They will neither harm nor destroy on all My holy mountainThis phrase envisions a future time of peace and safety, often interpreted as the Messianic age. The "holy mountain" refers to Zion, a symbol of God's presence and the center of His kingdom. In biblical context, mountains often represent places of divine revelation and covenant (
Exodus 19:20). The absence of harm or destruction suggests a reversal of the curse of sin, echoing the peace of Eden before the fall (
Genesis 1:31). This imagery aligns with prophecies of a new creation where harmony prevails (
Isaiah 65:25). The phrase also anticipates the reign of the Messiah, who brings peace and justice (
Isaiah 9:6-7).
for the earth will be full of the knowledge of the LORD
This part of the verse highlights a universal recognition and understanding of God. The "knowledge of the LORD" implies not just awareness but an intimate relationship with God, as seen in the Hebrew concept of "yada" (to know). This knowledge transforms societies, leading to righteousness and peace (Jeremiah 31:34). Historically, Israel was chosen to be a light to the nations, spreading this knowledge (Isaiah 42:6). The fulfillment of this prophecy is seen in the Great Commission, where the gospel is spread to all nations (Matthew 28:19-20).
as the sea is full of water
The comparison to the sea emphasizes the vastness and completeness of this knowledge. Just as water covers the sea entirely, so will the knowledge of God permeate the earth. This imagery suggests abundance and saturation, leaving no place untouched by God's truth. It reflects the promise of a future where God's glory is universally acknowledged (Habakkuk 2:14). The sea, often a symbol of chaos in ancient Near Eastern culture, here becomes a metaphor for the overwhelming presence of divine knowledge, indicating a transformation from chaos to order under God's reign.
Persons / Places / Events
1.
IsaiahA major prophet in the Old Testament, Isaiah is the author of the book that bears his name. He prophesied during the reigns of several kings of Judah and is known for his messages of both judgment and hope.
2.
Holy MountainThis term often refers to Zion or Jerusalem, symbolizing God's presence and His kingdom. It represents a place of divine rule and peace.
3.
The EarthIn this context, it signifies the entire world, which will be transformed by the knowledge of the LORD.
4.
The LORDRefers to Yahweh, the covenant God of Israel, whose knowledge will fill the earth.
5.
The SeaUsed metaphorically to describe the vastness and depth of the knowledge of the LORD that will cover the earth.
Teaching Points
The Promise of PeaceIsaiah 11:9 assures us of a future where harm and destruction are absent. This peace is a result of God's kingdom being fully realized on earth.
The Knowledge of the LORDThe verse emphasizes the transformative power of knowing God. As believers, we are called to grow in our understanding of Him and share this knowledge with others.
God's SovereigntyThe imagery of the earth being filled with God's knowledge as the sea is full of water highlights His ultimate control and plan for creation.
Living in AnticipationWhile this prophecy points to a future fulfillment, we are encouraged to live in a way that reflects God's peace and knowledge now.
Evangelism and DiscipleshipThe spread of the knowledge of the LORD is a call to evangelism and discipleship, ensuring that more people come to know Him.
Bible Study Questions and Answers
1.What is the meaning of Isaiah 11:9?
2.How does Isaiah 11:9 inspire us to promote peace in our communities?
3.What does "knowledge of the LORD" mean in Isaiah 11:9?
4.How can we help "the earth be filled" with God's knowledge today?
5.Connect Isaiah 11:9 with Jesus' teachings on peace and righteousness.
6.How does Isaiah 11:9 encourage us to live out our faith daily?
7.How does Isaiah 11:9 reflect the prophecy of peace in the Messianic age?
8.What is the significance of "the earth will be full of the knowledge of the LORD"?
9.How does Isaiah 11:9 relate to the concept of God's kingdom on earth?
10.What are the top 10 Lessons from Isaiah 11?
11.How can Isaiah 11:9’s promise of a world filled with the knowledge of God be reconciled with the widespread existence of diverse religions and beliefs throughout history?
12.How do these prophecies in Isaiah 11 compare with other biblical texts that seem to describe different scenarios for the Messiah and end times?
13.What is God's Holy Mountain?
14.Will Jesus return to Earth?What Does Isaiah 11:9 Mean
They will neither harm nor destroy• This promise looks forward to a time when violence, oppression, and even predatory instincts are removed (Isaiah 11:6-8).
• God pledges a complete end to all forms of danger—physical, emotional, social, or spiritual.
• Echoes of this peace appear inIsaiah 2:4 andMicah 4:3, where swords become plowshares and nations stop warring.
•Hosea 2:18 pictures a covenant where “the bow and sword and battle I will abolish from the land, so that all may lie down in safety.”
on all My holy mountain• “My holy mountain” points to Zion, the place of God’s dwelling and reign (Psalm 2:6;Isaiah 56:7).
