Isaiah 11

[Christian2]

Isiah 11:

11 Then a shoot will grow from the stump of Jesse,
and a branch from his roots will bear fruit.
2 The Spirit of the Lord will rest on Him—
a Spirit of wisdom and understanding,
a Spirit of counsel and strength,
a Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord.

I know the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, of counsel and strength, and knowledge and fear of the Lord are gifts from the Holy Spirit.

My question is why does the text repeat "a Spirit" since it gives the impression that they are separate spirits?

Thank you.

[B. W.]

Isiah 11:

11 Then a shoot will grow from the stump of Jesse,
and a branch from his roots will bear fruit.
2 The Spirit of the Lord will rest on Him—
a Spirit of wisdom and understanding,
a Spirit of counsel and strength,
a Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord.

I know the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, of counsel and strength, and knowledge and fear of the Lord are gifts from the Holy Spirit.

My question is why does the text repeat "a Spirit" since it gives the impression that they are separate spirits?

Thank you.

First off, it is due to translating from Hebrew into English one can get the impression of individual spirits, but that is not the case. The text is basically expressing the procession work of the Holy Spirit upon the True Messiah which the context indicates. This is brought out in the Commentary quotes below:

The Pulpit Commentary

Isaiah 11:2

The Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him (comp, Mat 3:16; Luke 2:40; Luke 4:1, Luke 4:14, Luke 4:18; John 3:34, etc.). The human nature of our Lord required, and received abundantly, the sanctifying and enlightening influences of the Holy Spirit. These influences were not in him transient or occasional, as in too many men, who more or less "resist the Spirit," but permanent and enduring. They "rested upon" him; from first to last never quitted, and never will quit, him. The spirit of wisdom and understanding. The influences of the Holy Spirit are manifold, affecting the entire complex nature of man (see 1 Co 12:8-11). Here, three pairs of graces are set forth as specially manifested in the Messiah through the power of the Spirit:

(1) "Wisdom and understanding," or intellectual and moral apprehension (εὐσυνεσία) the ability to perceive moral and abstract truth;

(2) "counsel and might," or the power at once to scheme and originate, and also to carry out thought into act;

(3) "The knowledge and the fear of the Lord," or acquaintance with the true will of God, combined with the determination to carry out that will to the full (John 4:34; Luke 22:42; Heb 10:7). It is needless to say that all these qualities existed in the greatest perfection in our blessed Lord.

The Jamieson Fausset and Brown Commentary explains it like this:

Jamieson Fausset and Brown Commentary

Isaiah 11:2

Spirit of the Lord — Jehovah. The Spirit by which the prophets spake: for Messiah was to be a Prophet (Isa 61:1; Deut 18:15, Deut 18:18). Seven gifts of the Holy Spirit are specified, to imply that the perfection of them was to be in Him. Compare “the seven Spirits” (Rev 1:4), that is, the Holy Ghost in His perfect fullness: seven being the sacred number. The prophets had only a portion out of the “fullness” in the Son of God (John 1:16; John 3:34; Col 1:19).

rest — permanently; not merely come upon Him (Num 11:25, Num 11:26).

wisdom — (1Co 1:30; Eph 1:17; Col 2:3).

understanding — coupled with “wisdom,” being its fruit. Discernment and discrimination (Mat 22:18; John 2:25).

counsel ... might — the faculty of forming counsels, and that of executing them (Isa 28:29). Counsellor (Isa 9:6).

knowledge — of the deep things of God (Mat 11:27). The knowledge of Him gives us true knowledge (Eph 1:17).

fear of the Lord — reverential, obedient fear. The first step towards true “knowledge” (Job 28:28; Psalms 111:10).

There is more but that would take a bit more time to go into as it deals with the subject of procession - how the Holy Spirit proceeds from the Father and how this also is related to the seven spirits of God mentioned in the book of Revelation. I could go into that, if you like but for now the above provides enough to show that the seven spirits are not different individual spirits but rather what makes God - God in his oneness. Think of that within God's one essence as containing living intelligent - wisdom, understanding, counsel, might, knowledge, reverence,and the unity mentioned in John 17.

