Isaiah 11:6

"Righteousness will be the belt around his waist, and faithfulness the belt around his waist."

Key Reflection

In Isaiah 11:6, righteousness and faithfulness are personified as belts that secure and hold together the figure of the future righteous king. This imagery draws on ancient Near Eastern military symbolism, where a belt was crucial for both appearance and function—holding up armor while symbolizing preparedness and commitment. The original audience would have recognized the importance of these symbols in their own culture, understanding them to represent the king’s moral and ethical integrity as foundational elements of his rule, ensuring stability and justice within the kingdom.

From the Scholars: Barnes' Notes

The wolf also -In this, and the following verses, the prophet describes the effect of his reign in producing peace and tranquility on the earth. The description is highly poetical, and is one that is common in ancient writings in describing a golden age. The two leading ideas are those of “peace” and “security.” The figure is taken from the condition of animals of all descriptions living in a state of harmony, where those which are by nature defenseless, and which are usually made the prey of the strong, are suffered to live in security.

More from Isaiah 11

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