Isaiah Chapter 2

Old Testament Major Prophet 22 Verses

What is Isaiah 2 about?

The great OT evangelist — judgment on Israel and the nations, the four Servant Songs, and the vision of the glorious new creation. The complete chapter text below provides the immediate literary context for study.

Text — American Standard Version (1901)

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. For original Hebrew/Greek interlinear text, open in BibleWord.ai.
1The word that Isaiah the son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem.
2And it shall come to pass in the latter days, that the mountain of Jehovah`s house shall be established on the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it.
3And many peoples shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of Jehovah, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of Jehovah from Jerusalem.
4And 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.
5O house of Jacob, come ye, and let us walk in the light of Jehovah.
6For thou hast forsaken thy people the house of Jacob, because they are filled [with customs] from the east, and [are] soothsayers like the Philistines, and they strike hands with the children of foreigners.
7And their land is full of silver and gold, neither is there any end of their treasures; their land also is full of horses, neither is there any end of their chariots.
8Their land also is full of idols; they worship the work of their own hands, that which their own fingers have made.
9And the mean man is bowed down, and the great man is brought low: therefore forgive them not.
10Enter into the rock, and hide thee in the dust, from before the terror of Jehovah, and from the glory of his majesty.
11The lofty looks of man shall be brought low, and the haughtiness of men shall be bowed down, and Jehovah alone shall be exalted in that day.
12For there shall be a day of Jehovah of hosts upon all that is proud and haughty, and upon all that is lifted up; and it shall be brought low;
13and upon all the cedars of Lebanon, that are high and lifted up, and upon all the oaks of Bashan,
14and upon all the high mountains, and upon all the hills that are lifted up,
15and upon every lofty tower, and upon every fortified wall,
16and upon all the ships of Tarshish, and upon all pleasant imagery.
17And the loftiness of man shall be bowed down, and the haughtiness of men shall be brought low; and Jehovah alone shall be exalted in that day.
18And the idols shall utterly pass away.
19And men shall go into the caves of the rocks, and into the holes of the earth, from before the terror of Jehovah, and from the glory of his majesty, when he ariseth to shake mightily the earth.
20In that day men shall cast away their idols of silver, and their idols of gold, which have been made for them to worship, to the moles and to the bats;
21to go into the caverns of the rocks, and into the clefts of the ragged rocks, from before the terror of Jehovah, and from the glory of his majesty, when he ariseth to shake mightily the earth.
22Cease ye from man, whose breath is in his nostrils; for wherein is he to be accounted of?

What do historical commentaries say about this chapter?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · on verse 1
“The word that Isaiah the son of Amoz saw, &c.] That is, the vision which he saw, for a new one here begins, though agreeable to what goes before; or the prophecy of future things, which he had given to him in a visionary way. The Targum paraphrases it, “the word of prophecy, which Isaiah, the son of Amoz, prophesied:” or the thing, the “decree”, as some choose to render it, the purpose of God concerning things to come, which was revealed to the prophet, and he here declares: concerning Judah and Jerusalem; the church and people of God, and what should befall them and their enemies in the latter day: this…”
Read attributed excerpt →
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · on verse 1
“(Isa. 2:1-22) The inscription. The word--the revelation.”
Read attributed excerpt →
Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · on verse 1
“The word - This indicates that this is the commencement of a new prophecy. It has no immediate connection with the preceding. It was delivered doubtless at a different time, and with reference to a different class of events. In the previous chapter the term “vision” is used Isaiah 2:1, but the meaning is substantially the same. The term “word” דבר dâbâr, denotes a “command, a promise, a doctrine, an oracle, a revelation, a message, a thing,” etc. It means here, that Isaiah foresaw certain “future events” or “things” that would happen in regard to Judah and Jerusalem. Judah ... - see the notes at Isaiah 1:1.…”
Read attributed excerpt →
Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · on verse 1
“The word - Or, the matter or thing, as this Hebrew word commonly signifies; the prophecy or vision. Isaiah 2:2”
Read attributed excerpt →
Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · on verse 1
“2:1 vision (literally word): This heading (see 1:1) likely introduces the revelation of chs 2–12. The main focus of this section is on Judah, but a handful of passages expand that focus to include the nations in general (2:2-4), humanity at large (2:6-22), Syria and the northern kingdom of Israel (chs 7–9), and the Assyrians (ch 10).”
Read attributed excerpt →
Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · on verse 1
“saw: Isa 1:1, Isa 13:1; Amo 1:1; Mic 1:1, Mic 6:9; Hab 1:1 Isaiah 2:2”
Read attributed excerpt →
Keil & Delitzsch
C. F. Keil & F. Delitzsch · Commentary on the Old Testament · on verse 1
“The limits of this address are very obvious. The end of Isa 4:1-6 connects itself with the beginning of chapter 2, so as to form a circle. After various alternations of admonition, reproach, and threatening, the prophet reaches at last the object of the promise with which he started. Chapter 5, on the other hand, commences afresh with a parable. It forms an independent address, although it is included, along with the previous chapters, under the heading in Isa 2:1 : "The word which Isaiah the son of Amoz saw over Judah and Jerusalem." Chapters 2-5 may have existed under this heading before the whole collection…”
Read attributed excerpt →

Related study paths

Sources and verification