(Isa. 53:2; Luke 2:40; refer in Latter-day Commentary on the New Testament, Pinegar–Bassett–Earl, 31–36)
Under the watchful eye of his Heavenly Father, he was “tender” in at least two ways–he was young, pure, innocent, and particularly vulnerable to the pain of sin all around him, and he was caring, thoughtful, sensitive, and kind—in short, tender.
(Jeffrey R. Holland, Christ and the New Covenant [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1997], 90.)
In a garden setting, plants do not normally take root and grow up in dry ground. The tender plant is symbolic of Christ; the dry ground is apostate Judaism… . If the religion of the day did not nourish Jesus, what was his source of spiritual growth and sustenance? His Father in Heaven was the source. Jesus would grow up before his Heavenly Father as a tender plant and would be nourished and strengthened by the true source of strength, not the dried-up religion of the times.
(S. Brent Farley, A Symposium on the Old Testament[Salt Lake City: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1983], 65.)
Isaiah uses two plant metaphors to portray the young mortal Jesus: “tender plant” and “root.” Jesus was like a tender plant, untouched by corruption and sin… .
Jesus came forth not in fertile land, but in “dry ground,” both temporally and spiritually… . The dry ground represents the spiritual barrenness of apostate Judaism.
(Donald W. Parry, Visualizing Isaiah [Provo, Utah: The Foundation for Ancient Research and Mormon Studies, 2001], 89.)
We have no reason to believe that Christ was unattractive physically, but this verse may suggest that he was plain—as in “plain and precious.” In any case we know that his power was an inner, spiritual gift, and that as the son of a mortal mother, he did not stand out in any distinctive physical way, leading his surprised and offended contemporaries of the day to say of him and his messianic announcement, “Is not this Joseph’s son?” He certainly did not come to them in a way that filled the people’s traditional hopes and views of a Messiah who would be striking in visage or powerful in politics.
(Jeffrey R. Holland, Christ and the New Covenant [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1997], 90–91.)
In appearance he was like men; and so it is expressed here by the prophet that he had no form or comeliness, that is, he was not so distinctive, so different from others that people would recognize him as the Son of God. He appeared as a mortal man.
(Joseph Fielding Smith, Doctrines of Salvation: Sermons and Writings of Joseph Fielding Smith, ed. Bruce R. McConkie, 3 vols. [Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1954–1956], 1:23.)
“He shall grow up … as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground”—”not like a stately tree, but like a lowly plant, struggling in arid soil. So the human life of the Messiah was one of obscurity and humility.” (Dummelow, p. 446.) Or: “Messiah grew silently and insensibly, as a sucker from an ancient stock, seemingly dead (viz., the house of David, then in a decayed state).” (Jamieson, p. 490.) Or: Perhaps better still, he grew up as a choice and favored plant whose strength and achievement did not come because of the arid social culture in which he dwelt; it was not poured into him by the erudition of Rabbinical teachers; but it came from the divine Source whence he sprang, for as the Inspired Version has it, “He spake not as other men, neither could he be taught; for he needed not that any man should teach him” (JST, Matt. 3:25).
There is no mystique, no dynamic appearance, no halo around his head, thunders do not roll and lightnings do not flash at his appearance. He is the Son of the Highest, but he walks and appears as the offspring of the lowest. He is a man among men, appearing, speaking, dressing seeming in all outward respects as they are.
(Bruce R. McConkie, The Promised Messiah [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1978], 477–78.)
This verse describes the early childhood or upbringing of Jesus. Scholars agree that this does not describe his physical appearance, but rather teaches that people would misjudge him because they were expecting their Messiah to come in a more glorious or supernatural way. His growing up would be watched over by the Father, just as a gardener cares for a tender plant. Luke records that “the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom: and the grace of God was upon him” (Luke 2:40). Jesus’ declaration to his mother when he was only twelve years of age is ample evidence that he had been nurtured and prepared by his Father in Heaven during his years in Nazareth (see Luke 2:41–49).
(Monte S. Nyman, Great Are the Words of Isaiah [Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1980], 207.)
“Is not this the carpenter’s son?” they asked. “Is not his Mother called Mary? And his brethren, James, and Joses, and Simon, and Judas? And his sisters, are they not all with us? When then hath this man all these things?” (Matt. 13:55–56.)
Even within the immediate family of Jesus there was unbelief. Mary knew his identity, for the angel had declared it unto her. And Joseph, her husband, had been similarly informed. But Mary evidently did not broadcast her knowledge; she “kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart.” (Luke 2:19.)
Her other sons, born to her by Joseph, did not believe, at least not at first. They had grown up with Jesus. He was their older brother. They had become so accustomed to him as they all grew up together that they saw nothing unusual about him, certainly nothing divine. Jesus was so much like other men that not even his own blood brothers recognized his true status.
This was revealed in the scripture telling of their visit to Jerusalem for the Passover. The brothers planned to attend and wondered if Jesus would go also. It is not indicated whether they invited him to accompany them to Jerusalem. They knew of his reported miracles, but seemed to doubt them. They knew he had been persecuted and hence had shunned the crowds in Jerusalem.
They said to him, “Depart hence, and go into Judea that thy disciples also may see the works that thou doest. For there is no man that doeth any thing in secret, and he himself seeketh to be known openly.”
Then they daringly added, “If thou do these things, shew thyself to the world.” Note that “if.” How much did they really doubt him? It seems that they even taunted him, “For neither did his brethren believe in him” (John 7:1–5).
(Mark E. Petersen, Isaiah for Today [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1981], 45–46.)
Jesus of Nazareth, though the literal son of God and thus possessor of the very powers of immortality, was to undergo the throes of mortality, including the tender and helpless years of infancy and childhood characteristic of all children. He would grow as a root in the arid and parched ground of apostate Judaism. This root-stock or “stem of Jesse” would develop in a sterile and barren religious soil, in the midst of great learning but gross spiritual darkness… .
The Son of God was not to be known or recognized by any outward beauty; rather, those with an eye of faith would know by the witness of the Spirit who it was that ministered among them.
(Robert L. Millet, A Symposium on the Book of Mormon [Salt Lake City: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1986], 99.)