John Calvin Commentary Isaiah 65:25

"The wolf and the lamb shall feed together, and the lion shall eat straw like the ox; and dust shall be the serpent`s food. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain, saith Jehovah." — Isaiah 65:25 (ASV)

The wolf and the lamb shall feed together. He means that everything will be fully restored when Christ will reign. And here it appears as if there is an implied comparison between Adam and Christ. We know that all the afflictions of the present life flowed from the sin of the first man; for at that time we were deprived of the dominion and sovereignty which God had given to humanity (Genesis 1:28) over animals of every kind. All of these at first undoubtedly bowed cheerfully to human dominion and were obedient to human will; but now most of them rise up against humanity, and even readily wage mutual war against each other.

Thus, when wolves, bears, lions, and other savage animals of that kind are harmful to humans and to other animals from which we derive some benefit, and when even animals that ought to have been useful to humans are hostile to them, this ought to be imputed to humanity's sin, because humanity's disobedience overthrew the order of things.

But since it is the office of Christ to bring back everything to its proper condition and order, that is the reason why He declares that the confusion or ruin that now exists in human affairs will be removed by the coming of Christ; because at that time, once corruptions have been taken away, the world will return to its original state.

And the lion shall eat straw like the ox. "The lion" will eat harmlessly and will no longer seek its prey. The serpent, satisfied with its dust, will wrap itself in it and will no longer hurt by its envenomed bite. In a word, all that is disordered or confused will be restored to its proper order.

Yet beyond all controversy the Prophet speaks allegorically of bloodthirsty and violent people, whose cruel and savage nature will be subdued when they submit to the yoke of Christ. But first, we must carefully consider that confusion which came upon all the creatures in consequence of the fall of humanity; for if this were not taken into account, it would be impossible for us to have sufficiently accurate and correct views of this blessing of restoration.

At the same time, we must remember what we said in expounding a similar allegory in the eleventh chapter. Here we are taught what the nature of people is before the Lord converts them and receives them into his fold; for they are cruel and untamed beasts and only begin to refrain from doing any injury when the Lord subdues their wicked inclination and their furious desire to do harm.

In all my holy mountain. This is added because, when rubbish and filth have been removed, the Lord will gather to himself a Church without spot. By the word "all" he means cleansing. Yet we ought not to think it strange that so many are still ferocious; for there are few who are the true inhabitants of God’s mountain, few who are upright and faithful, even among those who profess to be Christians. Since the old man still reigns and is vigorous in them, contentions and wars must also exist and prevail among them.

CHAPTER 66.