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Isaiah 2

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Tanakh · chapter reading guide

Isaiah Chapter 2

Isaiah Chapter 2 presents 22 verses in a searchable Hebrew text unit. This original reading guide identifies observable themes and a practical path through the chapter without adding an unverified interpretation.

Rashi's commentary

Verse 2
after the rebels perish.
Fixed
On a mountain that is the head of all the mountains in the importance of the mountains.
The miracle performed on it, will be greater than the miracles of Sinai, Carmel, and Tabor....
will gather and stream to it like rivers.
Verse 3
Since he [Jacob] called it [the Temple site] Beth El [the house of God], therefore, it will be called on his name, but Abraham called it a mount, “On God’s mount shall He appear” (Gen. 22:14); Isaac called it a field, “to meditate in the field” (ibid. 24:63).
Verse 4
Koltres in Old French
sarpes in O.F — [serpes in modern French], with which they prune the vineyards.
Verse 5
The nations will say this to them, and this verse refers back to the verse [commencing with], “And many peoples shall go…”
They will say this to them — Jonathan, however, renders: And those of the house of Jacob will say, [“Come and let us go in the teaching of the Law of the Lord”].
Verse 6
The prophet addresses the Shechinah and says, “For until now You have forsaken Your People because of their iniquity.” [Other editions read:] “… that which You have forsaken Your people was because of their iniquity, for they are full of [witchcraft] from the East,” and the entire section, and all the chapters follow one another, until (ch. 5) “I will sing now…” Therefore, in the end of days, when the sinners perish, it will be good for them (Parshandatha). (Another explanation is: The prophet admonishes them and says this to them, “For you have forsaken your people, O house of Jacob…” You have forgotten [the deed of your people Parshandatha] the good deed through which you became a people, you house of Jacob.)
Their hosts have become full of the deeds of the Arameans who dwell in the East, who were sorcerers and used the name of pagan deities. [Other editions read:]… and used the name of defilement [sorcery and demonism Rashi ad loc.], as we say in Ch. Chelek (Sanh. 91a): “Abraham gave gifts” (Gen. 25:6) He gave them the name of defilement and sent them away to the land of the East [as quoted by Parshandatha].
They cohabit with the daughters of the heathens and mingle with them, and they would bear children to them, with whom they are always pleased, and they occupy themselves [with them] and long for them and bother with them. This is an expression similar to [that of] (Job 36:18) “lest he incite you because of abundance (בְּשֶׂפֶק)” [debatement in O.F].
Verse 7
an expression derived from קץ.
Verse 8
Although the form is future, it is to be rendered like מִשְׁתַּחֲוִים, they prostrate themselves.
Verse 9
[This refers to] inferior [men].
[This refers to] great [men], heroes, and warriors.
The prophet says to the Holy One, blessed be He — And I know that you shall not forgive them from punishing them.
Verse 10
To come into the rock to escape in the cracks of the rocks.
and to hide in the dust.
Verse 11
[This means] the haughty spirit, and so every expression of haughty eyes in the Scriptures, as it is said: “Whoever is haughty of eye, lustful in heart…” (Ps. 101:5).
Verse 13
This is symbolic of the heroes [var — the kings].
The governors, just as the oaks are inferior to the cedars.
Verse 14
over their inhabitants.
Verse 16
Jonathan renders — And over all those who inhabit the islands of the sea, who go and come by ship.
The name of a sea called Tarshish.
palaces paved with coverings of marble floors, similar to — (Lev. 26:1) and a covering stone מַשְׂכִּית) (וְאֶבֶן, since they cover the ground with it.
Verse 17
That is the Day of Judgment.
Verse 19
the inhabitants of the earth shall come into the caves of the rocks.
They are caves.
For judgment day
to break the wicked of the earth.
Verse 20
idols in the likeness of moles, a species of rodents who dig in the earth, called talpes in O.F. [taupes in modern French].
kalbe soric [chauvesouris in modern French] — Alternatively, this may be interpreted to mean that man will cast his idols that he made for himself, before which to prostrate himself, into pits and ditches that he finds before him when he goes to escape and hide.
Verse 22
not to heed those who cause you to stray from following Me and to prostrate yourselves to the work of his hands.
Whose entire life and strength are dependent upon the breath of his nostrils, which is a fleeting spirit, in him today and leaving him tomorrow. Surely the image of the moles and the bats has no substance. Another explanation is: Withdraw yourselves from all the evil ways and learn from the man who has a soul in his nostrils. Have you seen to what he is esteemed? Surely the image of his handiwork is of no esteem.

Edition: Sefaria Community Translation. License: CC0. Sefaria.

Original text

Verse 1

הַדָּבָר֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר חָזָ֔ה יְשַֽׁעְיָ֖הוּ בֶּן־אָמ֑וֹץ עַל־יְהוּדָ֖ה וִירוּשָׁלָֽ͏ִם׃

The word that Isaiah son of Amoz prophesied concerning Judah and Jerusalem.

