Isaiah 2:4
in Isaiah 2Then He will judge between the nations and arbitrate for many peoples. They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will no longer take up the sword against nation, nor train anymore for war.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
And he will judge between the nations, and will decide concerning many peoples; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning-hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.
KJV
And he shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people: and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.
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This verse in Isaiah 2
Commentary
15 notes on this verseA commentator
Athanasius of Alexandria296–373
On the Incarnation of the Word 52:1 · Written before 373.
Who is the one who has done this, or who is the one who has joined together in peace people who once hated one another, except for the beloved Son of the Father, the Savior of all, even Jesus Christ, who because of his own love suffered all things for our salvation? For from ages past the peace he would initiate was promised.
This site's exposition
the mountain of the Lord’s house shall be established in the top of the mountains
on Isaiah 2:2-4
The mountain pictures Zion raised in status rather than in elevation, exalted above the hills by what happens there rather than by any change in geography, and the nations who come do so to be taught, he will teach us of his ways. Out of Zion shall go forth the law names Jerusalem as the source of instruction for the nations, not merely their destination. The oracle's most famous line, they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks, stands nearly word for word at Micah 4:3, verified, two prophets of the same generation carrying one shared oracle rather than one borrowing loosely from the other.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers4 voices
Long ago did Isaiah declare that "out of Zion should go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem," some other law, that is, and another word. In short, he says, "He shall judge among the nations and shall rebuke many people," meaning not those of the Jewish people only, but also of the nations which are judged by the new law of the gospel and the new word of the apostles, and are among themselves rebuked of their old error as soon as they have believed. And as the result of this, "They beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears (which are a kind of hunting instrument) into pruning hooks." That is to say, minds that once were fierce and cruel are changed by the gospel and the word of the apostles into good dispositions productive of good fruit.
The gospel will be this "way" of the new law and the new word in Christ, no longer in Moses. "And he shall judge among the nations," even concerning their error. "And these shall rebuke a large nation," that of the Jews themselves and their proselytes. "And they shall beat their swords into plowshares"; in other words, they shall change into pursuits of moderation and peace the dispositions of injurious minds, hostile tongues and all kinds of evil and blasphemy.… You learn here that Christ is promised not as powerful in war but pursuing peace.
(Verse 4.) And they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks. All the eagerness for war will be turned to peace, and instead of discord there will be harmony throughout the world. Swords will be transformed into plowshares, and spears into pruning hooks, so that, having set aside the frenzy of warfare, they may serve agriculture, and with fruitful sickles they may reap abundant harvests. This can also be understood spiritually, when every hardness of our hearts is broken by the plowshare of Christ, and the thorns of vices are uprooted, so that the seed of God's word may grow into fruits: and afterwards we shall enjoy the fruits of our labors, when those who sow in tears shall come in joy, carrying their sheaves (Psalm 126:6). 34 The nations will not lift sword against nation, nor will they learn war anymore. Let us revisit the ancient histories, and we will find that until the twenty-eighth year of the reign of Caesar Augustus (in whose forty-first year Christ was born in Judaea), there was discord throughout the whole world, and each nation rose up against its neighboring peoples with a desire for battle, so that they would strike and be struck. But when the Lord and Savior arose, at the time when a census was first taken of the whole world under the governorship of Syria by Quirinius, and peace was prepared for the Evangelical doctrine by the Roman Empire, all wars ceased, and they were no longer exercised in battles through towns and villages, but were instead devoted to the cultivation of the land, with the duty of fighting against barbarian nations being entrusted solely to Roman soldiers and legions. This was when that song of the angels was fulfilled: Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to people of good will (Luke 2:14); and in his days justice and a multitude of peace arose.
A commentator
John ChrysostomDEMONSTRATION AGAINST THE PAGANS 6:6 · Written in the 5th century.
proposed
Not only would the church be firm, steadfast and indestructible, but it would also gain great peace for the world. Governments and monarchies will be destroyed; there will be but one kingdom put together for all people, and, unlike in times past, its greater part will be at peace. For, in the past, all craftsmen and men in public life were trained in warfare and took their place among the ranks. After the coming of Christ, all that was done away with, and wars were confined to widely separated areas.
