Isaiah 11:8

Old Testament Major Prophet ASV (1901)

What does Isaiah 11:8 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “And the sucking child shall play on the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the adder`s den.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

And the sucking child shall play on the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the adder`s den.
Isaiah 11:8 — American Standard Version

Context — Isaiah 11

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
8And the sucking child shall play on the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the adder`s den.

What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“And the sucking child shall play on the hole of the asp, &c.] Without fear or danger: and the weaned child shall put his hand on the cockatrice’s den; and suffer no damage: the meaning is explained in the next words, and to be understood of regenerate persons, both of new born babes, or just born, and all such who are weaned from their own righteousness, and live by faith on Christ, who shall not be hurt by the poison of false teachers, nor by the force of violent persecutors, now no more,”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“play--literally, "delight" himself in sport. cockatrice--a fabulous serpent supposed to be hatched from the egg of a cock. The Hebrew means a kind of adder, more venomous than the asp; BOCHART supposes the basilisk to be meant, which was thought to poison even with its breath.”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“And the sucking child - An emblem here of harmlessness and innocence. The change in the world, under the Messiah, shall be as great as if a sucking infant should be able to play unharmed with a venomous serpent. Shall play - Shall delight himself (שׁעשׁע shı̂‛ăsha‛) as children usually engage in their sports; compare Proverbs 8:30-31; Psalms 119:24. On the hole of the asp - Over, or around the cavern, hole, or place of retreat of the asp. He shall play over that place as safely as if the nature of the asp was changed, and it had become innocuous. The Hebrew word rendered here “asp” (פתן pethen) denotes the serpent usually called the asp, whose poison is of such rapid operation that it kills…”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“cockatrice': or, adder's, Isa 59:5; Psa 140:3 Isaiah 11:9”
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Related study paths

Sources and verification