Looking at the way they switch the application back and forth, I think it must mean both.
IS ISA 11:6 (LIONS WILL EAT STRAW) LITERAL OR
FIGURATIVE?
Literal - w50 10/15 p. 399 Questions From Readers
If that outstanding carnivorous animal, the lion,
is to "eat straw like the ox", surely no others will be meat-eaters.
Figurative - w67 4/15 p. 240 par. 12 The Benefits of Mankind's Millennium
these formerly divided peoples cultivate and
display the peaceful Christian spirit toward one another, instead of
beastliness. This was prefigured in the following Messianic prophecy:
Literal -
w70 5/1 p. 267 par. 8 Keep Close in Mind "The Conclusion of the
System of Things"
Even the animals will be peaceable... In fact, the
scripture at Isaiah 11:6-9 pictures a wolf and a lamb living together
peacefully.
Both Literal and Figurative - w71 4/15 p. 245
par. 21 How "Restoration of All Things" Is Made
The
beauty of that peace and harmony, besides now fulfilling the further words of
the prophet Isaiah in a spiritual sense, will become more concrete in a literal
fulfillment of those same prophetic words, which we read in Isaiah 11:6-9:
Literal - w71 2/15 p. 106 Family Study a Blessing
teacher
called the mother, who through a friend explained the child's desire to play
with a lion in Paradise.
Figurative - Man's Salvation
book (1975) p 191/2
here these potentially
harmful animals must be used as illustrations in the prophecy
Both Literal and Figurative - w75 10/1 p. 607 par.
13 Flight to the True Kingdom Refuge
The
harmless relationship between beast and man that will then prevail will
correspond with the description of Isaiah 11:6-9, which has already found its
fulfillment in the spiritual paradise now enjoyed by Jehovah's Christian
witnesses.
Figurative - w76 2/15 p. 127 Isaiah—A Book Overflowing
with Good News!
In
Jehovah's spiritual paradise today persons who formerly had dispositions like a
wolf, a leopard, a lion or a bear have become docile.
Literal - w77 10/1 p. 592 Changing Personalities in
Kenya's Paradise
in
God's new order, it can be expected that even the most vicious of the wild
animals will be tamed, to live at peace alongside mankind
Figurative - w79 10/15 p. 9 What Blessings on Earth
During the Millennium?
Irenaeus
recognized that these words are a fitting description of how God's truth can
make personality changes in "savage men".
Both Literal and Figurative - w80 1/15 p. 14 par.
22 God's Government—Mankind's Only Hope
Even
today persons with animalistic tendencies, by applying God's Word in their
lives, are learning to live at peace with others. God's Word indicates that,
under Kingdom rule, even the animals will live in peace
Literal - w81 4/15 p. 5 Origin of the Millennial Hope
The
lamb will not dread the wolf, nor will the leopard harm the kid (xi. 8 [6]);
that is, as the following verse explains, tyranny and violence will no longer
be practised on God's holy mountain
Figurative - w83 12/15 p. 15 Do You Remember?
This
is a foretaste of how humans will live together peacefully on this earth in a
physical Paradise during the Thousand Year Reign of Christ Jesus
Both Literal and Figurative - w83 12/1 p. 31
Questions From Readers
"It
would be inconsistent for God to inspire such a prophecy as that of Isa 11:6-9,
Eze 34:25 and Hos 2:18 to have only a figurative or spiritual meaning and not
have a true copy of these things in actual life
Literal - w83 11/15 p. 30 par. 18 Abound in Hope!
why,
"even the lion will eat straw just like the bull," as no doubt it did
in Eden
Figurative - w83 10/1 p. 7 Can You Enjoy a Paradise Now?
there
is only one force in the universe that can cause people to make such drastic
changes in their disposition.
Literal - w83 10/1 pp. 4-5 Can You Enjoy a Paradise
Now?
This
would restore the Paradise conditions that existed in the garden of Eden when
animals and humans lived in that garden in perfect harmony.
Figurative - w85 1/1 p. 14 par. 20 Unified In Publishing
the Word of Jehovah
It
is illustrated at Isaiah 11:6-9, which tells of the spiritual paradise now
existing among Jehovah's restored people
Literal - w88 11/15 p. 6 The New
World—Paradise Regained!
Think of children able to play safely with animals
now so dangerous.
Figurative - w88 6/1 p. 7 Why Some Have
Changed Their Religion
People with personalities formerly as different as
sheep are from wolves are now getting along peaceably in the Christian
assembly.
Literal - w89 11/15 p. 13 par. 16 Do All
Things for the Good News
she showed me Isaiah 11:6-9 about animals living in
true peace
Figurative - w92 10/1 p. 19 par. 19
The Messiah's Presence and His Rule
the subjects of his Kingdom are learning to live
peaceably together, fulfilling Isaiah 11:6-9
Literal - w96 12/1 p. 15 par. 1 Youths Who
Remember Their Creator
Then I dream about how beautiful Paradise will be
in the future and about how I can touch the animals then.
Figurative - w96 2/15 p. 25 Spreading
Bible Truth in Portugal
Truly a case of 'the wolf residing with the lamb'!
Both literal and Figurative - w98 7/15 p. 6 What Future Do You Want for Your Children?
Try to envision the grand fulfillment of this
prophecy: "The wolf will actually reside for a while with the male lamb, and
with the kid the leopard itself will lie down, and the calf and the maned young
lion and the well-fed animal all together; and a mere little boy will be leader
over them." (Isaiah 11:6) Even today, the spiritual security described in
these words has a figurative fulfillment
Figurative - w01 9/15 p. 18 par. 11
Jehovah's Blessing Makes Us Rich
This "fruitage of the spirit" is part of "the
new personality" that Christians put on in place of any rapacious,
beastlike traits they may formerly have displayed.
Literal - w03 11/15 p. 6 You Can
Believe in a Paradise Earth
Animals will pose no danger to man.
Figurative - w03 4/1 p. 19 par. 18
Mildness—An Essential Christian Quality
The Bible likens this transformation to the change
of vicious wild beasts—wolf, leopard, lion, bear, and cobra—to peaceful
domestic animals—lamb, kid, calf, and cow.
Literal - w03 1/15 p. 6 Has Evil
Won?
Their peace will not be threatened from any
source—human or animal.
Figurative - w04 11/1 p. 7 Who Is the
Right Leader for Today?
Those men who today attack others like voracious
lions or who act like ill-tempered bears toward their neighbors will have
changed their dispositions completely.
Literal - w04 10/1 p. 6 "The
Meek Shall Inherit the Earth"—How?
They will enjoy peace even with the beasts of the
field.
Figurative - w04 5/1 p. 8 par. 1 Be
Courageous Like Jeremiah
JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES dwell in a spiritual paradise.
Literal - w07 9/1 p. 7 "Written
for Our Instruction"
What a beautiful prospect!
Figurative - w08 5/15 p. 28 Pursue "Holiness
in God's Fear"
Figuratively speaking, people who are violent and
aggressive in action and speech are compared to wild beasts.
Literal - Wt 2012 9/15 p10
So we should not be
surprised when we read in the Bible that peace will come to prevail between
humans and animals. (Read Isaiah 11:6-9; 65:25.)
