Thomas Aquinas Commentary Isaiah 11:1

"And there shall come forth a shoot out of the stock of Jesse, and a branch out of his roots shall bear fruit." — Isaiah 11:1 (ASV)

1. And there shall come forth a rod out of the root. After the destruction of their adversary has been described, the restoration of the people—who had been divided into the two tribes and the ten tribes—is promised. This is divided into two parts.

   In the first part, the Restorer is described; in the second, the restoration is promised: and it shall come to pass in that day (Isaiah 11:11).

   Now, this chapter is interpreted in three ways.

   • Jerome and all our saints interpret it as concerning the restoration made through Christ and about Christ himself, understanding it figuratively.
   • Some teachers interpret it as concerning Hezekiah or Josiah, also taking the passage figuratively.
   • The Jews interpret it as concerning their Messiah, whom they await, wishing to understand all of it literally.

   But this last interpretation is foolish and fanciful, the second is strained, but the first is simply true. Therefore, following this first interpretation, we will touch on the others indirectly.

   The first part is therefore divided into three sections:

   • First, Christ the Restorer is described regarding his birth.
   • Second, regarding his holiness: and the spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him (Isaiah 11:2).
   • Third, regarding his dignity: in that day the root of Jesse (Isaiah 11:10).

2. Concerning the first point, the prophet touches on two things.

   First is the origin of his mother from the royal line: and there shall come forth a rod—a rod to which no other branches clung—out of the root of Jesse. This literally means from the lineage of Jesse, who was the father of David. As it is written, a star shall rise out of Jacob and a rodDR: “sceptre.” shall spring up from Israel (Numbers 24:17).

   Second is the origin of the Son from the virgin mother: and a flower—that is, Christ, who says, I am the flower of the field, and the lily of the valleys (Song of Solomon 2:1)—shall rise up. For he that comes from heaven is above all (John 3:31). Hence, Isaiah says later, behold the Lord will ascend upon a swift cloud, and will enter into Egypt, and the idols of Egypt shall be moved (Isaiah 19:1).

3. Out of the root of Jesse. As Jeremiah says, I will raise up to David a just branch: and a king shall reign, and shall be wise: and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth (Jeremiah 23:5). Where one might expect the text to say, out of the rod, it says, out of the root, in order to exclude two heresies.

   The first heresy claimed that Christ did not have true flesh. The second claimed that Christ had true flesh, but that it was not passed down from Adam and his ancestors. Instead, it was either created by God in the Blessed Virgin or it came from our first parents separately like a kind of light, never infected by the contagion of original sin. This heresy is completely excluded by the text, which says the flower rises from the root, meaning Christ comes from the Virgin's human ancestry.

   The Jews say that the flower and the rod both refer to the Messiah. They say he is called a rod because of his power and his punishment of the wicked, and a flower because of his integrity and his comfort to the good. Jerome says that what is written in Matthew 2:23—he shall be called a Nazarene, which means "flowery"—is taken from this verse. Those who interpret this chapter as being about Josiah and Hezekiah explain this similarly. They say that Josiah and Hezekiah are described as descending from Jesse, rather than from their more immediate ancestors, because the promise of a confirmed kingdom was made to David and his sons.

4. It should be noted, concerning the words and there shall come forth a rod, that the Virgin is called a rodVirga. for several reasons:

   1. Consoling in tribulations: but lift you up your rod, and stretch forth your hand over the sea, and divide it: that the children of Israel may go through the midst of the sea on dry ground (Exodus 14:16).
   2. Bearing fruit: Moses found that the rod of Aaron for the house of Levi, was budded: and that the buds swelling it hid bloomed blossoms (Numbers 17:8).
   3. Satisfying: and when Moses had lifted up the rod, striking the rock twice,Cumque levasset Moyses virgam percutiens bis silicem. Vg: cumque elevasset Moyses manum, percutiens virga bis silicem. DR: “and when Moses lifted up his hand, and struck the rock twice with the rod.” there came forth water in great abundance, so that the people and their cattle drank (Numbers 20:11).
   4. Scourging: a star shall rise out of Jacob and a rodDR: “sceptre.” shall spring up from Israel: and shall strike the chiefs of Moab (Numbers 24:17).
   5. Watching: I see a rod watching (Jeremiah 1:11).

5. Note, concerning the words and a flower out of his root, that Christ is called a flower for several reasons:

   1. Because of the purity of Mary: behold you are fair, O my love (Song of Solomon 1:14); behold you are fair, my beloved (Song of Solomon 1:15); and later in the same book: I am the flower of the field, and the lily of the valleys (Song of Solomon 2:1).
   2. Because of the ease of injury by the wind: he shall be blasted as a vine when its grapes are in the first flower (Job 15:33).
   3. Because of sweetness of smell: send forth flowers, as the lily, and yield a smell .
   4. Because of the loveliness of his beauty: and as the rainbow giving light in bright clouds, and as the flower of roses in the days of the spring .
   5. Because of the certainty of fruit: as the vine I have brought forth a pleasant odor: and my flowers are the fruit of honor and riches .