Discovery BoxIsaiah 11:9-12 
Context11:9 They will no longer injure or destroy
on my entire royal mountain. 1
For there will be universal submission to the Lord’s sovereignty,
just as the waters completely cover the sea. 2
11:10 At that time 3 a root from Jesse 4 will stand like a signal flag for the nations. Nations will look to him for guidance, 5 and his residence will be majestic. 11:11 At that time 6 the sovereign master 7 will again lift his hand 8 to reclaim 9 the remnant of his people 10 from Assyria, Egypt, Pathros, 11 Cush, 12 Elam, Shinar, 13 Hamath, and the seacoasts. 14
11:12 He will lift a signal flag for the nations;
he will gather Israel’s dispersed people 15
and assemble Judah’s scattered people
from the four corners of the earth.
1 tn Heb “in all my holy mountain.” In the most basic sense the Lord’s “holy mountain” is the mountain from which he rules over his kingdom (see Ezek 28:14, 16). More specifically it probably refers to Mount Zion/Jerusalem or to the entire land of Israel (see Pss 2:6; 15:1; 43:3; Isa 56:7; 57:13; Ezek 20:40; Ob 16; Zeph 3:11). If the Lord’s universal kingdom is in view in this context (see the note on “earth” at v. 4), then the phrase would probably be metonymic here, standing for God’s worldwide dominion (see the next line).
2 tn Heb “for the earth will be full of knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea.” The translation assumes that a universal kingdom is depicted here, but אֶרֶץ (’erets) could be translated “land” (see the note at v. 4). “Knowledge of the Lord” refers here to a recognition of the Lord’s sovereignty which results in a willingness to submit to his authority. See the note at v. 2.
3 tn Or “in that day” (KJV). The verb that introduces this verse serves as a discourse particle and is untranslated; see note on “in the future” in 2:2.
5 tn Heb “ a root from Jesse, which stands for a signal flag of the nations, of him nations will inquire” [or “seek”].
6 tn Or “in that day” (KJV). The verb that introduces this verse serves as a discourse particle and is untranslated; see note on “in the future” in 2:2.
7 tn The Hebrew term translated “sovereign master” here is אֲדֹנָי (’adonai).
8 tc The Hebrew text reads, “the sovereign master will again, a second time, his hand.” The auxiliary verb יוֹסִיף (yosif), which literally means “add,” needs a main verb to complete it. Consequently many emend שֵׁנִית (shenit, “a second time”) to an infinitive. Some propose the form שַׁנֹּת (shannot, a Piel infinitive construct from שָׁנָה, shanah) and relate it semantically to an Arabic cognate meaning “to be high.” If the Hebrew text is retained a verb must be supplied. “Second time” would allude back to the events of the Exodus (see vv. 15-16).
9 tn Or “acquire”; KJV, ASV, NASB, NRSV “recover.”
10 tn Heb “the remnant of his people who remain.”
11 sn Perhaps a reference to Upper (i.e., southern) Egypt (so NIV, NLT; NCV “South Egypt”).
12 tn Or “Ethiopia” (NAB, NRSV, NLT).
13 tn Or “Babylonia” (NIV, NCV, TEV, NLT).
14 tn Or perhaps, “the islands of the sea.”
15 tn Or “the banished of Israel,” i.e., the exiles.
