Discovery BoxIsaiah 11:2 
Context11:2 The Lord’s spirit will rest on him 1 –
a spirit that gives extraordinary wisdom, 2
a spirit that provides the ability to execute plans, 3
a spirit that produces absolute loyalty to the Lord. 4
Isaiah 38:20
Context38:20 The Lord is about to deliver me, 5
and we will celebrate with music 6
for the rest of our lives in the Lord’s temple.” 7
1 sn Like David (1 Sam 16:13), this king will be energized by the Lord’s spirit.
2 tn Heb “a spirit of wisdom and understanding.” The synonyms are joined here to emphasize the degree of wisdom he will possess. His wisdom will enable him to make just legal decisions (v. 3). A very similar phrase occurs in Eph 1:17.
3 tn Heb “a spirit of counsel [or “strategy”] and strength.” The construction is a hendiadys; the point is that he will have the strength/ability to execute the plans/strategies he devises. This ability will enable him to suppress oppressors and implement just policies (v. 4).
4 tn Heb “a spirit of knowledge and fear of the Lord.” “Knowledge” is used here in its covenantal sense and refers to a recognition of God’s authority and a willingness to submit to it. See Jer 22:16. “Fear” here refers to a healthy respect for God’s authority which produces obedience. Taken together the two terms emphasize the single quality of loyalty to the Lord. This loyalty guarantees that he will make just legal decisions and implement just policies (vv. 4-5).
5 tn The infinitive construct is used here to indicate that an action is imminent. See GKC 348-49 §114.i, and IBHS 610 §36.2.3g.
6 tn Heb “and music [or perhaps, “stringed instruments”] we will play.”
7 tn Heb “all the days of our lives in the house of the Lord.”
sn Note that vv. 21-22 have been placed between vv. 6-7, where they logically belong. See 2 Kgs 20:7-8.