Think of each theses aspects of the Divine Trinity as three living procession of these in distinct differing actions concerning the workings of wisdom, understanding, counsel, might, knowledge, reverence, within the unity of God's one essence, which represents completion, perfection, wholeness, entirety. The number 7 represents completion, perfection, wholeness, entirety. There are 7 mentioned in the text. Well that is enough to make the head spin for a bit... so good night or day to ya...
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[Christian2]

Isiah 11:

11 Then a shoot will grow from the stump of Jesse,
and a branch from his roots will bear fruit.
2 The Spirit of the Lord will rest on Him—
a Spirit of wisdom and understanding,
a Spirit of counsel and strength,
a Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord.

I know the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, of counsel and strength, and knowledge and fear of the Lord are gifts from the Holy Spirit.

My question is why does the text repeat "a Spirit" since it gives the impression that they are separate spirits?

Thank you.

First off, it is due to translating from Hebrew into English one can get the impression of individual spirits, but that is not the case. The text is basically expressing the procession work of the Holy Spirit upon the True Messiah which the context indicates. This is brought out in the Commentary quotes below:

The Pulpit Commentary

Isaiah 11:2

The Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him (comp, Mat 3:16; Luke 2:40; Luke 4:1, Luke 4:14, Luke 4:18; John 3:34, etc.). The human nature of our Lord required, and received abundantly, the sanctifying and enlightening influences of the Holy Spirit. These influences were not in him transient or occasional, as in too many men, who more or less "resist the Spirit," but permanent and enduring. They "rested upon" him; from first to last never quitted, and never will quit, him. The spirit of wisdom and understanding. The influences of the Holy Spirit are manifold, affecting the entire complex nature of man (see 1 Co 12:8-11). Here, three pairs of graces are set forth as specially manifested in the Messiah through the power of the Spirit:

(1) "Wisdom and understanding," or intellectual and moral apprehension (εὐσυνεσία) the ability to perceive moral and abstract truth;

(2) "counsel and might," or the power at once to scheme and originate, and also to carry out thought into act;

(3) "The knowledge and the fear of the Lord," or acquaintance with the true will of God, combined with the determination to carry out that will to the full (John 4:34; Luke 22:42; Heb 10:7). It is needless to say that all these qualities existed in the greatest perfection in our blessed Lord.

The Jamieson Fausset and Brown Commentary explains it like this:

Jamieson Fausset and Brown Commentary

Isaiah 11:2

Spirit of the Lord — Jehovah. The Spirit by which the prophets spake: for Messiah was to be a Prophet (Isa 61:1; Deut 18:15, Deut 18:18). Seven gifts of the Holy Spirit are specified, to imply that the perfection of them was to be in Him. Compare “the seven Spirits” (Rev 1:4), that is, the Holy Ghost in His perfect fullness: seven being the sacred number. The prophets had only a portion out of the “fullness” in the Son of God (John 1:16; John 3:34; Col 1:19).

rest — permanently; not merely come upon Him (Num 11:25, Num 11:26).

wisdom — (1Co 1:30; Eph 1:17; Col 2:3).

understanding — coupled with “wisdom,” being its fruit. Discernment and discrimination (Mat 22:18; John 2:25).

counsel ... might — the faculty of forming counsels, and that of executing them (Isa 28:29). Counsellor (Isa 9:6).

knowledge — of the deep things of God (Mat 11:27). The knowledge of Him gives us true knowledge (Eph 1:17).

fear of the Lord — reverential, obedient fear. The first step towards true “knowledge” (Job 28:28; Psalms 111:10).

There is more but that would take a bit more time to go into as it deals with the subject of procession - how the Holy Spirit proceeds from the Father and how this also is related to the seven spirits of God mentioned in the book of Revelation. I could go into that, if you like but for now the above provides enough to show that the seven spirits are not different individual spirits but rather what makes God - God in his oneness. Think of that within God's one essence as containing living intelligent - wisdom, understanding, counsel, might, knowledge, reverence,and the unity mentioned in John 17.

Think of each theses aspects of the Divine Trinity as three living procession of these in distinct differing actions concerning the workings of wisdom, understanding, counsel, might, knowledge, reverence, within the unity of God's one essence, which represents completion, perfection, wholeness, entirety. The number 7 represents completion, perfection, wholeness, entirety. There are 7 mentioned in the text. Well that is enough to make the head spin for a bit... so good night or day to ya...
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-
-

Thank you.

[Christian2]

B.W.

Have you seen this?

http://www.messiahrevealed.org/

It's a handy tool.

[Mallz]

B.W.

Great website, thanks! Why haven't you showed that one before??