Isaiah 2:3 kjv

And 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.

Isaiah 2:3 nkjv

Many people shall come and say, "Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, To the house of the God of Jacob; He will teach us His ways, And we shall walk in His paths." For out of Zion shall go forth the law, And the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.

Isaiah 2:3 niv

Many peoples will come and say, "Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the temple of the God of Jacob. He will teach us his ways, so that we may walk in his paths." The law will go out from Zion, the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.

Isaiah 2:3 esv

and many peoples shall come, and say: "Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob, that he may teach us his ways and that we may walk in his paths." For out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.

Isaiah 2:3 nlt

People from many nations will come and say,
"Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD,
to the house of Jacob's God.
There he will teach us his ways,
and we will walk in his paths."
For the LORD's teaching will go out from Zion;
his word will go out from Jerusalem.

Isaiah 2 verses

Isaiah 2 3 Meaning

Isaiah 2:3 presents a profound prophetic vision of a future time when many nations will eagerly seek spiritual enlightenment and guidance from God, drawn by their own volition to Mount Zion, symbolically the dwelling place of the Lord. They will come to learn His divine ways and diligently walk in His paths, recognizing that true law and revelation originate from Jerusalem. This signifies a universal pilgrimage toward God's truth, leading to transformation and peace among peoples.

Isaiah 2 3 Context

Isaiah chapter 2 opens with a glorious vision for "the latter days" (v. 2), setting a contrast with the subsequent warnings against Judah's pride, idolatry, and coming judgment (v. 6-22). Verse 3 serves as the vibrant core of this future hope. It describes a time when God's dwelling place, Mount Zion/Jerusalem, will be established as the preeminent spiritual authority and magnetic center for all nations. This prophecy offered a profound promise of universal peace and spiritual truth to an Israel that was grappling with internal moral decay and external threats from empires like Assyria. The concept of "many peoples" (Gentiles) actively seeking instruction from the God of Jacob was revolutionary, challenging any exclusive nationalist interpretations of God's covenant and hinting at a global scope for His redemptive plan, contrary to prevailing ethnocentric religious views.

Isaiah 2 3 Word analysis

• Many peoples (רַבִּים עַמִּים, rabbim `ammim): "Many" suggests a significant multitude, not just a few; "peoples" denotes various distinct ethnic and national groups (Gentiles). This signifies a universal scope beyond Israel.
• shall come and say (הָלְכוּ וְאָמְרוּ, halekhu v'ameru): Indicates active, voluntary, and communal movement, not forced compliance. They will collectively voice their desire to learn God's ways.
• Come, let us go up (לְכוּ וְנַעֲלֶה, lekû v'na`aleh): An urgent, shared invitation to pilgrimage. The verb "go up" (עלה, `alah) is often used for ascending to Jerusalem due to its elevation.
• to the mountain of the LORD (אֶל-הַר-יְהוָה, ’el-har-YHWH): Symbolizes God's elevated, authoritative presence and dominion. In prophecy, mountains represent kingdoms; God's mountain represents His supreme, established kingdom. It refers to Mount Zion where God's temple stood.
• to the house of the God of Jacob (אֶל-בֵּית אֱלֹהֵי יַעֲקֹב, ’el-bêt ’elōhê Ya`aqov): Refers to the Temple in Jerusalem, God's dwelling place on earth. Calling Him "the God of Jacob" connects this future vision to His historical covenant with Israel, grounding the universal hope in a specific divine identity and promise.
• that He may teach us (וְיוֹרֵנוּ, v'yorēnu): The verb (יָרָה, yarah) means to instruct, direct, or lay down (as in the root for "Torah"). It highlights divine instruction, emphasizing God as the ultimate teacher.
• His ways (מִדְּרָכָיו, middᵉrakhāyv): Refers to God's character, principles, statutes, moral standards, and the paths of righteousness He prescribes for life. It implies a comprehensive understanding of His will.
• and that we may walk (וְנֵלְכָה, vᵉnēlkāh): Implies active obedience and implementation of God's teachings into daily life, not just passive reception. Walking is a common biblical metaphor for living.
• in His paths (בְּאֹרְחֹתָיו, b'orkhōtāyv): Synonymous with "His ways," emphasizing the guided and purposeful course of life in accordance with God's directives.
• For out of Zion (כִּי מִצִּיּוֹן, ki mitstsiyyôn): Specifies the immediate origin of God's revelation. Zion is Mount Moriah where the Temple was, and thus representative of Jerusalem, the capital city of God's kingdom.
• shall go forth the law (תֵּצֵא תוֹרָה, tētsē’ tôrāh): "Law" (תוֹרָה, Torah) signifies divine instruction, guidance, and truth, encompassing all God's revealed will, not just legal precepts. "Go forth" suggests dissemination, broadcasting from a central source.
• and the word of the LORD (וּדְבַר-יְהוָה, udvar-YHWH): Refers to God's active, spoken revelation, His authoritative message and decree. It reiterates the divine origin of the truth emanating from Jerusalem.
• from Jerusalem (מִירוּשָׁלַיִם, mîrûšālaim): Reconfirms the specific geographic and spiritual locus for the outpouring of God's truth to the world.

• Words-group Analysis:
• "Many peoples shall come and say, 'Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD...'": This phrase emphasizes the voluntary and universal initiative of nations, demonstrating an innate spiritual hunger driving them towards God's truth, contrasting with human conquest or imposition.
• "that He may teach us His ways and that we may walk in His paths": This highlights the dual purpose of this spiritual pilgrimage: intellectual reception of divine truth ("teach us") leading to practical, moral conduct ("walk in His paths"). The emphasis is on transformation through application.
• "For out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem": This powerfully declares Jerusalem's unique role as the originating point for God's divine revelation and guidance to all nations. It is the divine fountainhead for truth, demonstrating God's sovereign choice of this specific city for His worldwide purposes.

Isaiah 2 3 Bonus section

The vision in Isaiah 2:3 finds a significant spiritual fulfillment in the New Covenant through the spreading of the Gospel from Jerusalem (Acts 1:8, Lk 24:47) after the resurrection and ascension of Jesus Christ. Jesus, as the incarnate "Word of the LORD" (Jn 1:1, Rev 19:13), became the ultimate teacher of God's ways. The "mountain of the LORD" is now spiritually realized in the universal spiritual kingdom of God, which is the Church (Heb 12:22-24). Gentiles are drawn into this spiritual Zion through faith in Christ, becoming partakers of His divine instruction and empowered to walk in God's ways by the Holy Spirit. This highlights God's plan for humanity, extending His covenant promises beyond ethnic Israel to embrace all who respond to His call, uniting them under the rule and instruction of the Messiah.

Isaiah 2 3 Commentary

Isaiah 2:3 portrays a radiant future where God's truth and guidance become universally sought after, leading to global transformation. It envisions nations voluntarily journeying to Jerusalem, recognizing the divine instruction (Torah) emanating from there as the ultimate source of wisdom. This eager seeking is not out of coercion, but a profound spiritual longing for God's "ways" and "paths" – a comprehensive life aligned with His character. This voluntary alignment with divine instruction ultimately leads to profound peace and justice, as described in the subsequent verse (2:4), signaling a Messianic age when the world will learn God's standards and live by them. This instruction is not merely theoretical but is intended for active "walking" and application in life. The centrality of Jerusalem emphasizes God's sovereign plan, working through a specific chosen place and people to bring light to all humanity.