Isaiah 11:7: Harmony in God's kingdom?
How does Isaiah 11:7 illustrate harmony in God's future kingdom?

The Prophetic Scene in Isaiah 11:7

“The cow will graze with the bear, their young will lie down together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox.”


What the Animal Imagery Tells Us

• Natural predators and prey share food and rest side by side—an unmistakable picture of complete peace.

• Even the offspring (“their young”) experience safety, showing that peace is not fragile or temporary but generational.

• Carnivores shift to a plant-based diet, signaling a reversal of the violence introduced after the Fall (Genesis 9:3).


Harmony Restored: Key Themes

• Physical creation renewed—no more fear, bloodshed, or danger (Romans 8:19-21).

• Social harmony—if animals coexist peacefully, how much more will redeemed humanity dwell in unity (Isaiah 2:4; Micah 4:3-4).

• Holistic peace (shalom)—well-being that permeates every level of life, spiritual and material (Psalm 85:10-13).

• Sovereign rule of Messiah—this peace flows from the righteous reign described in Isaiah 11:1-5.


Connections to Other Prophecies

Isaiah 65:25: “The wolf and the lamb will feed together… They will neither harm nor destroy on all My holy mountain.”

Ezekiel 34:25: A “covenant of peace” that removes “wild beasts from the land.”

Hosea 2:18: God makes “a covenant… with the beasts of the field.”

Revelation 21:4: The removal of “mourning or crying or pain” extends harmony to all creation.


Living in Anticipation Today

• Confidence—God will literally fulfill every word; what He promises for nature assures His promises to us (2 Corinthians 1:20).

• Worship—marvel at the Creator who redeems not only souls but the entire cosmos (Colossians 1:20).

• Witness—model peace and reconciliation now as a preview of the coming kingdom (Matthew 5:9).

What is the meaning of Isaiah 11:7?
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