Isaiah 2:4 Then 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.

◄ Isaiah 2:4 ►

New International Version
He will judge between the nations and will settle disputes for many peoples. They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore.

New Living Translation
The LORD will mediate between nations and will settle international disputes. They will hammer their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will no longer fight against nation, nor train for war anymore.

English Standard Version
He shall judge between the nations, and shall decide disputes for 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 anymore.

Berean Standard Bible
Then 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.

King James Bible
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.

New King James Version
He shall judge between the nations, And rebuke many people; 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 anymore.

New American Standard Bible
And He will judge between the nations, And will mediate for many peoples; And they will beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning knives. Nation will not lift up a sword against nation, And never again will they learn war.

NASB 1995
And He will judge between the nations, And will render decisions for many peoples; And they will hammer their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not lift up sword against nation, And never again will they learn war.

NASB 1977
And He will judge between the nations, And will render decisions for many peoples; And they will hammer their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not lift up sword against nation, And never again will they learn war.

Legacy Standard Bible
And He will judge between the nations, And will render decisions for many peoples; And they will hammer their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not lift up sword against nation, And never again will they learn war.

Amplified Bible
And He will judge between the nations, And will mediate [disputes] for many peoples; And they will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not lift up the sword against nation, And never again will they learn war.

Christian Standard Bible
He will settle disputes among the nations and provide arbitration for many peoples. They will beat their swords into plows and their spears into pruning knives. Nation will not take up the sword against nation, and they will never again train for war.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
He will settle disputes among the nations and provide arbitration for many peoples. They will turn their swords into plows and their spears into pruning knives. Nations will not take up the sword against other nations, and they will never again train for war.

American Standard Version
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.

Contemporary English Version
He will settle arguments between nations. They will pound their swords and their spears into rakes and shovels; they will never make war or attack one another.

English Revised Version
And he shall judge between the nations, and shall reprove many peoples: 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.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Then he will judge disputes between nations and settle arguments between many people. They will hammer their swords into plowblades and their spears into pruning shears. Nations will never fight against each other, and they will never train for war again.

Good News Translation
He will settle disputes among great nations. They will hammer their swords into plows and their spears into pruning knives. Nations will never again go to war, never prepare for battle again.

International Standard Version
He will judge between the nations, and will render verdicts for the benefit of many. "They will beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nations will not raise swords against nations, and they will not learn warfare anymore.

Majority Standard Bible
Then 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.

NET Bible
He will judge disputes between nations; he will settle cases for many peoples. They will beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks. Nations will not take up the sword against other nations, and they will no longer train for war.

New Heart English Bible
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.

Webster's Bible Translation
And he will judge among the nations, and will rebuke many people: and they shall beat their swords into plow-shares, and their spears into pruning-hooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.

World English Bible
He will judge between the nations, and will decide concerning many peoples. 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.

Literal Translations

Literal Standard Version
And He has judged between the nations, "" And has given a decision to many peoples, "" And they have beat their swords to plowshares, "" And their spears to pruning-hooks, "" Nation does not lift up sword to nation, "" Nor do they learn anymore—war.

Young's Literal Translation
And He hath judged between the nations, And hath given a decision to many peoples, And they have beat their swords to ploughshares, And their spears to pruning-hooks, Nation doth not lift up sword unto nation, Nor do they learn any more -- war.

Smith's Literal Translation
And he judged between the nations, and he will decide for many peoples: and they shall beat down their swords to plough-shares and their spears to pruning-hooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, and they shall no more learn war.

Catholic Translations

Douay-Rheims Bible
And he shall judge the Gentiles, and rebuke many people: and they shall turn their swords into ploughshares, and their spears into sickles: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they be exercised any more to war.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And he will judge the nations, and he will rebuke many peoples. And they shall forge their swords into plowshares, and their spears into sickles. Nation will not lift up sword against nation, neither will they continue to train for battle.

New American Bible
He shall judge between the nations, and set terms for many peoples. They shall beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks; One nation shall not raise the sword against another, nor shall they train for war again.

New Revised Standard Version
He shall judge between the nations, and shall arbitrate for many peoples; 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.

Translations from Aramaic

Lamsa Bible
And he shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many peoples who are far off; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into sickles: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And he shall judge among the nations and he shall rebuke the many nations who are distant, and they shall beat their swords to the blades of a plow, and their spears to sickles, and nation shall not take up the sword against nation, and they shall learn war no more

OT Translations

JPS Tanakh 1917
And He shall judge between the nations, And shall decide for many peoples; 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.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And he shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people: and they shall beat their swords into plow-shares, and their spears into sickles: and nation shall not take up sword against nation, neither shall they learn to war any more.

Additional Translations ...

Audio Bible

Context

The Mountain of the House of the LORD
…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. 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.

Berean Standard Bible · Download

Cross References

Micah 4:3
Then 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 up the sword against nation, nor will they train anymore for war.

Joel 3:10
Beat your plowshares into swords and your pruning hooks into spears. Let the weak say, ‘I am strong!’

Psalm 72:7
May the righteous flourish in his days and prosperity abound until the moon is no more.

