Jamieson, Fausset & Brown

As Messianic prophecy extended over many years in which many political changes took place in harmony with these, it displayed its riches by a variety more effective than if it had been manifested all at once. As the moral condition of the Jews required in each instance, so Messiah was exhibited in a corresponding phase, thus becoming more and more the soul of the nation's life: so that He is represented as the antitypical Israel (Isa 49:3). unto David--HENGSTENBERG observes that Isaiah dwells more on His prophetical and priestly office, which had already been partly set forth (Deu 18:18; Psa 110:4). Other prophets dwell more on His kingly office. Therefore here He is associated with "David" the king: but in Isa 11:1 with the then poor and unknown "Jesse." righteous Branch--"the Branch of righteousness" (Jer 33:15); "The Branch" simply (Zac 3:8; Zac 6:12); "The Branch of the Lord" (Isa 4:2). prosper--the very term applied to Messiah's undertaking (Isa 52:13, Margin; Isa 53:10). Righteousness or justice is the characteristic of Messiah elsewhere, too, in connection with our salvation or justification (Isa 53:11; Dan 9:24; Zac 9:9). So in the New Testament He is not merely "righteous" Himself, but "righteousness to us" (Co1 1:30), so that we become "the righteousness of God in Him" (Rom 10:3-4; Co2 5:19-21; Phi 3:9). execute judgment and justice in the earth-- (Psa 72:2; Isa 9:7; Isa 32:1, Isa 32:18). Not merely a spiritual reign in the sense in which He is "our righteousness," but a righteous reign "in the earth" (Jer 3:17-18). In some passages He is said to come to judge, in others to reign. In Mat 25:34, He is called "the King." Psa 9:7 unites them. Compare Dan 7:22, Dan 7:26-27.