The Medieval Church1 voice
Here he promises peace to the converted. And concerning this, he does three things: first, he sets out that which brings about peace; second, the sign of peace: "and they shall turn their swords into ploughshares"; third, the fruit of peace: "nation shall not lift …
8 more voices on this verse
The Medieval Church1 voice
A commentator
BonaventureCollations on the Hexaemeron, Collation 15 · Written in the 13th century.
proposed
Another distinction is in relation to duality. The Old Testament comprises two times: before the Law, and under the Law. In the New Testament, likewise, there are two corresponding times: the time of the calling of the Gentiles that corresponds to the first, and the …
The Puritans and the Awakening5 voices
And he shall judge among the nations,.... Or, "it shall judge"; either the mountain of the Lord's house, as Abarbinel thinks, that is, the church; for in the spiritual reign of Christ, in the latter day, the judgment shall be given to the saints of the most High, and they shall possess the kingdom; the power of civil government will be in their hands, and they shall judge the world; for kings will then be nursing fathers to them, and queens nursing mothers.
This does not make all war absolutely unlawful among Christians, nor is it a prophecy that in the days of the Messiah there shall be no wars. The Jews urge this against the Christians as an argument that Jesus is not the Messiah, because this promise is not fulfilled.
And it was by this gospel, which took rise from Jerusalem, that the gospel church was established on the top of the mountains. This was the rod of divine strength, that was sent forth out of Zion, Ps. cx. The erecting of the kingdom of the Redeemer in the world: He shall judge among the nations.
By his Spirit working on men's consciences he shall judge, and rebuke shall try men and check them; his kingdom is spiritual, and not of this world. The great peace which should be the effect of the success of the gospel in the world (
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — unbalanced-parens
He - Christ shall set up his authority among all nations, not only giving laws to them, but doing what no other can do, convincing their consciences, changing their hearts, and ordering their lives. Rebuke - By his word and Spirit, convincing the world of sin; and by his judgments upon his implacable enemies, which obstruct the propagation of the gospel.
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
Neither shall they learn war any more - If wars are necessary, how deep must that fall be that renders them so! But what a reproach to humanity is the trade of war! Men are regularly instructed in it, as in any of the necessary arts. “How to dislodge most souls from their frail shrines By bomb, sword, ball, and bayonet, is the art Which some call great and glorious!” And is this a necessary part of a finished education in civilized society? O Earth! Earth! Earth!
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
And he shall judge - Or he shall exercise the office of a judge, or umpire. This “literally” refers to the God of Jacob Isa 2:3, though it is clear that the meaning is, that he will do it by the Messiah, or under his reign. One office of a judge is to decide controversies; to put an end to litigations, and thus to promote peace. The connection shows that this is the meaning here. Nations that are contending shall be brought to peace by the influence of the reign of the Messiah, and shall beat their swords into plowshares. In other words, the influence of the reign of the Messiah shall put a period to wars, and reduce contending nations to peace. And shall rebuke - Shall “reprove” them for their contentions and strifes. Lowth: ‘Shall work conviction in many peoples.’ Noyes: ‘He shall be a judge of the nations, And an umpire of many kingdoms.’ He shall show them the evil of war; and by reproving them for those wicked passions which cause wars, shall promote universal peace. This the gospel everywhere does; and the tendency of it, if obeyed, would be to produce universal peace. In accordance with predictions like these, the Messiah is called the Prince of Peace Isa 9:6; and it is said that of his peace there shall be no end; Isa 9:7. And they shall beat ... - They shall change the arts of war to those of peace; or they shall abandon the pursuits of war for the mild and useful arts of husbandry; compare Psa 46:9; Hos 2:20. A similar prophecy is found in Zec 9:10. The following extracts may serve to illustrate this passage: ‘The Syrian plow, which was probably used in all the regions around, is a very simple frame, and commonly so light, that a man of moderate strength might carry it in one hand. Volney states that in Syria it is often nothing else than the branch of a tree, cut below a bifurcation, and used without wheels. […]
The words behind it
21 Hebrew wordsEvery Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Hebrew | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| וְשָׁפַט֙ | veshafat | and he will judge | H8199 → | 202 times |
| בֵּ֣ין | bein | between | H996 → | 407 times |
| הַגּוֹיִ֔ם | hagoyim | the nations | H1471 → | 561 times |
| וְהוֹכִ֖יחַ | vehokhiach | and he will decide | H3198 → | 59 times |
| לְעַמִּ֣ים | leamim | for peoples | H5971 → | 1873 times |
| רַבִּ֑ים | rabim | many | H7227 → | 454 times |
| וְכִתְּת֨וּ | vekhitetu | and they will beat | H3807 → | 17 times |
| חַרְבוֹתָ֜ם | charvotam | swords their | H2719 → | 413 times |
| לְאִתִּ֗ים | leitim | <into> plowshares | H855 → | |
| וַחֲנִיתֽוֹתֵיהֶם֙ | vachanitoteihem | and spears their | H2595 → | |
| לְמַזְמֵר֔וֹת | lemazmerot | <into> pruning knives | H4211 → | |
| לֹא־ | lo'- | not | H3808 → | 5168 times |
| יִשָּׂ֨א | yisa' | it will lift up | H5375 → | 656 times |
| ג֤וֹי | goy | nation | H1471 → | 561 times |
| אֶל־ | ʾel- | against | H413 → | 5510 times |
| גּוֹי֙ | goy | nation | H1471 → | 561 times |
| חֶ֔רֶב | cherev | sword | H2719 → | 413 times |
| וְלֹא־ | velo'- | and not | H3808 → | 5168 times |
| יִלְמְד֥וּ | yilmedu | they will learn | H3925 → | 85 times |
| ע֖וֹד | od | again | H5750 → | 490 times |
| מִלְחָמָֽה׃ פ | milchamah | warfare | H4421 → | 320 times |
וְשָׁפַט֙and he will judge
veshafatH8199 →202 times
בֵּ֣יןbetween
beinH996 →407 times
הַגּוֹיִ֔םthe nations
hagoyimH1471 →561 times
וְהוֹכִ֖יחַand he will decide
vehokhiachH3198 →59 times
לְעַמִּ֣יםfor peoples
leamimH5971 →1873 times
רַבִּ֑יםmany
rabimH7227 →454 times
וְכִתְּת֨וּand they will beat
vekhitetuH3807 →17 times
חַרְבוֹתָ֜םswords their
charvotamH2719 →413 times
לְאִתִּ֗ים<into> plowshares
leitimH855 →
וַחֲנִיתֽוֹתֵיהֶם֙and spears their
vachanitoteihemH2595 →
לְמַזְמֵר֔וֹת<into> pruning knives
lemazmerotH4211 →
לֹא־not
lo'-H3808 →5168 times
יִשָּׂ֨אit will lift up
yisa'H5375 →656 times
ג֤וֹיnation
goyH1471 →561 times
אֶל־against
ʾel-H413 →5510 times
גּוֹי֙nation
goyH1471 →561 times
חֶ֔רֶבsword
cherevH2719 →413 times
וְלֹא־and not
velo'-H3808 →5168 times
יִלְמְד֥וּthey will learn
yilmeduH3925 →85 times
ע֖וֹדagain
odH5750 →490 times
מִלְחָמָֽה׃ פwarfare
milchamahH4421 →320 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Hosea 2:18On that day I will make a covenant for them with the beasts of the field and the birds of the air and the creatures that crawl on the ground. And I will abolish…
it leads to
- Ezekiel 34:25
I will make with them a covenant of peace and rid the land of wild animals, so that they may dwell securely in the wilderness and sleep in the forest.
- Ezekiel 39:9–10
Then those who dwell in the cities of Israel will go out, kindle fires, and burn up the weapons—the bucklers and shields, the bows and arrows, the clubs and spears. For seven years they…
- Isaiah 11:6–9
The wolf will live with the lamb, and the leopard will lie down with the goat; the calf and young lion and fatling will be together, and a little child will lead them.
- Psalms 46:9
He makes wars to cease throughout the earth; He breaks the bow and shatters the spear; He burns the shields in the fire.
- Isaiah 65:25
The wolf and the lamb will feed together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox, but the food of the serpent will be dust. They will neither harm nor destroy on all…
- Ezekiel 34:25
Through
Micah 4:3Then He will judge between many peoples and arbitrate for strong nations far and wide. Then they will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will no longer take…
it leads to
- Hosea 2:18
On that day I will make a covenant for them with the beasts of the field and the birds of the air and the creatures that crawl on the ground. And I will abolish…
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Joel 3:9–16
Proclaim this among the nations: “Prepare for war; rouse the mighty men; let all the men of war advance and attack!
- Matthew 25:31–32
When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, He will sit on His glorious throne.
- Hosea 2:18
Where this verse is studied
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About Isaiah
This page draws on 14 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Athanasius of Alexandria, On the Incarnation of the Word 52:1; Bonaventure, Collations on the Hexaemeron, Collation 15; Franz Delitzsch, Biblical Commentary on the Prophecies of Isaiah; George Adam Smith, The Book of Isaiah, Expositor's Bible; Jerome, Commentary on Isaiah; John Chrysostom, DEMONSTRATION AGAINST THE PAGANS 6:6; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the Old Testament; Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Tertullian, AGAINST MARCION 4.1; Tertullian, AGAINST MARCION 3.21 and Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on Isaiah.