Isaiah 2

King James Version

Full text for Isaiah Chapter 2

1¶ The word that Isaiah the son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem.

2And it shall come to pass in the last days, [that] the mountain of the LORD'S house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it.

3And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, 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 the LORD from Jerusalem.

4And 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.

5O house of Jacob, come ye, and let us walk in the light of the LORD.

6¶ Therefore thou hast forsaken thy people the house of Jacob, because they be replenished from the east, and [are] soothsayers like the Philistines, and they please themselves in the children of strangers.

7Their land also is full of silver and gold, neither [is there any] end of their treasures; their land is also 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 boweth down, and the great man humbleth himself: therefore forgive them not.

10¶ Enter into the rock, and hide thee in the dust, for fear of the LORD, and for the glory of his majesty.

11The lofty looks of man shall be humbled, and the haughtiness of men shall be bowed down, and the LORD alone shall be exalted in that day.

12For the day of the LORD of hosts [shall be] upon every [one that is] proud and lofty, and upon every [one that is] lifted up; and he 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 high tower, and upon every fenced wall,

16And upon all the ships of Tarshish, and upon all pleasant pictures.

17And the loftiness of man shall be bowed down, and the haughtiness of men shall be made low: and the LORD alone shall be exalted in that day.

18And the idols he shall utterly abolish.

19And they shall go into the holes of the rocks, and into the caves of the earth, for fear of the LORD, and for the glory of his majesty, when he ariseth to shake terribly the earth.

20In that day a man shall cast his idols of silver, and his idols of gold, which they made [each one] for himself to worship, to the moles and to the bats;

21To go into the clefts of the rocks, and into the tops of the ragged rocks, for fear of the LORD, and for the glory of his majesty, when he ariseth to shake terribly the earth.

22Cease ye from man, whose breath [is] in his nostrils: for wherein is he to be accounted of?

AI Analysis

AI Summaries

Short Summary

Isaiah 2 opens with a prophetic vision of Jerusalem's future glory, where all nations will flow to the Lord's house for divine instruction, leading to universal peace. However, the chapter sharply contrasts this with Judah's present state of idolatry, foreign influences, and material wealth. It then foretells the coming "Day of the LORD," a time of profound judgment when human pride and all idols will be humbled, and the Lord alone will be exalted, causing people to hide in fear.

Medium Summary

The prophet Isaiah foresees a future age when the Lord's house in Jerusalem will be established as the supreme spiritual authority, drawing all nations to seek divine teaching and walk in His paths, with the law emanating from Zion. This era will usher in universal peace, as instruments of war are transformed into tools for agriculture, and nations learn war no more. Yet, the chapter then condemns Judah for its current spiritual decay, citing their adoption of eastern superstitions, Philistine practices, and an abundance of silver, gold, horses, and chariots. Crucially, their land is filled with idols, the work of their own hands, leading to a declaration of divine judgment. The "Day of the LORD" is prophesied as a time when all human loftiness and pride, symbolized by cedars, mountains, and towers, will be brought low. Idols will be utterly abolished, and people will seek refuge in the rocks out of terror for the Lord's majesty, who alone will be exalted. The chapter concludes with an admonition to cease from trusting in mortal man.

Long Summary

Isaiah 2 begins with a profound prophecy concerning Judah and Jerusalem, envisioning a future "last days" when the mountain of the Lord's house will be exalted above all others, becoming a spiritual beacon. Nations from across the earth will converge upon Jerusalem, eager to learn the Lord's ways and walk in His paths, for the law and the word of the Lord will emanate from Zion. This era will be marked by divine judgment among nations, leading to an unprecedented age of peace where instruments of war are repurposed for agriculture, and the knowledge of conflict ceases. The prophet then issues an urgent call to the "house of Jacob" to walk in the light of the Lord. However, the tone shifts dramatically as Isaiah condemns Judah for its current spiritual apostasy. The Lord has forsaken His people because they are "replenished from the east" and practice soothsaying like the Philistines, delighting in foreign customs. Their land is overflowing with material wealth—silver, gold, horses, and chariots—but also, critically, with idols, the products of their own hands. Both the "mean man" and the "great man" bow down to these false gods, prompting a divine declaration of no forgiveness. The chapter then vividly describes the impending "Day of the LORD of hosts," a time of terrifying judgment. This day will humble all human pride and loftiness, symbolized by the majestic cedars of Lebanon, the oaks of Bashan, high mountains, fortified towers, ships of Tarshish, and all pleasant pictures. The loftiness and haughtiness of man will be brought low, and the Lord alone will be exalted. In this day, idols will be utterly abolished, and people, overwhelmed by fear of the Lord's majesty as He arises to shake the earth, will flee into the holes of the rocks and caves. They will cast away their silver and gold idols to the moles and bats, seeking refuge from the divine wrath. The chapter concludes with a stark warning: "Cease ye from man, whose breath is in his nostrils: for wherein is he to be accounted of?" underscoring the futility of trusting in mortal beings.

Core Concepts

  • The Mountain of the LordIn the last days, the Lord's house in Jerusalem will be established as the highest spiritual authority, drawing all nations to seek divine instruction and walk in His ways.
  • Universal PeaceA future era where the Lord judges among nations, leading to the transformation of swords into plowshares and spears into pruninghooks, signifying the end of warfare.
  • Judah's Idolatry and WorldlinessJudah is condemned for adopting foreign customs, practicing soothsaying, accumulating vast material wealth, and filling their land with idols, worshipping the work of their own hands.
  • The Day of the LordA future time of divine judgment when the Lord will humble all human pride, loftiness, and haughtiness, bringing low everything that is exalted.
  • Humbling of PrideOn the Day of the Lord, the arrogance of humanity, symbolized by high cedars, mountains, and towers, will be brought low, ensuring that the Lord alone is exalted.
  • Abolition of IdolsDuring the Day of the Lord, people will cast away their silver and gold idols to the moles and bats, abandoning their false gods in terror of the Lord's majesty.
  • Cease from ManThe chapter concludes with an admonition to stop trusting in mortal man, whose life is fleeting, emphasizing the futility of relying on human strength or wisdom.