Here is another description of the future kingdom. This one is highly figurative. The imagery comes from the world of nature. It speaks of harmony among the animals, especially between those who are natural enemies: domesticated and wild animals. The scene is a metaphor for harmony between all kinds of people though it could also represent a wider vision, that of a harmonious creation. Similar ideas are expressed in 65.25. The prophet may be taking this picture deliberately from the idyllic state of creation described in Gen 1.

A problem will arise in cultures where some of these animals are unknown. An option is to present the basic thought by using indigenous animals that are natural enemies. However, any substitutes should also be animals known to be present in Israel at that time. The more common wild animals then were wild dogs, wild pigs (boars), bears, foxes, and hyenas. This approach of substitution is acceptable because the various animals referred to here are used for illustrative purposes only. Translators may also borrow terms from another language, provided they are widely understood. If no suitable animals can be found, a possible alternative is to combine some of the lines, and summarize their contents, for example, “animals that are always enemies now become friends.” However, it this is done, some of the poetic impact of the lines will be lost, so this solution must be handled with caution.

Revised Standard Version uses the definite article the with the names of the animals, for example, The wolf and the lamb. This special function of the definite article in English serves to identify a class or group. In this case it does not refer to a particular animal, one mentioned earlier. In many languages the most natural thing will be to use plural forms (see Good News Translation).

Since this verse changes the topic from the rule of justice in the new kingdom to harmony in nature, a paragraph or stanza break may be added here, as in Revised Standard Version and Good News Translation.

The wolf shall dwell with the lamb: Two natural enemies, the wolf and the lamb (Good News Translation “sheep”) will live together, which obviously implies they will live in harmony (so Good News Translation). New American Bible and Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch translate dwell as “be a guest of.” This seems a rather strained rendering.

And the leopard shall lie down with the kid is a second example of harmony. Again a wild animal lives happily with the domestic animal it usually hunts as prey. A kid is a young goat (so Good News Translation). The verb phrase lie down with binds this verse to the following one; it is a description of living together in peace.

And the calf and the lion and the fatling together: In Revised Standard Version, which follows Masoretic Text closely here, this line lacks a verb; it is counting on the overall structure of the verse to indicate that these three animals also live peacefully together. However, the Septuagint has a verb by replacing the fatling with the verb “feed.” Revised English Bible reflects this reading with “the calf and the young lion will feed together” (similarly Good News Translation, Contemporary English Version, New American Bible, Bible en français courant). Since it may be necessary in many languages to supply a verb, translators may replace the fatling with the verb “feed.” This is also the (cautious) recommendation of Hebrew Old Testament Text Project. If the fatling is kept, translators should know that it refers to a young animal, fattened for eating. The Hebrew word for lion is rendered “young lions” in 5.29. Good News Translation renders it “lion cubs” here, which is appropriate in the context of calves.

And a little child shall lead them: In many rural communities young children take care of the domestic animals. Here the prophet describes the harmony in nature in those terms. A young child will herd all animals, including those known to be wild and dangerous. The verb lead describes the way one person guides others. Verbs such as “take care of” and “herd” convey the sense equally well. The pronoun them could refer to all the animals referred to in the verse, but it could also refer only to those mentioned in the previous line.

For the translation of this verse we may say:

• Wolves will live in harmony with lambs, and leopards will sleep with goats; calves, lions, and fat [or, well-fed] animals will be together, and young children will care for them all.

• Wolves and lambs will live happily together, leopards and goats will sleep together; calves and young lions will share food together, with young children taking care of them.

Quoted with permission from Ogden, Graham S. and Sterk, Jan. A Handbook on Isaiah. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2011. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .