Side by side
Isaiah 2
Our plain-language guide next to the Bible text. Each row lines up one section with the verses it explains.
Section 1: The Mountain of the LORDVerses 1 to 2
"In the last days the mountain of the house of the LORD will be established as the chief of the mountains" (2:2).
The house of the LORD was the temple in Jerusalem, on a hill called Mount Zion. It wasn't the tallest hill around.
But one day, Isaiah says, it will be the highest of all. "All nations will stream to it" (2:2).
This is a comparison. God's house will be the most important place in the world.
1This is the message that was revealed to Isaiah son of Amoz concerning Judah and Jerusalem: 2In the last days the mountain of the house of the LORD will be established as the chief of the mountains; it will be raised above the hills, and all nations will stream to it.
Section 2: Nations Streaming InVerse 3
People from many nations will say, "Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD" (2:3).
Why? "He will teach us His ways so that we may walk in His paths" (2:3).
Rivers usually flow down. Here, people flow up the mountain, drawn to God.
3And many peoples will come and say: “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob. He will teach us His ways so that we may walk in His paths.” For the law will go forth from Zion, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.
Section 3: Swords Into PlowsharesVerse 4
God will settle arguments between nations.
"They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks" (2:4).
A plowshare is the metal blade of a plow, used for farming. A pruning hook is a curved knife for trimming vines. Weapons will become farm tools.
"Nation will no longer take up the sword against nation, nor train anymore for war" (2:4).
4Then 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.
Section 4: Walk in the LightVerse 5
Isaiah ends with an invitation. "Come, O house of Jacob, let us walk in the light of the LORD" (2:5).
The house of Jacob means God's people. They don't have to wait for the last days. They can start walking in God's light now.
5Come, O house of Jacob, let us walk in the light of the LORD.
Between sectionsVerses 6 to 22
This part isn't covered by the guide.
6For You have abandoned Your people, the house of Jacob, because they are filled with influences from the east; they are soothsayers like the Philistines; they strike hands with the children of foreigners. 7Their land is full of silver and gold, with no limit to their treasures; their land is full of horses, with no limit to their chariots. 8Their land is full of idols; they bow down to the work of their hands, to what their fingers have made. 9So mankind is brought low, and man is humbled— do not forgive them! 10Go into the rocks and hide in the dust from the terror of the LORD and the splendor of His majesty. 11The proud look of man will be humbled, and the loftiness of men brought low; the LORD alone will be exalted in that day. 12For the Day of the LORD of Hosts will come against all the proud and lofty, against all that is exalted— it will be humbled— 13against all the cedars of Lebanon, lofty and lifted up, against all the oaks of Bashan, 14against all the tall mountains, against all the high hills, 15against every high tower, against every fortified wall, 16against every ship of Tarshish, and against every stately vessel. 17So the pride of man will be brought low, and the loftiness of men will be humbled; the LORD alone will be exalted in that day, 18and the idols will vanish completely. 19Men will flee to caves in the rocks and holes in the ground, away from the terror of the LORD and from the splendor of His majesty, when He rises to shake the earth. 20In that day men will cast away to the moles and bats their idols of silver and gold— the idols they made to worship. 21They will flee to caverns in the rocks and crevices in the cliffs, away from the terror of the LORD and from the splendor of His majesty, when He rises to shake the earth. 22Put no more trust in man, who has only the breath in his nostrils. Of what account is he?
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