• The phrase widens to include the whole messianic kingdom, not merely a hill in Jerusalem (Hebrews 12:22;Revelation 21:10).
• The perfection of peace originates where God’s presence is fullest; from there it radiates outward until no corner of His realm is left untouched.
for the earth will be full• The word “for” explains the cause of universal peace: something will fill the earth so completely that harm becomes impossible.
• God’s redemptive plan always aimed at global reach (Numbers 14:21;Psalm 72:19); here, that plan reaches its climax.
of the knowledge of the LORD• This “knowledge” is relational and experiential—knowing God personally, not merely knowing about Him (Jeremiah 31:34;John 17:3).
• When every heart bows to the true King, sin’s roots wither; hatred, violence, and loss simply have no soil in which to grow (Isaiah 33:6).
• The Spirit-empowered reign of the Messiah (Isaiah 11:2-5) guarantees that this knowledge is accurate, wholehearted, and universal.
as the sea is full of water• The sea is inseparable from water; remove water and the sea ceases to exist. In the same way, the future earth cannot be imagined apart from God’s revealed glory (Habakkuk 2:14).
• The picture is one of depth and abundance—no shallow pools, no empty places. Every sphere of life will be saturated with God’s truth, love, and righteousness.
summaryIsaiah 11:9 paints the culmination of God’s redemptive story: a world in which His presence pervades every heart and corner, ending violence and fear altogether. Because the Messiah reigns from Zion, the whole earth overflows with an intimate, transforming knowledge of the Lord, as naturally and completely as the sea is filled with water.
(9)
They shall not hurt nor destroy . . .--The pronoun may possibly refer to the evil beasts, the lion, the bear, the leopard, of the previous verses. The prophet, on this view, sees in his vision, as it were, a restored Eden, a paradise life, in which the fiercest brutes have lost their fierceness. The words admit, however, of being taken as a generalised statement: "None shall hurt nor destroy
. . ." The "holy mountain "is none other than the "mountain of the Lord's house" of
Isaiah 2:2 in its future apocalyptic glory (
Ezekiel 40:2;
Zechariah 14:10), but may, perhaps, include the whole of the hill-country of Israel, as in
Isaiah 57:13;
Psalm 78:54;
Exodus 15:17. . . .
Verse 9. -
My holy mountain. As the Jewish Church is always bound up with the "holy hill of Zion," so the Messianic one receives the designation of "the mountain of the Lord" (
Isaiah 2:3;
Isaiah 30:29;
Micah 4:2), or "the holy mountain" (
Zechariah 8:3). What was physically true of the type is transferred to the antitype, which is "a city set upon a hill" in a certain sense.
The earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord (romp.
Habakkuk 2:14;
Joel 2:28;
Matthew 28:29). A fruitful knowledge, guiding and influencing conduct, seems to be intended (see below,
Isaiah 54:13, "All thy children shall be taught of the Lord, and great shall be the peace of thy children").
As the waters cover the sea;
i.e. "as the ocean covers and fills the bed prepared for it."
Parallel Commentaries ...
Hebrew
They will neitherלֹֽא־(lō-)Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808:Not, noharmיָרֵ֥עוּ(yā·rê·‘ū)Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 7489:To spoil, to make, good for, nothing, badnorוְלֹֽא־(wə·lō-)Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808:Not, nodestroyיַשְׁחִ֖יתוּ(yaš·ḥî·ṯū)Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 7843:Perhaps to go to ruinon allבְּכָל־(bə·ḵāl)Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3605:The whole, all, any, everyMy holyקָדְשִׁ֑י(qāḏ·šî)Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singular
Strong's 6944:A sacred place, thing, sanctitymountain,הַ֣ר(har)Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 2022:Mountain, hill, hill countryforכִּֽי־(kî-)Conjunction
Strong's 3588:A relative conjunctionthe earthהָאָ֗רֶץ(hā·’ā·reṣ)Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 776:Earth, landwill be fullמָלְאָ֣ה(mā·lə·’āh)Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person feminine singular
Strong's 4390:To fill, be full ofof the knowledgeדֵּעָה֙(dê·‘āh)Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 1844:Knowledgeof the LORDיְהוָ֔ה(Yah·weh)Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3069:YHWHas the seaלַיָּ֥ם(lay·yām)Preposition-l, Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 3220:A sea, the Mediterranean Sea, large river, an artifical basinis fullמְכַסִּֽים׃(mə·ḵas·sîm)Verb - Piel - Participle - masculine plural
Strong's 3680:To plump, fill up hollows, to coverof water.כַּמַּ֖יִם(kam·ma·yim)Preposition-k, Article | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 4325:Water, juice, urine, semen
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OT Prophets: Isaiah 11:9 They will not hurt nor destroy (Isa Isi Is) 