Verse 2

וְהָיָ֣ה׀ בְּאַחֲרִ֣ית הַיָּמִ֗ים נָכ֨וֹן יִֽהְיֶ֜ה הַ֤ר בֵּית־יְהֹוָה֙ בְּרֹ֣אשׁ הֶהָרִ֔ים וְנִשָּׂ֖א מִגְּבָע֑וֹת וְנָהֲר֥וּ אֵלָ֖יו כׇּל־הַגּוֹיִֽם׃

In the days to come, The Mount of G OD ’s House Shall stand firm above the mountains And tower above the hills; And all the nations Shall gaze on it with joy.

Verse 3

וְֽהָלְכ֞וּ עַמִּ֣ים רַבִּ֗ים וְאָֽמְרוּ֙ לְכ֣וּ׀ וְנַעֲלֶ֣ה אֶל־הַר־יְהֹוָ֗ה אֶל־בֵּית֙ אֱלֹהֵ֣י יַעֲקֹ֔ב וְיֹרֵ֙נוּ֙ מִדְּרָכָ֔יו וְנֵלְכָ֖ה בְּאֹרְחֹתָ֑יו כִּ֤י מִצִּיּוֹן֙ תֵּצֵ֣א תוֹרָ֔ה וּדְבַר־יְהֹוָ֖ה מִירוּשָׁלָֽ͏ִם׃

And the many peoples shall go and say: “Come, Let us go up to the Mount of G OD , To the House of the God of Jacob; That we may be instructed in God’s ways, And that we may walk in God’s paths.” For instruction shall come forth from Zion, The word of G OD from Jerusalem.

Verse 4

וְשָׁפַט֙ בֵּ֣ין הַגּוֹיִ֔ם וְהוֹכִ֖יחַ לְעַמִּ֣ים רַבִּ֑ים וְכִתְּת֨וּ חַרְבוֹתָ֜ם לְאִתִּ֗ים וַחֲנִיתֽוֹתֵיהֶם֙ לְמַזְמֵר֔וֹת לֹא־יִשָּׂ֨א ג֤וֹי אֶל־גּוֹי֙ חֶ֔רֶב וְלֹֽא־יִלְמְד֥וּ ע֖וֹד מִלְחָמָֽה׃ {פ}

Thus [God] will judge among the nations And arbitrate for the many peoples, And they shall beat their swords into plowshares And their spears into pruning hooks: Nation shall not take up Sword against nation; They shall never again know war.

Verse 5

בֵּ֖ית יַעֲקֹ֑ב לְכ֥וּ וְנֵלְכָ֖ה בְּא֥וֹר יְהֹוָֽה׃

O House of Jacob! Come, let us walk By the light of G OD .

Verse 6

כִּ֣י נָטַ֗שְׁתָּה עַמְּךָ֙ בֵּ֣ית יַעֲקֹ֔ב כִּ֤י מָֽלְאוּ֙ מִקֶּ֔דֶם וְעֹנְנִ֖ים כַּפְּלִשְׁתִּ֑ים וּבְיַלְדֵ֥י נׇכְרִ֖ים יַשְׂפִּֽיקוּ׃

For you have forsaken [the ways of] your people, O House of Jacob! For they are full [of practices] from the East, And of soothsaying like the Philistines; They abound in customs of the aliens.

Verse 7

וַתִּמָּלֵ֤א אַרְצוֹ֙ כֶּ֣סֶף וְזָהָ֔ב וְאֵ֥ין קֵ֖צֶה לְאֹצְרֹתָ֑יו וַתִּמָּלֵ֤א אַרְצוֹ֙ סוּסִ֔ים וְאֵ֥ין קֵ֖צֶה לְמַרְכְּבֹתָֽיו׃

Their land is full of silver and gold, There is no limit to their treasures; Their land is full of horses, There is no limit to their chariots.

Verse 8

וַתִּמָּלֵ֥א אַרְצ֖וֹ אֱלִילִ֑ים לְמַעֲשֵׂ֤ה יָדָיו֙ יִֽשְׁתַּחֲו֔וּ לַאֲשֶׁ֥ר עָשׂ֖וּ אֶצְבְּעֹתָֽיו׃

And their land is full of idols; They bow down to the work of their hands, To what their own fingers have wrought.

Verse 9

וַיִּשַּׁ֥ח אָדָ֖ם וַיִּשְׁפַּל־אִ֑ישׁ וְאַל־תִּשָּׂ֖א לָהֶֽם׃

But human shall be humbled, And mortal brought low— Oh, do not forgive them!

Verse 10

בּ֣וֹא בַצּ֔וּר וְהִטָּמֵ֖ן בֶּעָפָ֑ר מִפְּנֵי֙ פַּ֣חַד יְהֹוָ֔ה וּמֵהֲדַ֖ר גְּאֹנֽוֹ׃

Go deep into the rock, Bury yourselves in the ground, Before the terror of G OD And God’s dread majesty!