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 bow and sword and battle in the land, and will make them lie down in safety.

Zechariah 9:10
And I will cut off the chariot from Ephraim and the horse from Jerusalem, and the bow of war will be broken. Then He will proclaim peace to the nations. His dominion will extend from sea to sea, and from the Euphrates to the ends of the earth.

Matthew 5:9
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.

Luke 2:14
“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom His favor rests!”

Romans 14:17
For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit.

Ephesians 2:14-17
For He Himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has torn down the dividing wall of hostility / by abolishing in His flesh the law of commandments and decrees. He did this to create in Himself one new man out of the two, thus making peace / and reconciling both of them to God in one body through the cross, by which He put to death their hostility. ...

James 3:18
Peacemakers who sow in peace reap the fruit of righteousness.

Revelation 21:4
‘He will wipe away every tear from their eyes,’ and there will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the former things have passed away.”

Psalm 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.

Jeremiah 31:34
No longer will each man teach his neighbor or his brother, saying, ‘Know the LORD,’ because they will all know Me, from the least of them to the greatest, declares the LORD. For I will forgive their iniquities and will remember their sins no more.”

Ezekiel 37:26
And I will make a covenant of peace with them; it will be an everlasting covenant. I will establish them and multiply them, and I will set My sanctuary among them forever.

Zephaniah 3:9
For then I will restore pure lips to the peoples, that all may call upon the name of the LORD and serve Him shoulder to shoulder.

Treasury of Scripture

And he shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people: 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.

and he

Isaiah 11:3,4
And shall make him of quick understanding in the fear of the LORD: and he shall not judge after the sight of his eyes, neither reprove after the hearing of his ears: …

1 Samuel 2:10
The adversaries of the LORD shall be broken to pieces; out of heaven shall he thunder upon them: the LORD shall judge the ends of the earth; and he shall give strength unto his king, and exalt the horn of his anointed.

Psalm 82:8
Arise, O God, judge the earth: for thou shalt inherit all nations.

and they

Isaiah 9:7
Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.

Isaiah 11:6-9
The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them…

Psalm 46:9
He maketh wars to cease unto the end of the earth; he breaketh the bow, and cutteth the spear in sunder; he burneth the chariot in the fire.

pruning-hooks.

Isaiah 60:17,18
For brass I will bring gold, and for iron I will bring silver, and for wood brass, and for stones iron: I will also make thy officers peace, and thine exactors righteousness…

Psalm 72:3-7
The mountains shall bring peace to the people, and the little hills, by righteousness…

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Isaiah 2

1. Isaiah prophesies the coming of Christ's kingdom
6. Wickedness is the cause of God's forsaking
10. He exhorts to fear, because of the powerful effects of God's majesty

Berean Study Bible

He will judge between the nations
This phrase highlights God's role as the ultimate arbiter and judge over all nations. The Hebrew word for "judge" is "שָׁפַט" (shaphat), which implies not only legal judgment but also governance and leadership. In the historical context of Isaiah, this reflects a time when Israel was surrounded by warring nations, and the promise of divine judgment offered hope for peace and justice. From a conservative Christian perspective, this points to the sovereignty of God and His ultimate authority over human affairs, emphasizing that true justice and peace come from Him alone.

and will settle disputes for many peoples
The phrase "settle disputes" comes from the Hebrew "תוֹכֵחָה" (tokhechah), which means to reprove or correct. This suggests a divine intervention that goes beyond mere judgment to include reconciliation and restoration. Historically, this would have been a radical promise in a world where disputes often led to prolonged conflict. For Christians, this foreshadows the peace brought by Christ, who reconciles humanity to God and to one another, fulfilling the prophecy of peace among nations.

They will beat their swords into plowshares
This imagery is powerful and transformative, symbolizing a shift from war to peace. The sword, a weapon of war, being turned into a plowshare, an agricultural tool, signifies a complete change in purpose and function. The Hebrew word for "beat" is "כָּתַת" (katat), meaning to crush or break down, indicating a thorough transformation. This transformation is a prophetic vision of the Messianic age, where peace will prevail. For Christians, it is a call to live out the peace of Christ in a world still marred by conflict.

and their spears into pruning hooks
Similar to the previous phrase, this transformation from spear to pruning hook represents a move from destruction to cultivation. The Hebrew "חֲנִית" (chanit) for spear and "מַזְמֵרָה" (mazmerah) for pruning hook further emphasize the change from instruments of death to tools of life. This reflects God's desire for His people to be fruitful and multiply, living in harmony with one another and the earth. It is a vision of the Kingdom of God, where life is nurtured rather than destroyed.

Nation will no longer take up the sword against nation
This phrase promises an end to international conflict. The Hebrew "גּוֹי" (goy) for nation and "לֹא־יִשָּׂא" (lo-yisa) for will not take up, indicate a cessation of hostilities. Historically, this was a profound promise for a people often caught in the crossfire of empires. For Christians, it is a reminder of the peace that Christ brings, breaking down the dividing walls of hostility between peoples, as described in Ephesians 2:14.

nor will they train anymore for war
The cessation of military training signifies a complete and lasting peace. The Hebrew "לָמַד" (lamad) for train implies learning or teaching, suggesting that the knowledge of war will be replaced by the knowledge of God. This is a prophetic vision of the end times, where God's peace reigns supreme. For believers, it is an encouragement to pursue peace and to trust in God's ultimate plan for a world without war, as they await the return of Christ, the Prince of Peace.

