Isaiah 11:6 Meaning of And a Little Child Will Lead Them

Isaiah 11:6
“The wolf will live with the lamb, the leopard will lie down with the goat, the calf and the lion and the yearling together; and a little child will lead them.”

Explanation and Commentary of Isaiah 11:6

This is a powerful prophetic vision of the peaceable Kingdom that has come in part and will fully come at the return of Christ. It harkens back to the Garden of Eden before death entered into the world and describes a time when death will have been cast into the lake of fire (Rev 20:14).

The root and shoot of Jesse will rule over the earth with righteousness and faithfulness (Isa 11:5) and as a result, “the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea” (Isa 11:9). This vision comes in a promise that God is restoring his wayward and chastened people, and will once again rescue them and bring them to himself as he once rescued them out of Egypt to be his treasured and favored people (Isa 11:16).

Under the power and influence of the Lamb of God and the absence of Satan, sin, and death, the world will be the ultimate place of rest and worship to God. Only those who have believed and persevered will dwell there with God. Only the remnant (Isa 11:11) will be called home. For us today, as we seek to live by Kingdom principles, it is good to realize that our ultimate destiny is to live in peace and rest.

Breaking Down the Key Parts of Isaiah 11:6

#1 The wolf will live with the lamb, the leopard will lie down with the goat,”
Wolves and lambs, leopards and goats are natural enemies in the fallen world. In God’s Kingdom, they will dwell in peace together. It is not completely clear what those animals which are considered carnivores will eat (though it seems from verse 7 that straw will make up part of it), but it seems that a restoration will entail a restoration of the diet of Eden, some sort of vegetarianism featuring a main course of the Tree of Life (Rev 22:2).

#2 “the calf and the lion and the yearling together;”
This verse speaks of both a lion and a lamb. Perhaps this is a clue as to how all these animals could live peaceably together. In Christ, there is the nature of the lion in his boldness (Prov 28:1) and majesty, and the gentleness and humility of the lamb. In him, they live in harmony. In Revelation 5:5 one of the elders tells John to “Weep no more; behold, the Lion of the Tribe of Judah…” and when John looked to the throne he saw “a Lamb…” The lion and the lamb will dwell together on the New Earth as they dwell together in Christ.

#3 “and a little child will lead them.”
Further evidence of the gentleness of this Kingdom is that even a child, who could play with the serpent in safety (Isa 11:8) will be able to lead these mighty animals. This not only speaks to the peace and security of this heavenly Kingdom, but the original design of man in God’s image to have dominion over every creature on earth (Gen 1:26).

Expert Overview of Isaiah 1-39

Biblical Translations of Isaiah 11:6

NIV
The wolf will live with the lamb, the leopard will lie down with the goat, the calf and the lion and the yearling together; and a little child will lead them.

NLT
In that day the wolf and the lamb will live together; the leopard will lie down with the baby goat. The calf and the yearling will be safe with the lion, and a little child will lead them all.

ESV
The wolf shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the young goat, and the calf and the lion and the fattened calf together; and a little child shall lead them.

KJV
The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them.

NKJV
The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, The leopard shall lie down with the young goat, The calf and the young lion and the fatling together; And a little child shall lead them.