Isaiah 11:4

“But with righteousness shall he judge the poor, &c.] The poor sinner, that is sensible of his spiritual poverty, and comes and acknowledges his sins and transgressions, and prays for pardoning grace and mercy, and hungers and thirsts after righteousness; such Christ justifies with his own righteousness, acquits and discharges them from all sin and condemnation, as also protects and defends them against all their enemies and oppressors: and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth; that is, shall take the part of the meek, the lowly, and the humble, who are under a sense of their sins and unworthiness, apply to him for grace, righteousness, pardon, and eternal life; and for their sakes…”

“judge--see that impartial justice is done them. "Judge" may mean here "rule," as in Psa 67:4. reprove--or, "argue"; "decide." But LOWTH, "work conviction in." earth--Compare with Mat 5:5, and Rev 11:15. earth--its ungodly inhabitants, answering to "the wicked" in the parallel, and in antithesis to the "poor" and "meek," namely, in spirit, the humble pious (Mat 5:3). It is at the same time implied that "the earth" will be extraordinarily wicked when He shall come to judge and reign. His reign shall therefore be ushered in with judgments on the apostates (Psa 2:9-12; Luk 18:8; Rev 2:27). rod of . . . mouth--condemning sentences which proceed from His mouth against the wicked (Rev 1:16; Rev…”

“Shall he judge the poor - That is, he shall see that impartial justice is done them; he shall not take part with the rich against the poor, but shall show that he is the friend of justice. This is the quality of a just and upright magistrate, and this character the Lord Jesus everywhere evinced. He chose his disciples from among the poor; he condescended to be their companion and friend; he provided for their needs; and he pronounced their condition blessed; Matthew 5:3. There may be a reference here to the poor in spirit - the humble, the penitent; but the main idea is, that he would not be influenced by any undue regard for the higher ranks of life, but would be the friend and patron of…”

“Judge - Defend and deliver them. Reprove - Or condemn their malicious enemies. Thy rod - With his word, which is his scepter, and the rod of his power, Psa 110:2, which is sharper than a sword, Heb 4:12, by the preaching whereof he subdued the world to himself, and will destroy his enemies, Th2 2:8. This he adds farther, to declare the nature of Christ's kingdom, that it is not of this world. Isaiah 11:5”

“11:4 The poor and . . . the exploited would receive the justice due to them, which the wicked leaders of Judah had previously withheld. • the force of his word: Literally the scepter of his mouth (see Ps 2:9; Rev 19:15).”

“But with: Isa 32:1; Sa2 8:15, Sa2 23:2-4; Kg1 10:8, Kg1 10:9; Psa 45:6, Psa 45:7, Psa 72:1-4, Psa 72:12-14, Psa 82:2-4; Jer 23:5, Jer 23:6, Jer 33:15; Mat 11:5; Rev 19:11 reprove: or, argue, Isa 1:17; Pro 31:8, Pro 31:9; Jer 5:28 for the meek: Isa 29:19, Isa 61:1; Zep 2:3; Mat 5:5; Co2 10:1; Gal 5:23; Tit 3:2; Jam 3:13 and he shall: Job 4:9; Psa 2:9, Psa 110:2; Mal 4:6; Th2 2:8; Rev 1:16, Rev 2:16, Rev 19:15 with the breath: Isa 30:33; Psa 18:8; Act 9:1 Isaiah 11:5”

“This is the standard according to which He will judge when saving, and judge when punishing. "And judges the poor with righteousness, and passes sentence with equity for the humble in the land; and smites the earth with the rod of His mouth, and with the breath of His lips He slays the wicked. And righteousness is the girdle of His loins, and faithfulness the girdle of His hips." The main feature in Isa 11:4 is to be seen in the objective ideas. He will do justice to the dallim, the weak and helpless, by adopting an incorruptibly righteous course towards their oppressors, and decide with straightforwardness for the humble or meek of the land: ‛ânâv, like ‛ânı̄, from ‛ânâh, to bend, the…”