Isaiah 11:9
They will not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain; for the earth will be full of the knowledge of Yahweh, as the waters cover the sea.
Chapter
Notes and References
Note from Colin Ayres:
From verse 6-9 we see the beauty of the green of Eden returning in Isaiah's prophecy. "6 The wolf will live with the lamb.." In Eden animals as together with humans are designed to eat plants Genesis 1:30. The 19th century view that nature is nothing but 'red in tooth and claw' is overcome here - that is not how the souls of God's creation were designed and it is not how they will be on the Holy Mountain. Love and Godliness is about not hurting and not destroying.
Note from Colin Ayres 2026:
The verse Isaiah 11:9 epitomises what God wants - He wants no harm or destruction. This may be exactly what Jesus is talking about when he commands us to firstly honour the Lord our God and secondly to love our neighbour Matthew 22:37-40
From verse 6-9 we see the beauty of the green of Eden returning in Isaiah's prophecy. "6 The wolf will live with the lamb.." In Eden animals as together with humans are designed to eat plants Genesis 1:30. The 19th century view that nature is nothing but 'red in tooth and claw' is overcome here - that is not how the souls of God's creation were designed and it is not how they will be on the Holy Mountain. Love and Godliness is about not hurting and not destroying.
Note from Colin Ayres 2026:
The verse Isaiah 11:9 epitomises what God wants - He wants no harm or destruction. This may be exactly what Jesus is talking about when he commands us to firstly honour the Lord our God and secondly to love our neighbour Matthew 22:37-40