A little child shall lead them. Man's superiority over the brute creation shall continue, and even be augmented. The most powerful beasts shall submit to the control of a child.
Parallel Commentaries ...
Hebrew
The wolfזְאֵב֙(zə·’êḇ)Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 2061:A wolfwill liveוְגָ֤ר(wə·ḡār)Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 1481:To turn aside from the road, sojourn, to shrink, fear, to gather for, hostilitywithעִם־(‘im-)Preposition
Strong's 5973:With, equally withthe lamb,כֶּ֔בֶשׂ(ke·ḇeś)Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 3532:A lamband the leopardוְנָמֵ֖ר(wə·nā·mêr)Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 5246:A leopardwill lie downיִרְבָּ֑ץ(yir·bāṣ)Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 7257:To crouch, be implication, to recline, repose, brood, lurk, imbedwithעִם־(‘im-)Preposition
Strong's 5973:With, equally withthe goat;גְּדִ֣י(gə·ḏî)Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 1423:A kid (a young goat)the calfוְעֵ֨גֶל(wə·‘ê·ḡel)Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 5695:A, calf, one nearly grownand young lionוּכְפִ֤יר(ū·ḵə·p̄îr)Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 3715:A village, a young lionand fatlingוּמְרִיא֙(ū·mə·rî)Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4806:A fatling, fatlingswill be together,יַחְדָּ֔ו(yaḥ·dāw)Adverb
Strong's 3162:A unit, unitedlyand a little childוְנַ֥עַר(wə·na·‘ar)Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 5288:A boy, lad, youth, retainerwill leadנֹהֵ֥ג(nō·hêḡ)Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 5090:To drive forth, lead, carry away, to proceed, to sighthem.בָּֽם׃(bām)Preposition | third person masculine plural
Strong's Hebrew
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OT Prophets: Isaiah 11:6 The wolf will live with the lamb (Isa Isi Is) 
