Isaiah 2:4

2:4 He will judge disputes between nations;

he will settle cases for many peoples.

They will beat their swords into plowshares, ¹ 

and their spears into pruning hooks. ² 

Nations will not take up the sword against other nations,

and they will no longer train for war.

Isaiah 11:9

11:9 They will no longer injure or destroy

on my entire royal mountain. ³ 

For there will be universal submission to the Lord’s sovereignty,

just as the waters completely cover the sea. ⁴ 

Psalms 72:3-7

72:3 The mountains will bring news of peace to the people,

and the hills will announce justice. ⁵ 

72:4 He will defend ⁶  the oppressed among the people;

he will deliver ⁷  the children ⁸  of the poor

and crush the oppressor.

72:5 People will fear ⁹  you ¹⁰  as long as the sun and moon remain in the sky,

for generation after generation. ¹¹ 

72:6 He ¹²  will descend like rain on the mown grass, ¹³ 

like showers that drench ¹⁴  the earth. ¹⁵ 

72:7 During his days the godly will flourish; ¹⁶ 

peace will prevail as long as the moon remains in the sky. ¹⁷ 

Micah 4:3

4:3 He will arbitrate ¹⁸  between many peoples

and settle disputes between many ¹⁹  distant nations. ²⁰ 

They will beat their swords into plowshares, ²¹ 

and their spears into pruning hooks. ²² 

Nations will not use weapons ²³  against other nations,

and they will no longer train for war.

Zechariah 9:8

9:8 Then I will surround my temple ²⁴  to protect it like a guard ²⁵  from anyone crossing back and forth; so no one will cross over against them anymore as an oppressor, for now I myself have seen it.

[2:4]  ¹ sn Instead of referring to the large plow as a whole, the plowshare is simply the metal tip which actually breaks the earth and cuts the furrow.

[2:4]  ² sn This implement was used to prune the vines, i.e., to cut off extra leaves and young shoots (H. Wildberger, Isaiah, 1:93; M. Klingbeil, NIDOTTE 1:1117-18). It was a short knife with a curved hook at the end sharpened on the inside like a sickle. Breaking weapons and fashioning agricultural implements indicates a transition from fear and stress to peace and security.

[11:9]  ³ tn Heb “in all my holy mountain.” In the most basic sense the Lord’s “holy mountain” is the mountain from which he rules over his kingdom (see Ezek 28:14, 16). More specifically it probably refers to Mount Zion/Jerusalem or to the entire land of Israel (see Pss 2:6; 15:1; 43:3; Isa 56:7; 57:13; Ezek 20:40; Ob 16; Zeph 3:11). If the Lord’s universal kingdom is in view in this context (see the note on “earth” at v. 4), then the phrase would probably be metonymic here, standing for God’s worldwide dominion (see the next line).

[11:9]  ⁴ tn Heb “for the earth will be full of knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea.” The translation assumes that a universal kingdom is depicted here, but אֶרֶץ (’erets) could be translated “land” (see the note at v. 4). “Knowledge of the Lord” refers here to a recognition of the Lord’s sovereignty which results in a willingness to submit to his authority. See the note at v. 2.

[72:3]  ⁵ tn Heb “[the] mountains will bear peace to the people, and [the] hills with justice.” The personified mountains and hills probably represent messengers who will sweep over the land announcing the king’s just decrees and policies. See Isa 52:7 and C. A. Briggs and E. G. Briggs, Psalms (ICC), 2:133.

[72:4]  ⁶ tn Heb “judge [for].”

[72:4]  ⁷ tn The prefixed verbal form appears to be an imperfect, not a jussive.

[72:4]  ⁸ tn Heb “sons.”

[72:5]  ⁹ tn In this context “fear” probably means “to demonstrate respect for the Lord’s power and authority by worshiping him and obeying his commandments.” See Ps 33:8. Some interpreters, with the support of the LXX, prefer to read וְיַאֲרִיךְ (vÿ’a’arikh, “and he [the king in this case] will prolong [days]”), that is, “will live a long time” (cf. NIV, NRSV).

[72:5]  ¹⁰ tn God is the addressee (see vv. 1-2).

[72:5]  ¹¹ tn Heb “with [the] sun, and before [the] moon [for] a generation, generations.” The rare expression דּוֹר דּוֹרִים (dor dorim, “generation, generations”) occurs only here, in Ps 102:24, and in Isa 51:8.

[72:6]  ¹² tn That is, the king (see vv. 2, 4).

[72:6]  ¹³ tn The rare term zg refers to a sheep’s fleece in Deut 18:4 and Job 31:20, but to “mown” grass or crops here and in Amos 7:1.

[72:6]  ¹⁴ tc The form in the Hebrew text appears to be an otherwise unattested noun. Many prefer to emend the form to a verb from the root זָרַף (zaraf). BHS in textual note b on this verse suggests a Hiphil imperfect, third masculine plural יַזְרִיפוּ (yazrifu), while HALOT 283 s.v. *זרף prefers a Pilpel perfect, third masculine plural זִרְזְפוּ (zirzÿfu). The translation assumes the latter.

[72:6]  ¹⁵ sn The imagery of this verse compares the blessings produced by the king’s reign to fructifying rains that cause the crops to grow.

[72:7]  ¹⁶ tn Heb “sprout up,” like crops. This verse continues the metaphor of rain utilized in v. 6.

[72:7]  ¹⁷ tn Heb “and [there will be an] abundance of peace until there is no more moon.”

[4:3]  ¹⁸ tn Or “judge.”

[4:3]  ¹⁹ tn Or “mighty” (NASB); KJV, NAB, NIV, NRSV “strong”; TEV “among the great powers.”

[4:3]  ²⁰ tn Heb “[for many nations] to a distance.”

[4:3]  ²¹ sn Instead of referring to the large plow as a whole, the plowshare is simply the metal tip which actually breaks the earth and cuts the furrow.

[4:3]  ²² sn This implement was used to prune the vines, i.e., to cut off extra leaves and young shoots (M. Klingbeil, NIDOTTE 1:1117-18). It was a short knife with a curved hook at the end sharpened on the inside like a sickle.

[4:3]  ²³ tn Heb “take up the sword.”

[9:8]  ²⁴ tn Heb “house” (so NAB, NIV, NRSV).

[9:8]  ²⁵ tn Though a hapax legomenon, the מִצָּבָה (mitsavah) of the MT (from נָצַב, natsav, “take a stand”) is preferable to the suggestion מַצֵּבָה (matsevah, “pillar”) or even מִצָּבָא (mitsava’, “from” or “against the army”). The context favors the idea of the Lord as a protector.