Verse 11

עֵינֵ֞י גַּבְה֤וּת אָדָם֙ שָׁפֵ֔ל וְשַׁ֖ח ר֣וּם אֲנָשִׁ֑ים וְנִשְׂגַּ֧ב יְהֹוָ֛ה לְבַדּ֖וֹ בַּיּ֥וֹם הַהֽוּא׃ {פ}

The haughty look of humans shall be brought low, And the pride of mortals shall be humbled. None but G OD shall be Exalted in that day.

Verse 12

כִּ֣י י֞וֹם לַיהֹוָ֧ה צְבָא֛וֹת עַ֥ל כׇּל־גֵּאֶ֖ה וָרָ֑ם וְעַ֖ל כׇּל־נִשָּׂ֥א וְשָׁפֵֽל׃

For G OD of Hosts has ready a day Against all that is proud and arrogant, Against all that is lofty—so that it is brought low:

Verse 13

וְעַל֙ כׇּל־אַרְזֵ֣י הַלְּבָנ֔וֹן הָרָמִ֖ים וְהַנִּשָּׂאִ֑ים וְעַ֖ל כׇּל־אַלּוֹנֵ֥י הַבָּשָֽׁן׃

Against all the cedars of Lebanon, Tall and stately, And all the oaks of Bashan;

Verse 14

וְעַ֖ל כׇּל־הֶהָרִ֣ים הָרָמִ֑ים וְעַ֖ל כׇּל־הַגְּבָע֥וֹת הַנִּשָּׂאֽוֹת׃

Against all the high mountains And all the lofty hills;

Verse 15

וְעַ֖ל כׇּל־מִגְדָּ֣ל גָּבֹ֑הַּ וְעַ֖ל כׇּל־חוֹמָ֥ה בְצוּרָֽה׃

Against every soaring tower And every mighty wall;

Verse 16

וְעַ֖ל כׇּל־אֳנִיּ֣וֹת תַּרְשִׁ֑ישׁ וְעַ֖ל כׇּל־שְׂכִיּ֥וֹת הַחֶמְדָּֽה׃

Against all the ships of Tarshish And all the gallant barks.

Verse 17

וְשַׁח֙ גַּבְה֣וּת הָאָדָ֔ם וְשָׁפֵ֖ל ר֣וּם אֲנָשִׁ֑ים וְנִשְׂגַּ֧ב יְהֹוָ֛ה לְבַדּ֖וֹ בַּיּ֥וֹם הַהֽוּא׃

Then human haughtiness shall be humbled And the pride of mortals brought low. None but G OD shall be Exalted in that day.

Verse 18

וְהָאֱלִילִ֖ים כָּלִ֥יל יַחֲלֹֽף׃

As for idols, they shall vanish completely.

Verse 19

וּבָ֙אוּ֙ בִּמְעָר֣וֹת צֻרִ֔ים וּבִמְחִלּ֖וֹת עָפָ֑ר מִפְּנֵ֞י פַּ֤חַד יְהֹוָה֙ וּמֵהֲדַ֣ר גְּאוֹנ֔וֹ בְּקוּמ֖וֹ לַעֲרֹ֥ץ הָאָֽרֶץ׃

And people shall enter caverns in the rock And hollows in the ground— Before the terror of G OD And God’s dread majesty, When [the Holy One] comes forth to overawe the earth.

Verse 20

בַּיּ֤וֹם הַהוּא֙ יַשְׁלִ֣יךְ הָאָדָ֔ם אֵ֚ת אֱלִילֵ֣י כַסְפּ֔וֹ וְאֵ֖ת אֱלִילֵ֣י זְהָב֑וֹ אֲשֶׁ֤ר עָֽשׂוּ־לוֹ֙ לְהִֽשְׁתַּחֲוֺ֔ת לַחְפֹּ֥ר פֵּר֖וֹת וְלָעֲטַלֵּפִֽים׃

On that day, humans shall fling away, To the flying foxes and the bats, The idols of silver And the idols of gold Which they made for worshiping.

Verse 21

לָבוֹא֙ בְּנִקְר֣וֹת הַצֻּרִ֔ים וּבִסְעִפֵ֖י הַסְּלָעִ֑ים מִפְּנֵ֞י פַּ֤חַד יְהֹוָה֙ וּמֵהֲדַ֣ר גְּאוֹנ֔וֹ בְּקוּמ֖וֹ לַעֲרֹ֥ץ הָאָֽרֶץ׃

And they shall enter the clefts in the rocks And the crevices in the cliffs, Before G OD ’s terror And dread majesty, When [the Holy One] comes forth to overawe the earth.

Verse 22

חִדְל֤וּ לָכֶם֙ מִן־הָ֣אָדָ֔ם אֲשֶׁ֥ר נְשָׁמָ֖ה בְּאַפּ֑וֹ כִּֽי־בַמֶּ֥ה נֶחְשָׁ֖ב הֽוּא׃ {פ}

Oh, cease to glorify human beings, Who have only a breath in their nostrils! For by what do they merit esteem?

English translation: THE JPS TANAKH: Gender-Sensitive Edition · CC-BY-NC

Isaiah 2

Isaiah Chapter 2

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