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(4) He shall judge among the nations.--For "rebuke" read decide or arbitrate. The ideal Divine King is to be all, and more than all, that Solomon had been (1Kings 10:24). In reliance on His wisdom and equity, nations would refer their disputes to His decision instead of the arbitrament of war. Here again we have a partial fulfilment, it may be hoped, a "springing and germinant accomplishment," in the history of Christendom. So far as the teaching of Christ has influenced international polity and law, He has been the supreme arbitrator of their disputes.

And they shall beat their swords into plowshares.--The words invert the picture of an earlier prophet, who spoke of a time of war (Joel 3:10). Isaiah must have known that prediction, and yet he proclaims (following Hosea 2:18) that peace, not war, is the ideal goal towards which the order of the Divine government is tending. (Comp. Zechariah 9:10; Luke 2:14.) . . .

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 4. - He shall judge among the nations. This is clearly not yet fulfilled. How God shall ultimately "judge among the nations," or rather "between nation and nation," is a mystery which only the future can reveal. It has been supposed that "by his providential retributions he will decide those international questions out of which war ordinarily springs" (Kay). But it would seem to be at least as likely that he will bring the nations to such a pitch of wisdom and moderation, that they will voluntarily discard war, and agree to decide any disputes that arise by means of arbiters. The arbiter would then, like other judges, represent God, and "by him decree justice" (Proverbs 8:15). Shall rebuke. Rosenmüller translates, "Arbiter pacts sit;" Cheyne, "shall arbitrate." Here again, as in ver. 3, "people" should be "peoples." They shall beat, etc. On a sudden call to war, nations "beat their ploughshares into swords, and their pruning-hooks into spears" (Joel 3:10). They will do the reverse "in the latter days," when God shall have "made wars to cease" (Psalm 46:9) and "speak peace unto the nations" (Zechariah 9:10).

Parallel Commentaries ...

Hebrew

Then He will judge
וְשָׁפַט֙ (wə·šā·p̄aṭ)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 8199: To judge, pronounce sentence, to vindicate, punish, to govern, to litigate

between
בֵּ֣ין (bên)
Preposition
Strong's 996: An interval, space between

the nations
הַגּוֹיִ֔ם (hag·gō·w·yim)
Article | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 1471: A foreign nation, a Gentile, a troop of animals, a flight of locusts

and arbitrate
וְהוֹכִ֖יחַ (wə·hō·w·ḵî·aḥ)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 3198: To be right, reciprocal, to argue, to decide, justify, convict

for many
רַבִּ֑ים (rab·bîm)
Adjective - masculine plural
Strong's 7227: Much, many, great

peoples.
לְעַמִּ֣ים (lə·‘am·mîm)
Preposition-l | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 5971: A people, a tribe, troops, attendants, a flock

They will beat
וְכִתְּת֨וּ (wə·ḵit·tə·ṯū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Conjunctive perfect - third person common plural
Strong's 3807: To bruise, violently strike

their swords
חַרְבוֹתָ֜ם (ḥar·ḇō·w·ṯām)
Noun - feminine plural construct | third person masculine plural
Strong's 2719: Drought, a cutting instrument, as a, knife, sword

into plowshares
לְאִתִּ֗ים (lə·’it·tîm)
Preposition-l | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 855: A hoe, other digging implement

and their spears
וַחֲנִיתֽוֹתֵיהֶם֙ (wa·ḥă·nî·ṯō·w·ṯê·hem)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine plural construct | third person masculine plural
Strong's 2595: A lance

into pruning hooks.
לְמַזְמֵר֔וֹת (lə·maz·mê·rō·wṯ)
Preposition-l | Noun - feminine plural
Strong's 4211: A pruning knife

Nation
ג֤וֹי (ḡō·w)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 1471: A foreign nation, a Gentile, a troop of animals, a flight of locusts

will no longer
לֹא־ (lō-)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

take up
יִשָּׂ֨א (yiś·śā)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 5375: To lift, carry, take

the sword
חֶ֔רֶב (ḥe·reḇ)
Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 2719: Drought, a cutting instrument, as a, knife, sword

against
אֶל־ (’el-)
Preposition
Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to

nation,
גּוֹי֙ (gō·w)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 1471: A foreign nation, a Gentile, a troop of animals, a flight of locusts

nor
וְלֹא־ (wə·lō-)
Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

train
יִלְמְד֥וּ (yil·mə·ḏū)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 3925: To exercise in, learn

anymore
ע֖וֹד (‘ō·wḏ)
Adverb
Strong's 5750: Iteration, continuance, again, repeatedly, still, more

for war.
מִלְחָמָֽה׃ (mil·ḥā·māh)
Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 4421: A battle, war

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OT Prophets: Isaiah 2:4 He will judge between the nations (Isa Isi Is)